So, what is a panini press? Many folks think that a panini press simply smashes and warms bread, and its ingredients inside slightly. Or, that they were a fad from the 1980’s. Obviously, these opinions are clearly wrong since the panini press is the unsung multi-tasking workhorse kitchen appliance that provides countless recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

All you have to do is select your desired temperature, place your unique and surprising ingredients on the grilling surface, set the time, and await the greatest meal you were never expecting!

If you're looking to purchase a panini press. Williams Food Equipment sells a great range of some of the best brands available.

15 Surprising Panini Press Recipes

There really are no better sandwiches in the world than one that is conceived on a panini press. Remarkably, there are many more options for your panini press to perform its magic for your family’s meals on the daily. Here are 15 of our favourite surprising foods that we love to press!

1. Quesadillas (Kid-Friendly)

Quesadillas for the kids only takes minutes to achieve as both a quick lunch and as a great way to quiet and calm them during the lazy days of summer. Follow the instructions of your panini maker about preheating.

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 3–4 mins | Servings: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 flour tortilla

• ⅓ cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend

• 1 tsp butter (softened)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your panini press according to manufacturer instructions.

2. Sprinkle cheese on one half of the tortilla and fold it in half.

3. Lightly butter the outside of the folded tortilla on both sides.

4. Place in the panini press and cook until golden brown and crispy (about 3–4 minutes).

5. Cut into wedges and serve warm.

Tips:

• Add some cooked chicken, beans, or veggies to make it more filling.

• Serve with salsa or sour cream.

2. Crispy Bacon

There are numerous methods of bacon making available online to try for yourself. Well, look no further than your trusty panini press!

Prep Time: 2 mins | Cook Time: 8–10 mins | Servings: Varies

Ingredients:

• Bacon strips

• Freshly cracked black pepper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the panini press slightly (not too hot).

2. Sprinkle black pepper on both sides of the bacon.

3. Lay bacon strips flat on the press without overlapping.

4. Close the lid and cook for 8–10 minutes until crispy.

5. Let cool slightly on a paper towel-lined plate.

Tips:

• Always use the drip tray to avoid mess.

• Great for meal prep!

3. Quick Omelette

Have you ever wanted an omelette but did not have the time or energy to deal with making the beloved breakfast treat? 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 5 mins | Servings: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 2 tbsp milk

• 2 tbsp diced bell peppers

• 2 tbsp diced onions

• 2 tbsp diced ham

• ¼ cup shredded cheese

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your panini press.

2. Sauté peppers, onions, and ham directly on the press until softened.

3. Whisk eggs with milk, salt, and pepper.

4. Pour egg mixture over the cooked vegetables and close lid gently for 1–2 minutes.

5. Open, sprinkle cheese, and gently roll or fold the omelette.

Tips:

• Add spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrients.

• Serve with toast or in a wrap.

4. Hash Browns

Homemade hash browns in a panini maker are the best! 

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 8 mins | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 Russet potatoes, peeled

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Salt, pepper, and favorite herbs

Instructions:

1. Grate potatoes and squeeze out excess moisture using a clean towel.

2. Toss with olive oil, salt, and herbs.

3. Preheat panini press and add the mixture in a thin, even layer.

4. Cook for 8–10 minutes until golden and crispy.

Tips:

• Optional: Add shredded onion for flavor.

5. Croutons

Do not throw away that great Italian or French bread that has gone stale on you and follow this recipe. Use a Shun bread knife to cut into bite-size pieces.

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 4–6 mins | Servings: Varies

Ingredients:

• Stale bread (Italian or French), cubed or sliced

• 1 tbsp Ranch seasoning

• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Preheat your panini press.

2. Sprinkle seasoning and Parmesan over bread pieces.

3. Place in press and toast until crisp and golden.

4. Let cool and chop into cubes if needed.

Tips:

• Perfect for Caesar salad or soups.

6. French Toast

Start your day off right with two pieces of brioche dunked in a solution of scrambled eggs, milk, and cinnamon. 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 4 mins | Servings: 1–2

Ingredients:

• 2 slices brioche or challah

• 1 egg

• ⅓ cup milk

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• Butter or spray oil

• Powdered sugar and lemon juice (for topping)

Instructions:

1. Whisk egg, milk, and cinnamon in a bowl.

2. Dip bread slices and coat well.

3. Lightly grease the panini press.

4. Cook slices for 3–4 minutes until golden.

5. Top with sugar and lemon juice.

Tips:

• Add berries or maple syrup for extra indulgence.

7. Juicy Burgers

One of the biggest panini maker recipes searched for are burgers! Using a panini press for cooking a burger is ideal in many ways. 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 6–7 mins | Servings: 1 burger

Ingredients:

• 1 burger patty (beef, turkey, or veggie)

• Salt and pepper

• Optional: cheese, buns, toppings

Instructions:

1. Season the patty with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat the panini press.

3. Place patty and cook with lid closed for 6–7 minutes or until done.

4. Add cheese in the last minute if desired.

Tips:

• Toast the buns separately on the press for extra crunch.

