21 Super Marvelous Panini Sandwich Recipes You Can Recreate At Home! (2024)

Have you been thinking about upgrading your usual panini? We have here 21 amazing panini sandwich recipes you must try! I wonder what you’ll be making first?

The word panini means small bread.

A panini originates in Italy, made with Italian bread, not sliced bread.

It is served warmly by grilling both sides simultaneously for three to five minutes.

If you like them crunchy, be sure to add butter to the outside before grilling.

Breads often used are ciabatta, focaccia, rosetta and michetta.

It can be filled with literally anything, and the combinations for panini sandwich ideas are endless!

There are no rules, so you are free to be traditional or creative like the Frontega Chicken Panini – Copycat Panera or Best Pesto Meatball Panini!

Cheese, vegetables, meats are all fair game when building your panini of choice.

To keep lettuce or spinach crunchy, simply add them after grilling and before serving.

You can find them at most delicatessens, and home chefs had created them in 1974 when Thomas Edison released the first panini press.

The flavor of the bread also makes a big difference in determining the best panini recipe.

Keep in mind; it needs to be dense to hold up to the grilling without falling apart, especially when making #17.

The cool part is that if you have a panini press, there are a myriad of other things you can make with it in addition to fabulous paninis!

So let’s dive into this list of 21 panini recipe ideas and see which one comes out on top!

A classic move after a holiday is to use the leftovers in sandwiches, so you may as well experiment with panini sandwich recipes!

Here we use turkey, cranberry sauce, spinach, and brie cheese.

Another reason to give thanks!

Many panini recipes lean toward the Italian side since that is their heritage!

Here combined ingredients are tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese like a Caprese salad in a sandwich form!

Flavors that work together drive a variety of panini ideas!

That’s why the pesto in this panini will pull together the chicken cutlets, red peppers, arugula, and provolone!

Includes complete instructions for making the breaded chicken cutlets too!

Panini sandwich ideas can often come from pairing the simplest ingredients that are already familiar!

Here that combo would be ham, Gruyere cheese, and chives.

You can brown the ham before assembly as it warms the panini from the inside out and prevents water from ruining the bread.

Pizza anyone?

Panini recipes are so much fun to find and try!

This recipe uses mini pizza crusts for the “bread” and suggests pizza sauce, pepperoni, prosciutto, mozzarella, parmesan, and seasonings.

But honestly, the sky is the limit to what ingredients you want to put in your panini!

Take any meal you enjoy, and it can be an inspiration for panini recipe ideas!

Here meatloaf, cheese, and mayo combine for a very satisfying panini!

Some panini sandwich recipes are like casserole in sandwich form!

Here, the ingredients used include chicken, tomato, bacon, gouda cheese, and ranch dressing!

Many panini recipes are not as particular about the type of bread used as is the case here.

This combination includes ham, brie, apple slices, and spinach!

A little savory, tart, and crunchy all in one bite!

Panini ideas are not limited to lunchtime!

They can make a breakfast sandwich just as easily!

These savory ones have bacon, eggs, and cheese!

Corned beef and cabbage make delicious panini sandwich ideas!

Here rye bread is used with the inside full of Russian sauce, corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese.

Irish or not, this satisfies a craving for sure!

This dish is one of the best panini recipes with chicken, chipotle mayo, tomato, mozzarella, red onion, and basil.

It has excellent pictures and instructions, complete with tips on using your panini press, as well as options for those who do not have one!

Any bacon lovers out there?

This gem among the panini recipe ideas highlights bacon in a lovely way!

So delightful and straightforward with bacon, apple slices, cheddar cheese, Havarti cheese, and apple butter.

Mmmmm!

Keeping veggies front and center and need panini sandwich ideas?

Excellent!

Here some hummus of your choice, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and baby spinach go together beautifully!

If tofu is on your eating plan, you can find panini sandwich recipes for it as well.

Here tofu, mushrooms, onions, avocado, spinach, and miso paste are going to give a seriously flavorful bite!

You can also read how to properly cook the tofu, which marinates while you saute the vegetables.

Not a fan of hummus or tofu but still want vegetable panini recipes?

No problem!

This recipe includes Colby jack cheese, spinach, tomatoes, and avocado!

Simple and delicious!

French onion soup is warm and comforting, so developing panini ideas from it will be just as reassuring, don’t you think?

This recipe uses caramelized onions, mayo, roast beef, and Gruyere cheese!

Heavenly!

A recipe for au jus is also available!

When you want to start with the end in mind, may I suggest this recipe for Cuban- style pork, which you can then use for multiple panini sandwich ideas!

After slow cooking the pork for eight hours, the panini could include pork, ham, cheese, and of course, pickles!

Do you need to get a kick out of your panini sandwich recipe?

Try out this southwestern turkey panini with spicy mustard, avocado, cilantro, lime juice, tomatoes, Colby jack cheese, and turkey!

You will not be disappointed!

Meatballs are on the submenu, so why not on the panini recipe ideas too?

Someone wised up and did just that with this recipe using pesto, marinara sauce, basil, garlic, parmesan, mozzarella, and meatballs!

So very yummy and filling!

If you enjoyed peanut butter and bananas as a kid, you most definitely would enjoy this combo as a panini sandwich idea, certainly the easiest one on the list needing only peanut butter, bananas, honey, and cinnamon.

Keep your eyes on these because they will disappear fast!

I am concluding this list with the best panini recipe to date because I love some sweetness!

When you make a panini with Nutella, strawberries, and a little cinnamon mixed with powdered sugar, what do you get?

A strawberry Nutella panini! Possibly an entree.

A dessert!

The bottom line

No matter what you decide to put between your Italian bread to make a panini, it will be excellent; and whether you use one of these panini recipe ideas or create something altogether new from what you have on hand.

Bon appetit!