5-Ingredient Aldi Open-Face Baguette Sandwich
Looking for a quick, affordable, and satisfying vegetarian meal? This open-face baguette sandwich only requires five ingredients, all from Aldi, and takes under 30 minutes to prepare. Whether you're making lunch for yourself or a crowd, this recipe will hit the spot without breaking the bank.
What Makes This Recipe Special
Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: With just five affordable ingredients, this sandwich delivers bold, layered flavors that taste much more complex than the effort required. The combination of sharp cheddar, tangy rosso pesto, and juicy tomatoes creates a satisfying, rich bite without needing a laundry list of ingredients.
Accessible for Busy Home Cooks: The ingredients are all easily found at Aldi, and the recipe is quick to assemble—perfect for when you want something satisfying without spending a lot of time or money. It’s proof that delicious meals don’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Versatile and Customizable: This sandwich is a great base to play around with. You can swap out the cheese, add different veggies, or try other pestos depending on what’s in season or what Aldi has in stock. It’s a flexible meal that adapts to your needs.
Fresh and Indulgent at the Same Time: The contrast of the fresh greens and tomatoes with the melty, savory cheese and crispy baguette creates a perfect balance of textures and flavors. It’s indulgent without being heavy.
Crowd-Pleaser: Whether it’s lunch for yourself, a casual meal for friends, or even an appetizer for a gathering, this sandwich fits any occasion. It's impressive enough to serve to others but easy enough for a quick solo meal.
This recipe is all about making something simple feel special.
Ingredients for the Recipe
Baguette: Lightly crisp on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, with a mild, slightly sweet flavor that acts as the perfect base for layering.
Sharp Cheddar: Bold, rich, and slightly tangy with a satisfying creaminess that melts beautifully, balancing out the other flavors.
Rosso Pesto: A savory blend of sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and nuts, with a touch of sweetness and a deep umami flavor that adds richness.
Beefsteak Tomatoes: Juicy and mild, with a subtle sweetness and slight acidity that cuts through the richness of the pesto and cheese.
Arugula and Spinach Mix: Peppery, slightly bitter arugula paired with the mild, tender spinach brings a fresh, crisp contrast to the warm, cheesy base.
What do I serve with the sandwich?
This open-face baguette sandwich pairs perfectly with light, fresh sides that complement the rich and savory flavors without overpowering them. Here are some great options:
Lemon Roasted Potatoes: A perfect side to bring more color and nutrition to your meal. The acidity from the lemon cuts through the richness of the cheese and pesto. Roasting brings out the natural creaminess of the potatoes, which complements the sandwich nicely.
Creamy Tomato Soup: A classic pairing for any cheesy sandwich! This simple yet rich soup is perfect for dipping your open-face sandwich into. It’s hearty enough to round out the meal but still light with the fresh tomatoes.
Potato and Broccoli Salad with Dill Pickles: This fresh and crunchy salad brings a refreshing contrast to the warm, cheesy baguette. The dill adds a bright, herbal flavor, and broccoli keeps the dish light and hydrating.
Simple Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: Since you’re already using arugula in the sandwich, a light arugula salad ties everything together. The peppery arugula and zesty lemon vinaigrette offer a fresh bite that keeps things from feeling too heavy.
This recipe strikes a balance between being indulgent and offering some healthy elements, especially with the fresh vegetables. But there are definitely ways to tweak it if you want to make it even healthier while keeping it flavorful:
Healthier aspects of the recipe:
Fresh Vegetables: The beefsteak tomatoes and arugula-spinach mix add plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They bring freshness and fiber without adding extra calories.
Portion Control: By making it an open-face sandwich, you’re already reducing the amount of bread, keeping things a bit lighter while still satisfying that craving for carbs.
Ways to make it even healthier:
Use Whole Grain or Multigrain Baguette: Switching from a standard white baguette to a whole grain or multigrain version adds fiber, which helps with digestion and keeps you feeling full longer. It also adds more nutrients like iron and B vitamins.
Lower-Fat Cheese Options: You can swap out the sharp cheddar for a reduced-fat cheese or even try using a plant-based cheese if you want to cut back on saturated fat. Another option is to use less cheese overall but still enjoy the rich flavor by choosing a stronger-flavored cheese like a Parmesan or Pecorino.
Pesto Alternatives: Traditional pesto can be calorie-dense due to its oil and nut content. You could switch to a lower-calorie version, such as a homemade basil and tomato pesto with less oil, or even a yogurt-based pesto for extra creaminess with fewer calories.
Add More Veggies: Throwing in extra veggies like roasted bell peppers, zucchini, or even cucumbers after baking would boost the nutritional content without adding much to the calorie count. It also adds more texture and flavor.
Portion Control with Cheese: If you’re watching calories or fat, you could reduce the amount of cheese used and still enjoy its flavor. The pesto already adds a lot of richness, so the sandwich won’t feel lacking.
This sandwich nails the balance of flavors, giving you something that feels both fresh and indulgent. The crunchy baguette is the perfect base, holding up against the layers of richness. Sharp cheddar melts into creamy goodness, adding a bold tang that plays off the savory, slightly sweet punch of the rosso pesto.
The juicy beefsteak tomatoes bring a burst of freshness and acidity, cutting through the richness of the cheese and pesto. And right at the end, the arugula and spinach mix adds a crisp, peppery bite that makes everything feel bright and light again.
Each bite hits different parts of your palate, from the sharpness of the cheddar to the subtle sweetness of the tomatoes, making this simple sandwich feel well-rounded and satisfying. It’s hearty enough to be a meal but fresh enough to not weigh you down.
What Aldi Wine Pairs well with this Open-Face Baguette Sandwich:
Don’t Mind if I Do Sauvignon Blanc: This crisp, dry white wine is a great match for the peppery arugula, juicy tomatoes, and tangy cheddar. Its high acidity and citrus notes will cut through the richness of the pesto and cheese, keeping the meal light and refreshing.
Intermingle Pinot Grigio: A light-bodied, zesty wine with notes of green apple, pear, and lemon. It’s not too overpowering and pairs well with the sandwich’s fresh greens and tomatoes while balancing the creamy cheese.
Cotes de Provence Rosé: A dry rosé, especially one with notes of strawberry, melon, and citrus, would enhance the brightness of the tomatoes and the peppery arugula. It’s versatile enough to balance both the richness of the cheese and the freshness of the veggies.
More Sandwich Recipes:
5-Ingredient Aldi Open-Face Baguette Sandwich
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F
- Slice baguette into 4 pieces, then cut each piece lengthwise. Set aside 4 piece for later use (these can be placed in the freezer for longer storage).
- Place sliced baguette, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven.
- Spread 1 TBSP of pesto on each piece. Add sliced tomatoes and shredded cheese evenly between each piece.
- Cook in oven for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Top with arugula. Salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
208.39Fat
9.72 gSat. Fat
4.64 gCarbs
21.21 gFiber
2.24 gNet carbs
18.98 gSugar
5.07 gProtein
9.27 gSodium
475.64 mgCholesterol
22.46 mg