Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsJosie's RestaurantJohnny's Grilled Cheese Recipe

Johnny's Grilled Cheese Recipe

Inspired by Josie's Restaurant
Time20m
Serves1

Havarti cheese, fresh tomato and basil pesto aioli on sourdough.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Cheese

Vegetables

Sauce

Bread

Butter

Method

Preparation of Ingredients

  1. 1

    Slice the Tomato

    Cut the fresh tomato into even slices, about 1/4 inch thick. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Prepare the Pesto Aioli

    In a small bowl, mix together the basil pesto and mayonnaise until well combined. This will be your pesto aioli.

  3. 3

    Slice the Cheese

    Cut the Havarti cheese into slices that are about 1/4 inch thick.

Assembling the Sandwich

  1. 4

    Spread the Aioli

    Take one slice of sourdough bread and spread a generous amount of the pesto aioli on one side. Place the aioli side face up on a plate.

  2. 5

    Add Cheese and Tomato

    Layer the sliced Havarti cheese evenly over the aioli. Then, place the sliced tomatoes on top of the cheese.

  3. 6

    Top with Another Slice

    Spread pesto aioli on one side of the second slice of sourdough bread and place this on top of the tomatoes, aioli side facing down.

Grilling the Sandwich

  1. 7

    Heat the Pan

    In a skillet or frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter over medium heat.

  2. 8

    Grill the Sandwich

    Carefully place the assembled sandwich in the skillet. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown.

  3. 9

    Flip and Continue Cooking

    Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan, then carefully flip the sandwich using a spatula. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the second side is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Serving

  1. 10

    Plate and Serve

    Remove the grilled cheese from the skillet and let it rest for a minute. Cut the sandwich in half and serve warm.

More from Josie's Restaurant