Turkey Pesto Panini (Starbucks Copycat)
When you find yourself needing a healthy, quick, and delicious meal, this savory turkey panini should be on your list! With major layers of flavor – hi melty provolone cheese, flavorful pesto, deli turkey, and roasted red peppers – all between toasted bread, you’ll love how it comes together. Just like my tomato mozzarella panini (also a Starbucks copycat), I add a ton more filling than the turkey pesto panini you’ll get at Starbucks, so it’s extra delicious and much more satisfying.
Like the Starbucks sandwich, but way more fillings. 🥪
I love the convenience of Starbucks when I need it…but the sandwiches always feel a tad sad to me. Like the concept is a good one, but I need double or triple the fillings. (I get it, they are the most expensive part!)
So I love making it at home. Thankfully, it’s ridiculously easy too, so this meal can be ready in 15 minutes. Plus I can add WAY more fillings to make sandwich one that will actually satisfy my hunger. It’s a win-win. They’re…
😋 Seriously delicious: Crispy, melty, savory perfection with flavor boosters like pesto and roasted red peppers.
🛒 Made with simple ingredients: You need just a few ingredients to bring this sandwich to life: bread, turkey, cheese, pesto, and roasted red peppers.
🔥 Crispy & golden: This sandwich has the satisfying panini press crunch, even if you don’t have a panini press!
🕒 Quick to make: This couldn’t be easier and your meal will be ready in just about 15 minutes start to finish.
♻️ Great for Thanksgiving leftovers: Use holiday turkey and top with a cranberry mayo sauce (simply mix equal parts of both together), a small layer of stuffing, and a melty white American cheese.
If you love Starbucks copycat recipes, be sure to try my sweet cream cold foam cold brew, lavender cream matcha, or brown sugar shaken espresso.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring this panini to the table: ciabatta bread, pesto, deli turkey meat, roasted red peppers, and provolone cheese.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: No panini press? No problem (me neither!). Use a skillet and press with another heavy pan (like a cast iron) to mimic the press and get the same melty-crispy effect.
- Cooking methods: If you prefer, you can also bake these. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until cheese is melty. Press the sandwich down with a weighted pan. (Leave on while baking if it’s oven-safe.)
- Feeding kids without pressure: I recommend serving sandwiches deconstructed so I put out all of the components on the table, but don’t make a sandwich for them. Then everyone can make their own sandwich (or un-sandwich) according to their preferences.
- Additions: The world is your oyster, there are so many additions you could add to your sandwich! You could switch up the cheese, or swap the pesto for another flavor booster like gardinera mayonnaise or a garlic aioli. Roasted grape tomatoes or sliced tomatoes would also be delicious.
Need more quick dinner ideas? I’ve got 100+ weeknight dinner recipes and strategies for you.
Turkey Pesto Panini Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Description
This turkey pesto panini has delicious layers of melty provolone, flavorful pesto, sweet red peppers, and turkey. YUM! (Starbucks copycat)
Ingredients
- 14 oz. ciabatta or focaccia bread (take and bake is perfect)
- 8 Tbsp. pesto (1/2 cup)
- 8 oz. deli turkey
- 1 cup sliced roasted red peppers
- 4 oz. provolone cheese (8 thin slices)
Instructions
- Bake bread and let cool if necessary.
- Spread both sides of bread with pesto sauce.
- Top with red peppers, turkey, and provolone cheese.
- Place assembled sandwiches in a lightly oiled nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Place a heavy pan or pot on top of sandwiches and cook for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip over sandwiches, add weight on top, and cook another 3-4 minutes, until cheese is melty and both sides are golden brown.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can also bake these. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until cheese is melty. Press the sandwich down with a weighted pan. (Leave on while baking if it’s oven-safe.)
- Storage: Store the components in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Ingredient notes: Feel free to switch up the sandwich components.
- Prep ahead: If you would like to assemble the turkey pesto panini recipe ahead of time, you could do this as it’s essentially what is done if you get it from Starbucks! Assemble the sandwich, store it in the refrigerator for a day or two, and then cook the sandwiches in a skillet or on a panini press.
- Special tools: If you don’t have a panini press, use a heavy pan like a cast iron skillet.
- Serve with: Soup, raw veggies and dip, potato chips, fruit.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the sandwich with a few easy sides and your meal is ready!
- Raw veggies and veggie dip
- Potato chips
- Fresh fruit
- Kale salad
- Greek cucumber salad
More Easy Sandwich Recipes
If you like this turkey panini recipe, you might also like some of these other easy sandwich recipes:
- Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Mediterranean Pita Sandwich
- Buffalo Chicken Sliders
- Deli Turkey Sliders
FAQs
Here are the Starbucks turkey pesto panini ingredients, taken from Starbucks.com: CIABATTA ROLL [ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, SOUR CULTURE, SEMOLINA, YEAST, SALT, SEA SALT, ACACIA GUM], TURKEY BREAST RAISED WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS [TURKEY BREAST, WATER, SALT, TURBINADO SUGAR, VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN, COTTONSEED AND/OR PEANUT OIL)], PROVOLONE CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], BASIL PESTO [BASIL, CANOLA OIL, PARMESAN CHEESE (MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), GARLIC PUREE (WATER, GRANULATED GARLIC), RICE VINEGAR, BUTTER (MILK), ASCORBIC ACID, SEA SALT, BLACK PEPPER], ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS [PEPPERS, CANOLA OIL, SALT]
Starbucks turkey panini is made with ciabatta bread but you have a few options. You can use ciabatta rolls, a loaf of ciabatta bread, Italian bread, or even your favorite artisan bread, sliced.
Yes! This would be delicious with Thanksgiving leftovers! Layer leftover turkey and add extra Thanksgiving flavors like cranberry sauce (I would probably skip the pesto!), mashed potatoes, or any other leftovers you like.
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer, nutrition expert, and founder of My Everyday Table. She specializes in creating easy, healthy recipes that help busy parents feed their families well every single day, without the stress. With a degree in Nutrition and over 20 years of experience, Emily shares family-friendly meals that are practical, nourishing, and full of flavor. Learn more about Emily’s approach to everyday cooking and nutrition here.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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