Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Printable)

A gooey blend of mozzarella, pepperoni, and marinara layered on toasted bread for a comforting bite.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices Italian bread or sourdough

→ Cheese & Meats

02 - 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
03 - 12 to 16 slices pepperoni

→ Sauce

04 - 1/4 cup marinara sauce, plus extra for dipping

→ For Cooking

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# How-To:

01 - Lay out the bread slices and spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each slice.
02 - Place 2 slices of bread butter side down on a clean surface, then spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on the unbuttered side of each slice.
03 - Evenly layer mozzarella cheese over the sauce, followed by pepperoni slices on each prepared bread slice.
04 - Top with the remaining slices of bread, butter side up, forming two sandwiches.
05 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
06 - Place the sandwiches on the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted.
07 - Remove sandwiches from the skillet, let rest for 1 minute, then slice diagonally.
08 - Serve hot alongside extra marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for those moments when you're ravenous but don't want to overthink dinner.
  • The combination of crispy buttered bread, melted cheese, and pepperoni somehow feels indulgent without requiring any real cooking skill.
  • You get the comfort of grilled cheese with the flavor complexity of pizza, which means everyone at the table feels like something special just happened.
02 -
  • The biggest mistake I made early on was using cold butter straight from the fridge, which tears the bread. Soft butter is the difference between a clean spread and a frustrating mess.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan or cook on high heat thinking it'll speed things up—you'll end up with burnt bread and cold cheese in the middle. Patience and medium heat create that perfect golden-to-melted ratio.
03 -
  • Press the sandwich gently while it cooks—this helps the cheese melt faster and creates better surface contact for even browning, but too much pressure squeezes out the filling.
  • If your pepperoni is particularly greasy, blot the slices with a paper towel beforehand to avoid an oil-heavy sandwich, though honestly, I've never found that necessary with standard deli pepperoni.
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