Stanley Tucci’s "Desert Island Sandwich" Is the Grilled Cheese Upgrade We Didn’t Know We Needed

Lunch menu, solved.

Reviewed by Dietitian Mandy Enright, M.S., RDN, RYT

Key Points

• Stanley Tucci’s flavorful grilled cheese is made with mozzarella, prosciutto, basil and pesto.
• This is just one of many excellent recipes he shares on TV, podcasts and in his many cookbooks.
• His passion for food and Italian cooking always shines through, making him a trusted source.

We’ve watched Stanley Tucci’s CNN series Searching for Italy and perused through his many books, including his memoir/cookbook Taste: My Life Through Food and diary-style cookbook What I Ate in One Yearand as a result, we are more than convinced that he is just as incredible creating magic in the kitchen as he is on the movie screen.

We also enjoy listening to him whenever he’s featured on podcasts, too, and it was on the Desert Island Dishes podcast that we first heard about this grilled cheese sandwich recipe. He told podcast host Margie Nomura about his own “desert island recipes,” or the recipes he’d choose to eat again if stranded on a desert island. When asked about a sandwich pick that would make the list, Tucci enthusiastically responded, “I love sandwiches!”

As a kid, one of his favorite bedtime snacks involved slices of toasted bread slathered with peanut butter, banana slices and honey. “So delicious … I still love that, but I can’t eat it every night like I used to,” Tucci continues.

At this age, his desert island sandwich is a grilled cheese with prosciutto … maybe mozzarella, and then either a couple leaves of basil or a little bit of pesto in there. So good!

Instead of a classic grilled cheese with American cheese slices and white bread, we love how Tucci showcases a few flavorful elements that give a nod to his family’s roots in Italy: easy-melting mozzarella, savory prosciutto slices and a verdant punch of pesto.

Inspired by that sentiment, Nomura took to TikTok to share her twist on Tucci’s top-notch sandwich.

@desertislanddishes

Stanley Tucci’s favourite sandwich from the Desert Island Dishes podcast #sandwich #stanleytucci #tuccitok #favouritesandwich #grilledcheese #foodtiktok

♬ Lujon – Henry Mancini

Here’s how to make the sandwich: Cut 2 thick slices of artisan-style sourdough (or your favorite crusty, sturdy bread). If desired, top 1 slice of the bread with a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese, white Cheddar, Gouda or Gruyère. Layer on 3 slices of prosciutto, 3 (½-inch) slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and as many fresh basil leaves as you like. Finish with a spoonful of jarred or homemade pesto.

Spread butter or brush olive oil on the outside of both slices, then place them face down in a skillet over low heat. Once the exterior of the bottom slice is golden brown and the cheese is beginning to melt, use a spatula to flip the sandwich. After the second side is toasted, remove the sandwich from the pan.

Use a sharp knife to slice the sandwich in half, and revel in your glorious cheese pull. If you want, serve it alongside a white bean salad.

From coaching us through how to make his ultimate holiday entree to rounding out our Italian vacation dining itinerary to alerting us to whip up an Ina Garten tomato tart recipe that inspired him to declare the Food Network star “brilliant,” Tucci is a favorite go-to source for all things food and drink, and his delicious grilled cheese sandwich is proof of this.