Coming up with a hot meal seven nights a week can quickly become a chore. How often are you in the car on the way home from work with absolutely no idea what you will make for dinner? After a long day at work, making a stop at the store to pick up what you need to make dinner just seems like too much effort. The sirens song from the drive thru is calling…resist the urge for junk food and make these cheesy, easy to make panini’s instead.
Are you the proud owner of a George Foreman grill? Is it sitting in the cupboard collecting dust? It’s time to dust that baby off and plug it in! You can also make these Panini’s in a skillet if you don’t have a George Forman grill, so don’t despair! The grill just makes it quicker since it cooks both sides at once, making it oh so easy to cook up these Sammies. No flipping required.
There are endless combinations of ingredients that you can use to make a Panini. The basic ingredients included in a Panini are bread, butter and cheese. The exact same ingredients used to make a grilled cheese sandwich. To make it a Panini, add ingredients you have in the fridge and pantry to create a unique sammie that appeals to your tastes. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to the filling.
Start by plugging in the grill to get it nice and hot. While the grill is preheating it’s time to assemble those Panini Sammies.
Spread about a tablespoon of softened butter to one side of each slice of bread.
On the other side of each slice spread about a teaspoon of horseradish sauce. Add more if you like things good and spicy, or skip the horseradish sauce if you like things nice and mild.
Top horseradish with sliced cheese.
Top with some sliced pepperoncini peppers.
Top with sliced ham.
Top with another slice of cheese. The cheeses act as the “glue” when melted and hold the sandwich and all the fillings together.
Once the grill is preheated place slices of bread butter side down on the grill and top with another slice of bread, buttered side up.
Close grill and press sandwiches. Grill until sandwiches are golden brown, filling is hot and cheeses are melted, about 4-5 minutes.
Panini Sandwich Combinations To Try:
- Grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, Havarti cheese
- Turkey breast, sliced tomato, bacon, Swiss cheese
- Roast beef, smoked Gouda, sautéed sliced mushrooms
- Salami, mozzarella, sliced bell pepper, pizza sauce
- Pulled pork, Pepper Jack, sliced Jalapeno
These Sammies are so much tastier than anything you can grab from a drive thru, and so much healthier too. You can whip up these Panini’s in about the time it takes waiting for your food order at a drive thru. And because you make these yourself, you know exactly what’s in them; no trans fats or loads of sodium and other preservatives or mystery ingredients. It’s also a great way to reinvent and use up leftovers in your fridge that need to be eaten.
Helpful Clean Up Tip:
Here’s an easy tip to make clean up a snap! When you take the sandwiches off the grill, unplug it and place a wet paper towel on the grill.
Close the lid and the heat from the grill will steam off any stuck on food left on the grill. When you are done eating, the grill will have had time to cool down and you can use the paper towel to wipe off any food residue still left on the grill. Toss the paper towel in the trash and put away the grill. How easy is that???
So what combinations are you going to try? Take a look at what you have in your fridge and come up with your own unique creations. Once you get the hang of making a Panini you will never have to hit up a drive thru again. Eating at home is so much healthier for you and so much more affordable too!
Ham & Cheese Panini
Equipment
- George Foreman grill or Panini press
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 tsp horseradish sauce
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- 2 slices Monerey Jack or Provolone cheese
- 4 slices deli sliced, Black Forest ham
- 2 tbsp sliced pepperoncini peppers
Instructions
- Preheat grill.
- Spread butter onto each slice of sourdough bread.
- Spread horseradish sauce onto the other side of two slices of bread.
- Top horseradish with a slice of cheese and some sliced pepperoncini.
- Top the other two slices of bread with a slice of cheese.
- Once grill is preheated place slices of bread butter side down on the grill and top with the other slice of cheese and bread, buttered side up.
- Close press and grill until sandwiches are golden brown and cheeses are melted.
Did You Make This?
Be sure to snap a pic and tag it @naturewayblog — I love, love, love seeing your creations! Don’t forget to comment and leave a review below, and tag me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, or TWITTER!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial for you, my readers. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. Thank you!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!