8. Grilled Vegetables

Grilled veggies are delightful and healthy. But using a pan can create a mushy and over-cooked mouthfeel to most vegetables. Using a panini press for grilling veggies offers an outdoor, grilled taste while staying indoors and wasting little time in prepping. 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 6–10 mins | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• Assorted sliced vegetables (zucchini, peppers, onions, eggplant)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Herbs, salt, pepper

• Optional: Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Toss vegetables in oil and seasoning.

2. Place on panini press in a single layer.

3. Grill for 6–10 minutes until charred and tender.

Tips:

• Serve on sandwiches, with pasta, or as a side dish.

9. Mini Cakes in Ramekins

When it comes to unique panini press ideas, baking a cake in one sure stands out! We tried it and loved it! If you are in a hurry for a dessert for your gathering, mix store-bought cake mix, grease your Pasabahce Ramekins, then place the ingredients inside. 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 17–20 mins | Servings: 4 mini cakes

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix + required ingredients

• Butter (for greasing)

• Frosting of choice

Instructions:

1. Grease ramekins and fill ¾ full with batter.

2. Preheat panini press on medium.

3. Place ramekins on the press and gently rest lid over them.

4. Bake for 17–20 minutes. Cool and frost.

Tips:

• Great for individual desserts or parties.

10. Apple Turnover

Puffed pastry and your own recipe for caramelized apples will create the most ridiculous apple turnover you have ever eaten! 

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 6 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• Puff pastry sheets, thawed

• 1 cup caramelized apples

• 1 tbsp butter (melted)

• Optional: cinnamon sugar, vanilla ice cream

Instructions:

1. Place apple filling on pastry squares.

2. Fold over and crimp edges.

3. Brush with butter and place on preheated press.

4. Cook for 5–6 minutes until golden.

5. Serve with ice cream.

Related: Apple Appliances

11. Waffle Cones

The smell of waffle cones is a memory nobody forgets. Making them at home could not be more simple! 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 3–5 mins | Servings: 6 cones

Ingredients:

• Waffle batter (your recipe or boxed)

• Cardboard cone wrapped in foil

Instructions:

1. Spread thin layer of batter on press.

2. Cook for 3–5 minutes until golden.

3. Remove and quickly shape around the cone mold.

Tips:

• Store in an airtight container to keep crisp.

12. Naan Flatbread

An awesome recipe for Indian flatbread known as naan uses a panini press to achieve perfect results. Utilizing different aromatic herbs and spices adds to the exotic taste of this bread. 

Prep Time: 10 mins + rest time | Cook Time: 3–4 mins per flatbread | Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• Naan dough (your recipe or store-bought)

• Chopped cilantro, butter

Instructions:

1. Roll dough into 6” rounds.

2. Cook on panini press until puffed and charred (about 3–4 mins).

3. Brush with butter and sprinkle with cilantro.

Related: Best Cookware Material

13. Cinnamon Rolls

Whether you purchase a store-bought roll of cinnamon rolls or make your own recipe handed down from grandma, the panini press will be your best friend. Cooking them alone on the panini press surface or inside a ramekin like the cake recipe above allows for a beautiful, crusty exterior to form unlike any other method of baking cinnamon rolls.

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 6–8 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• Store-bought or homemade cinnamon rolls

• Butter (for greasing)

Instructions:

1. Preheat press and lightly grease it.

2. Place cinnamon rolls directly or in ramekins.

3. Cook for 6–8 mins until crusty outside and gooey inside.

Tips:

• Add icing after cooking.

14. Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken can’t get quicker than in between a panini press. Gorgeous grill marks even add to the presentation value when chicken is cooked in a panini press. Adding a BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce at the end of cooking caramelized that sugar into the crunchy chicken for absolute fulfillment!

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 6–8 mins | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts or thighs

• Salt, pepper, seasonings

• BBQ or teriyaki sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. Season chicken and preheat press.

2. Grill chicken for 6–8 mins until cooked through.

3. Brush with sauce in final minute to caramelize.

15. Fish Fillets

Fish can be a pain to cook. Try it on a panini press, and it will surely change your mind. 

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 5–7 mins | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• Fish fillets (salmon, tilapia, etc.)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Dry rub or seasoning mix

Instructions:

1. Pat fillets dry, coat with oil and seasoning.

2. Cook on hot panini press for 5–7 mins.

3. Serve with lemon wedges or a side salad.

Looking for more great cooking equipment? Williams Food Equipment has all you'll need for your kitchen, business, or even as a gift.

Break out that old Panini Press or go grab a new one!

As you can see, we do love our panini press. The uses truly are endless when you get creative. The panini press is unique to most cooking methods with its two-piece construction using weight and heat from above and heat below to create searing or toasting on food that no other method can perform.

Hopefully you will now try your panini press again to make some of the above recipes. Our inventory of panini presses and panini makers is the best in Canada if you are in the market for one of these really cool kitchen appliances.

We can not thank you enough for allowing us to be your go-to place to shop, research, learn, and grow in everything the home cook needs and wants. We love learning and growing with you as well in this vast culinary world.

WFE is always updating our website and our store to help assist you in finding the right product for the right needs intended for either your kitchen, business, or as a gift. Feel free to reach out anytime to us here at Williams Food Equipment. We love hearing form you all!

-Thanks Again!