I can’t remember the last time I had a better sandwich. I could write a love song about this sandwich. I wanted an easy baguette sandwich for a French Inspired Picnic with my friend Thi. This only has a couple of ingredients but WOW does it taste magical when you put them together! I decided to name this Pesto Picnic Sandwich (I never know what to name sandwiches) because it stayed unbelievably good hours after I made them, making this the perfect sandwich for a picnic.

Last summer, I grew an abundance of basil and made about a dozen jars of amazing homemade pesto. I’m down to my last two jars in the freezer, which is just fine because it’s almost basil season again! I’ll be doing this every summer for the rest of time because there’s nothing that makes food taste as fresh as homemade pesto. It really is one of those things that tastes ten times better homemade than store bought. Since this picnic was French-inspired and the French are passionate about eating local, I thought, what’s better than pesto I made myself using basil I grew myself? I moved this jar from the freezer to the fridge night before and it was thawed by lunch.

Roasted red pepper is another secret ingredient of mine. I always have a jar in the fridge. A couple slices of roasted red pepper add so much flavor. I worried it would make the sandwich soggy but I made these sandwiches nearly two hours before we ate them and they weren’t soggy at all! I originally wanted Port Salut for this sandwich but my store didn’t have any, so I used Camembert and loved it. Brie would also be a great substitute; really any creamy, soft French cheese will do.

Pro tip: If you’re like me and like to get groceries the day before hosting an event, you may not be a big fan of baguette because it doesn’t stay fresh long. I got a take ‘n’ bake loaf and baked it the morning of the picnic. I’m going to do that from now on. It was perfect!

For our picnic, I wrapped the sandwiches in brown wax paper tied with twine and a piece of lavender group the garden tucked in for those French vibes.

Pesto Picnic Sandwich
Freshly baguette
Homemade pesto
Camembert cheese
Roasted red pepper (in a jar)
Bacon, cooked and drained on a paper towel

1. Slice baguette in half lengthwise. Cut into desired sandwich sizes. Spread each sandwich with homemade pesto. Top with thick camembert slices, roasted red pepper slices, and bacon.

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This sandwich was featured in my French Inspired Picnic episode! Watch it now:

Happy picnicking,

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