Roasted Veggie Paninis with Parmesan & Provolone

Meatless Monday is in the bag, with these savory Roasted Veggie Paninis! So comforting, so delicious, and so doable — even without a panini press.

Roasted Veggie Paninis with Parmesan & Provolone, anyone? Yup… I thought so! This hearty vegetarian sandwich recipe is equally delicious for lunch or for dinner. Veggie paninis are such an easy way to enjoy a variety of colorful vegetables in one tasty panini — but, with enough cheesy flavor that these seem positively decadent. Give them a try on your next Meatless Monday.

These Roasted Veggie Paninis took me about an hour to make, but this is because my grill pan is small and I had to finish them off two at a time. If you have a larger grill pan or cook yours in a large skillet, you should be able to have them on the table much sooner. (You’ll get these picturesque grill marks from a grill pan, but the sandwiches will still be tasty if you only have a skillet! Appearances aren’t always everything.)

Looking for more vegetarian recipes? Take a few minutes to browse through the Meatless Monday category for additional main dish ideas — and, if you’re looking for more roasted veggie recipes, check out this roasted vegetable tortellini bake!

Roasted Veggie Paninis with Parmesan & Provolone

Ingredients

– for the roasted veggies

2 medium portobello mushroom caps, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, sliced
2 small zucchini, sliced lengthwise and crosswise into flatter pieces
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
sea salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan

– for the sandwiches

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning
6 ciabatta rolls
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
12 slices provolone (8 oz)

Directions

First, roast your veggies: Spray two rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. Toss sliced veggies with olive oil and spices, then spread them out in single layers on the prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with shredded Parmesan. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, changing oven racks halfway through, then remove roasted veggies from oven.

Now, assemble your paninis: Combine olive oil and Italian seasoning. Make sure rolls are open, then lightly brush the outside of each roll (top and bottom) with the seasoned olive oil. Stir balsamic vinegar into whatever is left of your seasoned olive oil, then drizzle a little on the inside bottom of each ciabatta roll. Add one slice of provolone to each, top each generously with roasted veggies, and then add another slice of provolone and the top of the ciabatta roll.

Lastly, grill your paninis: Place assembled sandwiches in a grill pan or large skillet, press down, and weigh them down with a press or large cast iron skillet. Leave weight on top while you cook your paninis over medium heat for 3-4 minutes each side, until nicely browned and cheese is melted. (Do this in batches, depending on the size of your pan.)

Notes: If you have a panini press, use that instead! I used my smaller (less heavy) cast iron skillet as a weight since it matched the size of my grill pan, so just added a couple of cans of veggies inside it for extra press. If some veggies fall out while you’re pressing the paninis, put them on back in your sandwiches when done or enjoy them on the side.

Have your veggies, and eat them too

So, these were tasty! Get this, I’m not even a huge fan of zucchini, but roasted here with the Parmesan, seasonings, and all these veggie friends? Yum: The Parmesan adds a nice tang, while the melted Provolone helps secure everything together smoothly.

Swap out veggies if you like or according to what’s in season: Eggplant would be lovely, yellow squash is always nice, red onion would add a nice pop of extra flavor and color, or throw a little fresh spinach or arugula on top of your provolone while assembling the sandwiches.

Roasted Veggie Paninis with Parmesan & Provolone, printable recipe

Recipes in the real world

Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!