7 Things To Make On Your Commercial Panini Grill This Summer

A commercial panini grill is a multi-functional and potent kitchen accessory that allows you to prepare delicious meals from all sorts of ingredients all year round. If you manage a restaurant, cafe, or food truck, or even if you’re just interested in trying out some new cooking techniques at home, your panini grill can do more than just press sandwiches. Here are seven inventive ways to use your commercial panini grill this summer and keep your menu fresh and exciting.

Grilled Paninis with a Twist

Of course, the most important way to use a commercial panini grill is to make mouth-watering sandwiches! Traditional paninis with ham, cheese, and fresh veggies are always a hit, but don’t be afraid to mix it up. It’s summer, and you can play with seasonal ingredients like roasted veggies, pesto, and fresh fruits.

You might be thinking about including a few different varieties of paninis on your menu, such as:

Grilled Chicken and Pineapple: For a tropical twist, try grilled chicken, fresh pineapple slices, and zesty mayo or barbecue sauce.
Caprese Panini: Thin slices of ripe summer tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze make this sandwich great for a light meal.
Grilled Veggie Panini: Grilled vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant) combined with goat cheese and a herbed vinaigrette.

Try also making breads such as sourdough, ciabatta, or even a whole wheat choice, and offer your customers even more choices.

Grilled Quesadillas

If you’ve never used your panini grill for quesadillas, try it. For this Mexican-flavored dish, the grill’s even heat and crisp results are a grilling fan’s dream. Whether you are making cheese-filled quesadillas or adding protein, like chicken, beef, or shrimp, the panini grill can really make this dish extra tasty.

Bust out the grill to make golden, crispy quesadillas filled with pollo, mixed veggies, shrimp, and more.

Quesadillas with Chicken and Cheese: Mix shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and a tablespoon of salsa.
Vegetarian Quesadilla: Packed with black beans, corn, onions, bell pepper, and cheese, these will keep you full all day.
Shrimp and Avocado Quesadilla: For fresh summer flavor, combine shrimp with cheese, avocado, and a hint of lime.

You can also experiment with the kinds of tortillas you use; from flour to corn, you can appeal to a variety of dietary preferences.

Skewered Fruit Kababs And Cheese Grill

Summer is grilling season, but what better time to throw fruit on the barbecue, unlocking flavors you’d never imagined? Quickly grill fruit skewers in your commercial panini grill and accompany them with goat cheese, brie cheese, and even blue cheese for a unique savory snack.

Try combinations such as:

Grilled Pineapple and Brie: Sweet and tart pineapple goes well with creamy brie.
Peach and Goat Cheese Skewers: Grilled peaches perfectly match a refreshing, sweet-savory morsel with goat cheese.
Watermelon and Feta: The sugary sweetness of watermelon and the tangy saltiness of feta cheese are classic combinations.

Grilled fruit and cheese skewers can be a colourful starter, a refreshing snack, or even a dessert on your menu.

Grilled Vegetables for Salads

Grilling vegetables on a commercial panini grill is a quick and convenient method for giving your summer salads greater depth of flavor. Charred vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and asparagus melt deliciously and make a perfect accompaniment to a fresh bed of greens.

Make a grilled vegetable salad by mixing:

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms: Grilling the meaty, large mushrooms is another great option; balsamic vinaigrette is also a perfect match for the grilled fungi!
Grilled Asparagus and Arugula Salad: Easy and elegant, with a lemon vinaigrette.
Charred Corn and Avocado Salad: Grilled kernels add sweetness and smokiness to this refreshing and colorful ripe avocado and cilantro salad.

This is a simple way to offer your customers a substantial vegetarian dish full of summer flavors.

Grilled Seafood Tacos

When you throw seafood tacos on the grill, it’s the perfect addition to any summer meal, and the best part is how simple it is to make on your panini grill. Featuring shrimp, fish, or scallops, the panini grill can help to achieve a fantastic grill texture to these tacos that will taste and look amazing.

For grilled seafood tacos:

Grilled Shrimp Tacos: Shrimp is marinated in lime, garlic, and chili powder and then grilled on the panini grill. Serve with fresh slaw and a squeeze of lime.
Grilled Fish Tacos: Try using white fish like tilapia or mahi-mahi. Grill the fillets until they have crisp edges. Top with avocado, salsa, and a cilantro-lime dressing.
Scallop Tacos: If you’re ambitious, try grilling some fresh scallops and serve them with a mango salsa for a tropical touch.

The panini grill’s rapid heating is perfect for seafood that gets dried out and overcooked, like shrimp or scallops, yet you want it to cook fast so it stays tender.

Grilled Breakfast Burritos

Who says your panini grill is only for lunch or dinner? Breakfast burritos are a great way to start the day, and with your panini grill, you can adjust the fillings to accommodate many diets. The grill adds the perfect crisp to the outside while melting cheese and heating the fillings.

Try these variations:

Classic Breakfast Burrito: Scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and some salsa.
Veggie Breakfast Burrito: Scrambled eggs and avocado, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers.
Chorizo Breakfast Burrito: A spicy version of the breakfast burrito classic, packed with eggs, cheese, and chorizo sausage.

These grilled breakfast burritos can be sold as grab-and-go breakfast options or as a brunch special.

Grilled Pizza

Did you know your Panini press can make a great grilled pizza? Although most pizza is traditionally cooked in an oven, grilling the pie gives the crust a crispness and smoky flavor that is difficult to replicate.

Use your panini grill to:

Grill Personal Pizzas: Stretch out dough, top with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and your favorite sauce, and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted.
Grilled Veggie Pizza: With some seasonal vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms, this has to be one of the lightest veggie-packed pizzas.
BBQ Chicken Pizza – Top with shredded BBQ chicken, red onions, and cilantro for a tangy take on pizza night.

And the best thing about it is how interactive it is to serve your guests, with a cold glass in one hand and a slice of warm, grilled pizza in the other.

You don’t have to own a commercial panini grill to use it — it makes for an all-purpose piece of kitchen equipment that can be used to prepare a wide variety of summer-ready dishes. From grilled sandwiches to seafood tacos and even breakfast burritos, many inventive ideas exist for taking advantage of your panini grill. The other secret of success in summer is to explore with new ingredients on the panini grill using the best fresh summer produce, and new twists that will keep your panini customers coming back summer after summer.