Focaccia Bread Sandwich with Italian Meats and Mozzarella

This focaccia bread sandwich is layered with fresh, Italian-inspired ingredients and finished with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze. It's an easy, flavor-packed sandwich that's perfect for lunch, picnics, or casual summer entertaining.

This focaccia sandwich combines fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, peppery arugula, basil pesto, and Italian cured meats on soft focaccia bread. A drizzle of balsamic glaze adds a simple finishing touch. You can use store-bought focaccia, but our Homemade Focaccia Bread recipe is a great option if you'd like to make your own.

Grant and I love serving these Italian focaccia bread sandwiches for a quick summer lunch, a picnic, or as part of an easy entertaining spread. It comes together in about 10 minutes and can be adapted with different meats, cheeses, vegetables, and sauces.

Scroll down for step-by-step photos, helpful tips, flavor variations, and wine pairing ideas!

Jump to:

• What Is a Focaccia Bread Sandwich?
• Why You'll Love This Focaccia Bread Sandwich
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make a Focaccia Bread Sandwich
• How to Keep a Focaccia Sandwich from Getting Soggy
• Flavor Variations
• Substitutions and Add-Ins
• What to Serve with a Focaccia Bread Sandwich
• Storage Instructions
• More Italian Recipes for Summer
• Focaccia Bread Sandwich with Italian Meats and Mozzarella

What Is a Focaccia Bread Sandwich?

A focaccia bread sandwich is made with soft Italian focaccia and layered with flavorful fillings like pesto, fresh greens, tomatoes, cheese, and cured meats.

This version combines basil pesto, arugula, tomatoes, Italian cured meats, and fresh mozzarella, finished with olive oil and balsamic glaze for an easy 10-minute lunch or picnic sandwich.

Why You'll Love This Focaccia Bread Sandwich

• Ready in 10 minutes - No cooking required. (Unless you are baking your own bread)
• Packed with Italian flavor - Pesto, mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and cured meats make every bite delicious.
• Perfect for lunch or picnics - Easy to make and transport.
• Easy to customize - Swap in your favorite meats, cheeses, or vegetables.
• Fresh and seasonal - Ideal for warm-weather meals.

Ingredients You'll Need

This focaccia bread sandwich recipe uses simple ingredients that come together to create a flavorful Italian-inspired lunch.

• Focaccia - The base of the sandwich. Use our homemade focaccia or good-quality store-bought focaccia. Lightly toast it if you prefer a little more texture.
• Basil pesto - Adds fresh herb flavor and creates a flavorful layer on the bread. Homemade basil pesto or store-bought pesto both work.
• Fresh arugula and basil leaves - Arugula adds a peppery bite that balances the rich cheese and cured meats, while fresh basil brings extra freshness and classic Italian flavor. 
• Ripe tomatoes - Add sweetness, juiciness, and a fresh summer flavor.
• Italian cured meats - Salami, prosciutto, capicola, or bresaola all work well. Use one type or a mix.
• Fresh mozzarella - Creamy and mild, it balances the salty meats and pesto. Burrata also works beautifully.
• Balsamic glaze - Optional, but it adds a sweet and tangy finish.
• Extra-virgin olive oil - A small drizzle ties everything together.
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - Season to taste.

See the recipe card for quantities

How to Make a Focaccia Bread Sandwich

Prepare the bread

Arrange the focaccia on a board. Lightly toast it if desired, then spread a generous layer of pesto over each piece of bread.

Layer the ingredients

Add the arugula, fresh basil leaves, sliced tomatoes, Italian cured meats, and fresh mozzarella or burrata.

Season and finish

Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, if using. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve and enjoy!

Finish with extra basil leaves and serve immediately.

How to Keep a Focaccia Sandwich from Getting Soggy

To keep a focaccia sandwich from getting soggy, layer drier ingredients closest to the bread and keep juicy ingredients away from direct contact where possible.

For this sandwich, spread the pesto on the bread, then add arugula before layering the tomatoes, meats, and mozzarella. If packing it for a picnic, add the balsamic glaze just before serving.

Lightly toasting the focaccia can also help it hold its shape.

Flavor Variations

Keep this focaccia sandwich fresh and interesting with a few simple variations.

• Chicken Caprese Sandwich  - Add grilled chicken, pesto mayo, tomato, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic glaze. Or try a classic Caprese sandwich.
• Vegetarian Focaccia Sandwich - Use roasted Mediterranean vegetables, olive tapenade, pesto, mozzarella, and arugula

Substitutions and Add-Ins

• Different bread - Try ciabatta, sourdough, baguette, panini rolls, or soft Italian rolls.
• Different cheeses - Burrata, provolone, fontina, goat cheese, or Parmesan all work well.
• Extra add-ins - Roasted or grilled Mediterranean vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, pickled red onions, olive tapenade, Calabrian chili paste, pesto mayo, or garlic aioli.

What to Serve with a Focaccia Bread Sandwich

This Italian focaccia sandwich pairs beautifully with summer appetizers, fresh salads, simple potato sides, and light desserts.

• Summer appetizers - Serve with our Watermelon Feta Skewers, Peach Appetizer Skewers, or Caprese Skewers for picnics or an easy warm-weather spread.
• Fresh salads - Pair it with our Cucumber Feta Salad, vegetarian Italian Pasta Salad, Watermelon Salad with Feta, Tomato Caprese Salad, or Peach and Prosciutto Salad.
• Potato sides - Crispy Baked Potato Wedges or a handful of kettle chips make a simple side for a more filling lunch or casual summer dinner.

Storage Instructions

• Fridge: This sandwich is best enjoyed fresh, but can be wrapped tightly in parchment paper and foil and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Just keep in mind that the tomatoes and mozzarella may soften the bread slightly over time.
• Make Ahead: Prepare the fillings in advance and store them separately. Assemble the sandwich the same day you plan to serve it for the best texture.
• Picnic Tip: To help keep the sandwich from getting soggy, layer the arugula between the bread and tomatoes. Wrap it tightly in parchment paper or foil and keep it chilled until you're ready to serve. 

More Italian Recipes for Summer

If you enjoy easy Italian-inspired recipes like this one, you may also like our:

• Tomato Bruschetta
• Mango Tiramisu with Passion Fruit
• Baked Caprese Chicken
• Homemade Napolitana Sauce

This focaccia bread sandwich is everything we love about easy summer cooking - fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and very little effort. It's simple enough for lunch, but generous enough for picnics, casual gatherings, or relaxed weekend meals.

Give it a try and let us know in the comments how it turned out! Don't forget to Pin it for later or share it with a friend.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.