Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese

Name: Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 slices gluten free bread (- I used millet chia bread); 2 tablespoons avocado basil pesto; 3 slices vegan mozzarella; Fresh basil; 1/2 avocado ((4 slices)); Salt; 4 teaspoons vegan mayo (divided)

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This easy Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese is rich and savory. Made in minutes, it's perfect for a weeknight meal.

Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese stacked on a cutting board.

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This hearty Avocado Pesto Grilled Cheese is made with avocado basil pesto, sliced avocados, and vegan mozzarella on your favorite bread.

It takes vegan grilled cheese to another level. It is creamy and comforting - just what you want in a vegan grilled cheese sandwich.

It's an easy meal for when you don't feel like cooking and want some comfort food.

The avocado pesto takes about 5 minutes to make in a food processor and tastes great in so many recipes. Use it as a dip, on Vegan Pesto Potato Salad, and on a Vegan Caprese Sandwich.

Another grilled cheese recipe to try is my Vegan Grilled Cheese with Pizza Flavors.

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❤️ Why You'll Love It
🧾 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
💭 Tips
👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
🥪 Other Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ Why You'll Love It

Made with creamy avocado basil pesto, it is a fun twist on a classic.
It is an easy recipe that's made in minutes with simple ingredients.
It elevates vegan grilled cheese to the next level.

🧾 Ingredients

Bread: I used gluten-free millet chia bread. Use your favorite.
Avocado basil pesto: I used homemade vegan avocado basil pesto made with avocado, basil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and pine nuts. You could use any homemade or store-bought pesto, but the addition of avocado in the pesto makes it rich and creamy.
Vegan mozzarella: I like both Daiya and Follow Your Heart vegan mozzarella. Daiya melts better, but I prefer the taste of Follow Your Heart better. Use your favorite brand.
Fresh basil: Adds a fresh bite. Since there's basil in the pesto you don't have to add fresh basil leaves.
Avocado: To add even more avocado goodness than just the pesto.
Salt: Enhances flavors. I like to use sea salt. The avocado needs a pinch of sea salt to bring out the flavor.
Vegan mayo: For frying the grilled cheese. It adds a rich flavor. You could also use vegan butter.

To see the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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🔪 Instructions

Slices of bread on a cutting board with avocado pesto, vegan mozzarella, and slices of avocado on top.

Step 1: Spread pesto on a slice of bread. Layer sliced avocado, vegan mozzarella, and the other slice of bread on top.

Vegan mayo spread on top of bread slices in a skillet with spoon.

Step 2: Spread vegan mayo on both sides of the sandwich.

Avocado pesto sandwich in a hot skillet.

Step 3: Cook on both sides until golden brown and the vegan cheese melts.

The video below shows the pesto recipe.

💭 Tips

To help melt the vegan cheese, place a heat-proof metal bowl or a frying pan lid over the top of the sandwich creating a dome. This works best when the lid is smaller than the pan and just covers the sandwich.
You could also place an open-faced sandwich under the broiler for a few minutes. Some vegan cheeses melt better than others, so it all depends on which brand you use. You can see from my photos that my cheese could have been melted longer.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

How to make vegan cheese melt?

To help melt the vegan cheese, place a heat-proof metal bowl or a frying pan lid over the top of the sandwich creating a dome. This works best when the lid is smaller than the pan and just covers the sandwich.
You could also place an open-faced sandwich under the broiler for a few minutes. Some vegan cheeses melt better than others, so it all depends on which brand you use.

What can I substitute for butter on a grilled cheese?

You can use vegan mayo instead of vegan butter. It adds a rich taste. You could also use olive oil.