Pizza Grilled Cheese (Print View)
Golden crispy bread meets melted mozzarella, tangy marinara, and pepperoni in this Italian-American mashup.
# What You Need:
→ Bread
01 - 4 slices sourdough or Italian bread
→ Cheese
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Sauce
04 - 1/3 cup marinara sauce, plus extra for dipping
→ Meats
05 - 8 slices pepperoni (optional)
→ Seasonings
06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
# How to Make It:
01 - Lay out all bread slices. Spread a thin, even layer of softened butter on one side of each slice.
02 - Flip two slices buttered side down. Spread 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce evenly across each slice.
03 - Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauced bread slices.
04 - Arrange pepperoni slices over the cheese layer, distributing evenly between both sandwiches.
05 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese over the pepperoni.
06 - Top each sandwich with remaining bread slices, buttered side facing outward.
07 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook sandwiches for 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread turns golden brown and cheese melts completely.
08 - Sprinkle dried oregano, garlic powder, and remaining Parmesan cheese over sandwiches as they finish cooking.
09 - Slice each sandwich diagonally in half. Serve immediately with extra marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The corners get crispy like a grill marks while the inside stays molten hot
- Tastes exactly like pizza but comes together in under twenty minutes
- Endless variations mean everyone gets exactly what they want
02 -
- Letting the sandwiches rest for just one minute after cutting prevents all that cheese from running out immediately
- Medium low heat is better than high to give the cheese time to melt before the bread burns
- A spatula with some heft helps press the sandwich down without tearing the bread
03 -
- Mix a little Parmesan into the softened butter before spreading for extra crispy edges
- Use a pizza cutter to slice these cleanly without dragging all the cheese out