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Tomato Mozzarella Panini (Starbucks Copycat!)

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This copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini recipe is an easy meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes, can easily be prepped ahead, and is loaded with classic Caprese flavors. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this tomato mozzarella panini Starbucks copycat is a minimal meal with maximum flavor – just like my turkey pesto panini. Add some crockpot pesto chicken to this sandwich for a protein boost!

I recently had the Starbucks tomato and mozzarella panini and it was…slightly disappointing. Of course it was convenient (but also not satisfying enough for a whole meal) but I knew I could easily make a Caprese sandwich that is FULLY LOADED with flavor and not skimping on any of the ingredients.

And if you like a good Starbucks copycat as much as I do, be sure to try my sweet cream cold foam, iced PSL copycat,and Starbucks protein box next time. (And here are 31 Starbucks drinks for kids!)

Stack of copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

What You’ll Love About Copycat Starbucks Mozzarella Tomato Panini

  • Big flavors
  • Made with just 5 simple ingredients
  • Just 10 minutes prep time
  • Just 30 minutes total time (and easy to prep ahead)
  • Vegetarian and easy to make vegan
Pesto panini with tomatoes on a baking sheet before baking.

Tomato Mozzarella Panini Starbucks Copycat Ingredients

This simple sandwich is made with just 5 simple ingredients:

  • Tomatoes – Use grape or cherry tomatoes. This part takes 20 minutes, and it’s a great one to prep ahead if you want to cut down on cook time.
  • Olive oil – Use a high quality olive oil for best flavor.
  • Seasonings – The tomatoes are seasoned simply with salt and pepper.
  • Bread – Look for a ciabatta roll. Take-and-bake rolls are a great option, but you can also look for ciabatta bread and then cut it into individual pieces.
  • Mozzarella cheese – Use fresh mozzarella for best flavor, you could use a shredded mozzarella, but fresh mozzarella balls are preferred.
  • Pesto – Use homemade or store-bought pesto.
Ingredients to make tomato mozzarella panini Starbucks copycat recipe..

How to Make Starbucks Tomato Mozzarella Panini

Ok, let’s make this pesto panini!

Drizzling grape tomatoes with olive oil.
  • Assemble sandwiches. Spread both sides of bun with pesto. Top with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Top with other bun.
Pesto panini assembly on a sheet pan.
  • Bake sandwiches. Bake until cheese is melty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in a Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini?

The tomato and mozzarella panini at Starbucks has 360 calories. I didn’t think it was satisfying as it felt like mostly bread to me, so we amped up the pesto, cheese, and tomatoes a bit for more flavor – and more calories. 🙂

What is in the tomato mozzarella panini?

This panini is a simple twist on a Caprese sandwich. It’s made with layers of pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese. The Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini recipe also has spinach listed – my sandwich had two LEAVES. I left it off of my copycat version as I didn’t think it added anything.

Here is the ingredient list from Starbucks.com:

FOCACCIA ROLL [UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, SOUR CULTURE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, SEMOLINA, CANOLA OIL, YEAST, ENZYMES], MOZZARELLA CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, VINEGAR, SALT, ENZYMES], ROASTED TOMATOES [TOMATOES, CANOLA OIL, GARLIC, VINEGAR, SALT, SPICES], BASIL PESTO [BASIL, CANOLA OIL, PARMESAN CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW’S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT AND ENZYMES), GARLIC PUREE (WATER, GRANULATED GARLIC), RICE VINEGAR, BUTTER, ASCORBIC ACID, SEA SALT, BLACK PEPPER], SPINACH. ENZYMES ARE VEGETARIAN

Overhead shot of Caprese panini sandwiches with tomatoes peeking out.

Storage Instructions

Store the components in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. I do not recommend assembling and cooking the sandwich and then storing, make only what you will eat.

How to Serve a Caprese Panini to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in. 😉

Sandwiches can be tough for kids – not only are they difficult to eat, but tomato and mozzarella panini recipes like this one are also tough to deconstruct, so you have a few options.

One is to let your kids make their own, so they put the ingredients they want on their own sandwich. Another is to just serve the components separately, like a deconstructed sandwich then they can decide exactly what to eat and how many of the components they would like to eat.

All of my articles on feeding kids can be found here and if you want a FULL list of all of the videos I have with hacks, tips, scripts, and ideas for feeding kids, check out my instagram or tiktok page.

Tomato mozzarella paninis with potato chips.

What to Serve with Starbucks Tomato Mozzarella Panini Recipe

I like to serve sandwiches with a simple side and potentially a veggie or two. 😉

More Easy Sandwich Recipes

If you like this copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini, you might also like some of these other easy sandwich recipes:

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Tomato mozzarella panini Starbucks copycat on a cutting board.
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Stack of copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini.

Tomato Mozzarella Panini (Starbucks Copycat!)

  • Author: Emily Dingmann of myeverydaytable.com
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Sandwich
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

This copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini recipe is easy, made with simple ingredients, and loaded with Caprese flavors! 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • sea salt & black pepper for tomatoes
  • 16 oz. ciabatta or focaccia bread (take and bake is perfect)
  • 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 8 Tbsp. pesto (1/2 cup)


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Roast tomatoes according to instructions here.
  3. Spread both sides of bread with pesto sauce. Top with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
  4. Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until cheese is melty.

Keywords: Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini recipe, tomato mozzarella panini Starbucks, tomato mozzarella panini

Photo Credit: All photos in this post were take by Loren at Sweet Rustic Bakes

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Comments

  1. Lynne Lee

    I make this for my Family several times a year… we love it!!! I even have my Sister and her Family making it now too!

    • Emily

      Hi Lynne, Thank you so much! I’m so glad that your family loves it and that you are spreading the word. I appreciate it! 🙂

    • Emily

      I would wrap sandwiches in foil and store in a freezer bag. Take out morning you are going to eat them and let thaw and then bake when ready to eat! Or you could put on a panini press at that point as well. If you try it, let us know!