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The Ultimate Pizza Grilled Cheese You Need to Try Tonight - Featured Image

The Ultimate Pizza Grilled Cheese You Need to Try Tonight

Learn how to make delicious Pizza Grilled Cheese. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 slices of sturdy sandwich bread (I like sourdough or Italian bread for the crunch)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade—no judgment here!)
  • 12 slices of pepperoni or your favorite pizza meat (turkey pepperoni works well too)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or a mix of oregano and basil
  • Optional: a handful of fresh spinach or sliced mushrooms for a veggie boost
  • Optional: red pepper flakes for a little kick

If you don’t have pepperoni, feel free to swap with cooked sausage or even just extra veggies. And if mozzarella isn’t around, provolone or a mild cheddar can work. This recipe is all about using what you have and making it your own.

Instructions

  1. Start by softening your butter if it’s not already. Spread about 1 tablespoon of butter evenly on one side of each slice of bread. This will be the outside that gets toasted to golden, crispy perfection.
  2. Flip the bread so the buttered side is down, and on two slices, spread a generous 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent sogginess.
  3. Layer the shredded mozzarella evenly over the marinara, then sprinkle the grated Parmesan for that extra cheesy punch. Add the pepperoni slices on top, followed by a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. If you’re adding spinach or mushrooms, layer them here.
  4. Top with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing up.
  5. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Once hot, place one sandwich in the pan. Press down lightly with a spatula. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown and crispy.
  6. Carefully flip the sandwich and cook the other side for another 3-4 minutes, pressing lightly. If you notice the bread is browning too fast before the cheese melts, turn the heat down slightly and cover the pan with a lid for a minute or two. This little trick helped me countless times when I was rushing dinner and needed melty cheese but didn’t want burnt bread.
  7. Once both sides are golden and cheese is melted, remove from the pan and let rest for a minute before slicing. This gives the cheese a chance to set slightly, so it doesn’t ooze out immediately.

  • Author: Jenny
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: International

Keywords: Pizza Grilled Cheese, recipe, cooking, food