This Pesto Grilled Cheese and Vegetable Soup recipe is a hearty and healthy vegetarian meal that's great for lunch or a light dinner!
My recipe for Pesto Grilled Cheese and Italian Vegetable Soup was first published on Sunday Supper Movement where I am a contributor.
This Italian Vegetable Soup and Pesto Grilled Cheese is the perfect meal for me because I love soups AND I love sandwiches.
You might think I'm crazy for posting a soup and sandwich recipe when it's 90 degrees outside and that's a very valid point but hear me out - Summer is the best time for fresh vegetables.
When the garden is popping and you've got vegetables coming out of your ears this Italian Vegetable Soup is a great way to use them up.
A healthy vegetable soup can be made on the stove top, in the crock pot, or in the Instant Pot. The soup can then be frozen and retrieved for those times when it's just too hot to cook.
I've been told that a sandwich doesn't constitute a meal but I have to disagree. Especially when it's paired with a soup. This combo makes for a great lunch or dinner. Even during the stifling summer heat.
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How To Make Vegetable Soup
This Italian Vegetable Soup recipe is super easy to make. It’s vegetarian and has some quintessential Italian spices like oregano and rosemary.
- Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 1 small onion (you can use white, yellow, or red onion).
- Chop 4-5 large carrots into slices. Try to make sure that the carrots are a uniform thickness so they cook evenly.
- Wash and trim 3 cups of fresh green beans. Cut the green beans in half.
That’s all there is to the chopping portion of the soup.
What Type Of Pot Is Best For Cooking Soups?
I love to use my cast iron Dutch oven to make soups but any type of heavy-bottomed pot will work great.
Cast iron tends to cook everything evenly and I swear that food cooked in cast iron just tastes better.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. or so of olive oil in the pan.
- Once the oil is heated add the garlic and onions and saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
- Next add the sliced carrots along with a pinch of salt and pepper and saute for another 4-5 minutes, stirring often. If the carrots begin to stick to the bottom, add a splash of vegetable broth.
- At this point, add the chopped green beans and continue to saute for another 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
How Long Does Veggie Soup Take To Cook On The Stove Top?
- Add 3 ½-4 cups of vegetable broth to the pan, stir, and cover.
- Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer the vegetable soup on a low boil for 20 minutes or so with the cover on the pan. The carrots and green beans should be softened (but not mushy) around the 20 minute mark.
- At this point add 1 (16 oz.) can of cannellini beans, 1 (15 oz.) can of tomato sauce, 1 tsp. sugar, 1 heaping tsp. of Italian seasoning (should contain spices like oregano, rosemary, and thyme), and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Love homemade soups? Don't miss these recipes!
- Hearty Lentil Soup
- Healthy Harvest Vegetable Soup
- Sweet Potato Kale Soup
- Roasted Carrot Soup
- Ham and Potato Soup
- Chunky Italian Vegetable Soup
- Root Vegetable Soup
- Vegetable Stew with Dumplings
- Dutch Oven Chicken Stew
How To Make Pesto Grilled Cheese
The pesto grilled cheese sandwiches can be prepared while the soup is simmering. This is just a basic grilled cheese sandwich with an Italian twist.
This recipe is gluten free and uses a gluten free sandwich bread, but you can use any sandwich bread if gluten is not an issue for you.
My go-to brand of gluten free sandwich bread is Canyon Bakehouse, but Schar and Udi's are also great choices.
- Start out with 8 slices of gluten free bread (or any bread if not gluten free). Cut 1 large tomato into slices. The best part of this sandwich is the fresh mozzarella. This is the kind that comes in a ball. It melts perfectly and makes the sandwiches really cheesy but not heavy. Cut 1 ball of mozzarella into uniform slices. You can definitely use any type of mozzarella or any type of cheese you like!
- The thing that makes these sandwiches pop is the addition of basil pesto. Spread 1 Tbsp. or so (adjust to taste) of the pesto onto one side of the sandwich. You can, of course, use homemade pesto if you're up to it.
