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Home » Recipes » By Meal » Lunch Ideas

Cheesy Pizza Panini

Published: Oct 6, 2011 · Modified: Oct 16, 2020 by greenlitebitescom · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

This is a cheesy idea both literally and figuratively. I wasn't going to post it but I've made it a few times and figured what the heck. Maybe it will inspire you.

The idea is simply a pizza sandwich. You guys know by know I'm completely obsessed with pizza. I always have been. Normally I make english muffin pizzas but I didn't have any shredded cheese and, to be honest, I was too lazy to pull out the grater.

I opened the draw and saw a bag of Mini Babybel Lights. Now, you may think these baby's don't melt well because they are light (have you ever tried to melt a slice of fat free cheese? Yikes!) but you'd be mistaken. These things melt beautifully!

Cheesy Pizza Panini - mini babybel

So melt it I did. Right between two English Muffins in the George Forman. The Babybels are quite thick so I'm not sure this would work in a skillet. You kind of need the heat from both sides to penetrate and get to the cheese fast.

Cheesy Pizza PaniniThe results was a warm, gooey pizza panini, and that's why I made it again today. 🙂

Here's what I did…

  • 1 Whole Wheat English Muffin or Sandwich Thin
  • 1 tablespoon pizza sauce (you could use tomato paste, just be sure to sprinkle with salt and spices)
  • 1 Mini Babybel Light
  • Your fav pizza topics, optional of course (pepperoni, baby spinach, diced peppers)

If you like a crunchier muffin, pre-toast. I tend to like mine soft so I kept it raw.

Smear the sauce on the muffin, top with any toping and then place the cheese in the center.

Cheesy Pizza Panini - step 1

Press in the George Foreman or a panini press.

Cheesy Pizza Panini - step 2

Mine took exactly 4 minutes to melt through.

Cheesy Pizza Panini - step 3

Here's the one I made today with added spinach!

Cheesy Pizza Panini - step 4

Approx Nutritional Information per serving
Servings Amt per Serving
1 entire recipe
Calories Fat Fiber WWPs
185 4g 4g old: 3 new:5
Sugar Sat Fat Carbs Protein
5g 2g 27g 12g

Disclosure: I've partnered with The Laughing Cow. Click here for more info and click here to see all my ideas using the Laughing Cow!

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Comments

  1. Lauri says

    July 26, 2013 at 5:41 am

    I'm on my own tonight. I'm giving it a try.

    Reply
    • Lauri says

      July 26, 2013 at 4:49 pm

      As I said I was going to give a try. It's was delicious. Added a little onion and mushrooms too.

      Reply
  2. Francine says

    February 17, 2013 at 9:32 am

    What about pesto with the toppings in place of marinara or maybe even flavored cream cheese

    Reply
  3. Emmacooks says

    February 06, 2013 at 11:25 am

    That's a great idea, thanks 🙂

    Reply
  4. roni says

    February 06, 2013 at 11:11 am

    If you are more of a creamy girl what about a bit of ranch dressing and some spinach leaves? The artichokes mushrooms are a good idea too! Do you like tomato? About just a slice with a pinch of salt?

    Reply
  5. Emmacooks says

    February 06, 2013 at 10:57 am

    This looks great, I love those lit cheese wedges, but I really don't fancy marinara sauce. If I get a pizza, I always ask for it with no red sauce. I wonder what would be a good alternative to that? Maybe some mushrooms and or artichokes to give it more of an Alfredo twist?! Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  6. roni says

    January 01, 2013 at 9:50 am

    Not silly! I just put it on raw. It wilts slightly by the heat. Hope you like it!

    Reply
  7. Kate says

    December 29, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    Love this idea-- do you grill your spinach before and put it in or do you let it grill in the foreman? I know--- such a silly question!

    Reply
  8. roni says

    December 05, 2012 at 11:50 am

    Hi Amy! Just put a few leaves of raw spinch (like the ones in the bags) and it will be perfect. They'll wilt a little during the cooking process.

    Hope you like it!

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    December 03, 2012 at 7:10 am

    This looks fantastic! I am not much of a cook, so silly question...for adding the spinach do I need to cook it first, or raw spinach will cook right on up in the George Forman? THANKS for the healthy great recipe I will definatly be trying 🙂

    Reply
  10. Anna says

    October 27, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    I am going to try this at work in the microwave. Be nice to have a "hot" sandwich once in awhile

    Reply
  11. Anne says

    October 24, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Just used your recipe tonight! So easy and filling- I wish I had thought about this when I was in college! Thanks so much! 🙂

    Reply
  12. roni says

    September 29, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    Chris - Fresh Basil would be awesome!!

    Reply
  13. roni says

    September 29, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    Done and done. Thanks Kamila! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Chris says

    September 29, 2012 at 11:58 am

    Some people simply can't stand to *not* correct grammar mistakes. My dear friend is one of those people. I love her to pieces, but when she doesn't it, it makes me crazy.

    Now, on to what I was thinking. Wouldn't fresh basil be amazing with this, in place of the spinach. A caprese English muffin. I think I'm going to try it!

    Reply
  15. Kamila D says

    September 28, 2012 at 8:51 am

    I love your blog so Ill help... Here are the ones i saw:

    "I’ve made *in* a few times and figured what the heck."
    and
    "Here’s the on I made today with added spinach!"

    You can delete this post later.

    Reply
  16. Kate says

    August 24, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Debbie, how is life as a grammar Nazi?

    Reply
  17. roni says

    July 28, 2012 at 8:10 am

    Debbie - I do the best I can with the resources I have, and yes, I do spell check. Please let me know what the mistake is on this post and I'll fix it.

    This may give you more insight into my grammar "philosophy"...

    http://ronisweigh.com/2011/03/a-professional-blogger-should-not-be-making-these-kind-of-mistakes-my-response.html

    Reply
  18. Debbie says

    July 28, 2012 at 7:49 am

    Great idea! A friendly tip about your blog - spell check is your friend. Considering this is a source of income for you (based on the paid advertising), I'd clean it up by improving the grammar and spelling in your posts.

    Reply
  19. Chelsi says

    July 15, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    Made this the other day and added tons of spinach and some fresh tomatoes. It was absolutely delicious and something easy for me to make at work with my George Foreman. Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply
  20. Chrissy says

    November 08, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    This is such an easy idea that I never would have thought to try! I saw this a couple days ago and tried it shortly after! This is delicious! So yummy! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Kim says

    October 11, 2011 at 7:42 am

    I can't believe I never thought to use my George Forman for a panini like grill. Thanks for the idea, sounds great!

    Reply
  22. Linda says

    October 07, 2011 at 7:31 am

    WHAT a great Idea and I'm always looking for new ways to use my George Foreman Grill.. I'm making this one tonight!!! 🙂

    Reply
  23. Julie says

    October 07, 2011 at 2:30 am

    OMG I'm SO trying this tomorrow. Thanks, Roni for yet another clever idea!

    Reply
  24. shandy (@webgals) says

    October 06, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Um. That is genius. Must pull out my Foreman and try that.

    Reply

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