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    Home » Main Dish

    Best Ever Turkey Pesto Panini

    Published: Jun 10, 2020 · Modified: Jul 16, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    84 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Safeway. All opinions are 100% mine.

    Here is a delicious turkey pesto panini that’s perfect for summer! It’s ideal for a light lunch and can be ready in minutes.

    Summer calls for quick and delicious lunches and a delicious turkey cheese panini is exactly what we’re looking for! Serve it with some oven roasted potatoes or roasted garlic brussel sprouts for a complete meal.

    Turkey pesto panini sliced in half and stacked.

    Do I need a panini press for this recipe?

    Not necessarily. I made my panini in a cast iron skillet with just a little bit of butter. This method gives a nice crust and sear on each side of the panini.

    The ingredients

    To make this ridiculously delicious turkey panini, you need the following ingredients:

    Bread

    I used two large and thick slices of homemade sourdough bread. However, you can also use other types of bread such as brioche, challah or ciabatta. What’s important is to use a type of bread that can handle the weight of the ingredients inside and doesn’t tear apart easily.

    Pesto

    You can use homemade or store-bought pesto for this recipe. Again, this depends on what you have on hand. So for example, if you have some arugula walnut pesto from last week's cooking, you can use it to make this turkey pesto panini.

    Pan roasted turkey

    I used Primo Taglio® pan roasted turkey which has no binders or fillers. Primo Taglio is a premium quality line of meats and cheeses made with the finest ingredients, available at a value in the DC area exclusively at Safeway.

    Brie

    As for the cheese, I also used Primo Taglio brie that’s made with high quality milk and old world recipes. Brie adds a delightful creaminess to the panini and pairs perfectly with the sliced pan roasted turkey.

    Sun dried tomatoes

    Marinated sun dried tomatoes add so much flavor to this panini and pair well with the brie.

    Artichoke

    I used herb and olive oil marinated artichoke hearts. It gives such nice flavor to the dish.

    To make this dish, you need bread, pesto, roasted turkey breast, sun dried tomatoes, brie and artichokes.

    I shopped at Safeway in my local area, but you can also find Primo Taglio products exclusively at the Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Randalls, Shaw’s Supermarket, Star Market, Tom Thumb and Vons.

    How to make turkey pesto panini

    Prepare the ingredients

    Place the slices of bread, turkey and brie slices, chopped sun dried tomatoes and artichoke on a board so you have everything on hand.

    Assemble the panini

    Spread about one tablespoon pesto on each slice of bread. Top one piece of bread with 2 slices of pan roasted turkey and top it with brie, sun dried tomatoes and artichoke. Finish with 2 more slices of turkey and then place the bread on top.

    Cook

    Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Melt about half a tablespoon of butter in the pan and place the panini in the pan. Sear on one side for 5 to 7 minutes, flip and sear on the other side as well until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden and crispy. Serve immediately.

    Spread the pesto on the bread and stack the turkey, sun dried tomatoes, brie and artichoke. Sear in a cast iron skillet until ready.

    A few important notes to make your own panini at home

    • Cast iron skillets are perfect for making paninis at home, especially if the bread slices are thick. Make sure your skillet is hot before placing the panini in the pan.
    • Melt about half a tablespoon of butter in the pan before you start cooking. This will give the panini a very nice sear and color, and make it extra crispy.
    • Be careful when flipping the panini to make sure the ingredients don't fall out. Slide a spatula under the sandwich and place your hand on top. Carefully flip the panini and melt a second tablespoon of butter in the pan to sear the other side as well.
    • Make sure the heat is medium to medium low so the cheese melts completely.

    Side dishes to serve

    This turkey panini goes very well with a simple salad such as cucumber tomato avocado salad or simple Mediterranean salad.

    Cut the panini in half and serve immediately.

    Best Ever Turkey Pesto Panini

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Here is a delicious turkey pesto panini that’s perfect for summer! It’s ideal for a light lunch and can be ready in minutes.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 1041 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 slices sourdough bread
    • 4 tbsp pesto
    • 8 slices Primo Taglio pan roasted turkey breast
    • 6 oz Primo Taglio Domestic Brie sliced
    • 3 oz sun dried tomatoes chopped
    • ½ cup marinated artichokes chopped
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter

    Instructions
     

    • Place the bread sliced on a board.
    • Spread pesto on all 4 sliced of sourdough bread.
    • Fold the pan roasted turkey slices in half and place two on two slices of bread.
    • top the turkey with slices of brie, marinated artichokes and sun dried tomatoes. Top with two more slices of turkey for each panini. Top with the remaining two slices of bread.
    • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt half a tablespoon butter in it. Set the heat to medium low and place the panini in the pan. Sear for about 5 to 7 minutes until it's golden. Slide a spatula under the panini and place you hand on top of the panini. Carefully flip it and add another half a tablespoon of butter. Sear for another 5 to 7 minutes until golden and the cheese is melted. Repeat with the other panini as well.

    Notes

    • You can use homemade or store-bought pesto for this recipe. 
    • Cast iron skillets are perfect for making paninis at home, especially if the bread slices are thick. Make sure your skillet is pretty hot before placing the panini in the pan. 
    • Melt about half a tablespoon of butter in the pan before you start cooking. This would give the panini a very nice sear and color plus it makes it extra crispy. 
    • Make sure the heat is medium to medium low so the cheese melts completely. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1041kcalCarbohydrates: 101gProtein: 42gFat: 54gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 1777mgPotassium: 1750mgFiber: 10gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 2335IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 318mgIron: 9mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    84 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen

      June 26, 2020 at 9:40 am

      5 stars
      This seriously is the best turkey sandwich ever!

      Reply
    2. Jessica

      June 26, 2020 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      Why I had never paired pesto with turkey is beyond me- it was delicious! Thanks- this is a new go-to!

      Reply
    3. Carrie Robinson

      June 10, 2020 at 9:25 am

      5 stars
      This looks crazy good! I wish this had been my lunch today. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Priya Lakshminarayan

      June 10, 2020 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      wow..your pictures made me drool! The sandwich looks very tempting!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        June 13, 2020 at 7:54 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Rebecca

      June 10, 2020 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      I love a good panini! good suggestions on the ingredients-they're so easy and quick to put together.

      Reply
    6. Cate

      June 10, 2020 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      This looks like the most delicious sandwich ever!! Thanks for sharing I can't wait to try this!

      Reply
    7. Alex

      June 10, 2020 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      Now this is my kind of lunch - what a delicious combination! And I love sourdough bread, my favourite!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        June 13, 2020 at 7:58 am

        Thank you Alex!

        Reply

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    84 shares