- Top it with a few slices of the mozzarella and 2 slices of tomato.
How Long Does It Take To Make Grilled Cheese Sandwiches?
- Place the second piece of bread on top of the sandwich and spread the top with butter.
- Heat a flat cast iron skillet, or pan of choice, to slightly lower than medium. The pan should be hot enough to melt the cheese but not hot enough to burn the sandwiches.
- Place the sandwiches, butter side down on the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until the sandwiches get nice and golden. It may take a few minutes for the cheese to melt but it’s totally worth the wait.
What To Serve With Vegetable Soup
This recipe makes 4 pesto grilled cheese sandwiches and there should be 4-6 servings of Italian vegetable soup. The soup and sandwiches should both be finished at this point.
Cut the pesto grilled cheese sandwiches in half and serve them alongside a steaming bowl of the Italian vegetable soup.
Feel free to garnish the soup with Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs.
If you want to try another sandwich with this homemade vegetable soup this Chipotle Chicken Panini, Lemon Basil BLT, Gouda Grilled Cheese, or Italian Mozzarella Grilled Cheese are great options!
Love healthy soups? Check out these recipes!
- Italian Tuscan Vegetable Soup
- Instant Pot Lentil Soup
- Curried Cauliflower Potato Soup
- Thai-Style Potato Corn Chowder
- Cannellini Bean, Kale, and Carrot Soup
- Lentil Chicken Sausage Soup
- Butternut Squash Sausage Soup
- Chicken Potato Vegetable Soup
Looking For More Soup Recipes? Don't Miss These!
Roasted Tomato Soup
Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup
Tomato Florentine Soup
Pesto Grilled Cheese and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
For The Soup:
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 4-5 large carrots
- 3 cups fresh green beans
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 16 oz. can cannellini beans
- 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 heaping tsp. Italian seasoning
- generous pinch kosher salt
- generous pinch pepper
For The Sandwiches:
- 8 slices gluten free sandwich bread or any bread if not gluten free
- 4 Tbsp. basil pesto
- 1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 large tomato
- 1 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
For The Soup:
- Mince 6 cloves garlic and 1 onion.
- Cut 4-5 large carrots into slices. Try to make sure the carrots are a uniform size to ensure even cooking.
- Wash and trim 3 cups of fresh green beans. Cut the beans in half.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. or so of olive oil in a cast iron Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pan.
- Add the garlic and onions and saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the carrots along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add a splash of vegetable broth to the pan if carrots begin to stick.
- Add the green beans to the pan and saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add more vegetable broth if necessary.
- Add 3 ½-4 cups of vegetable broth. Cover the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer/low boil and cook with the cover on for 20 minutes or so or until the carrots and green beans are soft but not mushy.
- Add 1 16 oz. can of cannellini beans, 1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce, 1 tsp. sugar, 1 heaping tsp. of Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine and reduce heat to low.
For The Sandwiches:
- Assemble and make the sandwiches while the soup is simmering.
- Cut 1 large tomato into uniform slices and cut 1 ball of fresh mozzarella into uniform slices.
- Spread 1 Tbsp. or so of jarred basil pesto onto 4 slices of gluten free bread (or any bread if not gluten free). Top each slice of bread with 2-3 mozzarella slices and 2 tomato slices. Place the second piece of bread onto each one (total 4 sandwiches).
- Heat a flat-bottomed skillet to slightly lower than medium.
- Spread a small amount of butter onto one side of the sandwich and place in the pan (butter side down). Butter the other half at this point.
- Cook the sandwiches (2 at a time) for 4-5 minutes per side or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Cut the sandwiches in half and serve with a bowl of soup.
Alyssa
This is the most delicious grilled cheese! I love soup year-round, too...great flavors in this one.
Christine
Thanks so much!
Rebecca Hubbell
I absolutely love pesto but have never had it on grilled cheese, pure genius!
Christine
That pesto really kicks it up a notch! 🙂