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If you ask me, pizza and grilled cheese are meant to be together.
This mashup sandwich takes two comfort food favorites and turns them into one amazing meal. Gooey mozzarella and zesty pepperoni get cozy between slices of golden-brown bread with a hint of garlic butter.
It’s layered with classic pizza toppings and plenty of melted cheese, then grilled until crispy on the outside. A side of marinara sauce for dipping makes this sandwich feel like your favorite slice of pizza.
It’s a quick and simple lunch or dinner that makes everyone happy, perfect for those days when you can’t decide between two classics.
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Grilled Cheese
- Quick meal solution – Ready in just 20 minutes or less, this sandwich is perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something tasty but don’t have much time to cook.
- Kid-friendly fusion – It combines two all-time favorites – pizza and grilled cheese – into one fun sandwich that kids and adults alike will grab with both hands.
- Simple ingredients – You probably already have most of these ingredients in your fridge and pantry, making it an easy go-to meal when you’re short on groceries.
- Customizable recipe – Just like a regular pizza, you can swap pepperoni for your favorite toppings – try mushrooms, bell peppers, or ham to make it your own.
What Kind of Mozzarella Should I Use?
For a pizza grilled cheese, low-moisture mozzarella is your best friend. While fresh mozzarella is great on regular pizza, it contains too much water and can make your sandwich soggy. Pre-shredded mozzarella will work in a pinch, but shredding your own block of low-moisture mozzarella will give you the best melting results since it doesn’t contain the anti-caking agents found in pre-shredded varieties. If you want to get fancy, you can mix in some whole milk mozzarella for extra richness, but part-skim works just fine too. Just make sure to let your cheese come to room temperature before using it – cold cheese won’t melt as evenly in your sandwich.
Options for Substitutions
This fun sandwich can be customized in several ways depending on what you have in your kitchen:
- Thick bread: While thick bread works best to hold all the fillings, you can use any bread you have on hand. Just be careful with very thin slices as they might get soggy from the sauce. Sourdough or Texas toast are great alternatives.
- Mozzarella cheese: Feel free to use other melting cheeses like provolone, monterey jack, or even a pizza cheese blend. Fresh mozzarella works too, but make sure to slice it thin and pat it dry to avoid a watery sandwich.
- Pizza sauce: No pizza sauce? Use marinara sauce, or make a quick version by mixing tomato paste with a bit of water, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. In a pinch, even plain tomato sauce will work.
- Pepperoni: You can swap pepperoni with any pizza topping you like – try salami, ham, cooked Italian sausage, or leave it out for a vegetarian version. If using vegetables, pre-cook them briefly to remove excess moisture.
- Fresh basil: If you don’t have fresh basil, use 1/2 teaspoon dried basil instead. You can also try other fresh herbs like oregano or parsley.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge with pizza grilled cheese is managing the heat – cooking it too hot will burn the bread before the cheese melts properly, so keep your pan at medium-low heat and be patient. A common mistake is adding too much pizza sauce, which can make the sandwich soggy and difficult to flip – stick to a thin layer (about 1 tablespoon per sandwich) and save the extra sauce for dipping. To get that perfect golden-brown crust with fully melted cheese, cover your pan with a lid during cooking – this traps the heat and helps melt the cheese evenly without burning the bread. For the best results, butter the outside of your bread slices generously and let them cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula to help the cheese melt and the ingredients stick together.
What to Serve With Pizza Grilled Cheese?
This pizza grilled cheese is basically two comfort foods in one, so I like to pair it with lighter sides that balance out all that cheesy goodness. A simple green salad with Italian dressing is my go-to choice – the fresh, crisp lettuce provides a nice contrast to the rich sandwich. You can also serve it with some marinara or pizza sauce on the side for dipping (because who doesn’t love extra sauce?). If you’re feeling extra hungry, a bowl of tomato soup makes this sandwich even more cozy and satisfying, just like a classic grilled cheese but with an Italian twist.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Pizza grilled cheese is best eaten right away while the cheese is all melty and the bread is crispy. If you have leftovers, wrap them in aluminum foil and pop them in the fridge for up to 2 days, though the texture won’t be quite the same as fresh.
Make Ahead: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time by shredding the cheese and measuring out your toppings. Store them separately in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble and cook your sandwiches. This makes lunch prep super quick and easy!
Warm Up: To bring back some of that fresh-made magic, warm up leftover sandwiches in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes on each side. This helps crisp up the bread again and get that cheese nice and melty. You can also use a toaster oven for about 3-4 minutes.
| Preparation Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 8-10 minutes |
| Total Time | 13-20 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 45-55 g
- Carbohydrates: 70-80 g
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick bread (like artesano style)
- 3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons pizza sauce (and some more for dipping)
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, sliced thin
- A pinch of dried oregano
- 24 thin pepperoni slices (around 1 inch in diameter)
- Butter
- 6 additional thin pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons more shredded mozzarella cheese
Step 1: Preheat the Pan and Prepare the Bread
Start by preheating a non-stick pan over medium heat.
While the pan heats up, butter one side of each bread slice.
Place two slices in the pan with the buttered side down.
Once in the pan, top each slice with 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce, spreading it evenly across the surface.
Step 2: Layer the Ingredients
Begin layering the fillings: first add slices of cheese, followed by 6 slices of pepperoni, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, some fresh basil, and oregano.
Add any remaining slices of pepperoni and more mozzarella to finish the layer of toppings.
Top each stack with another slice of bread, butter side facing up.
Step 3: Cook the Sandwich
Cook the sandwich for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden and toasty.
This will ensure the cheese begins to melt and the flavors meld together.
Carefully flip the sandwich to avoid losing any of the cheesy goodness.
Step 4: Create a Crispy Cheese Crust
Once the sandwiches are cooked, remove them from the pan temporarily.
Place 3 slices of pepperoni directly in the pan, then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of mozzarella cheese.
Quickly place the sandwich on top of this cheese and let it cook until the cheese is crispy and forms a crust on the sandwich (about 1 minute).
This technique adds an extra layer of cheesy, crispy texture to your creation.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Remove the sandwich from the pan carefully and serve hot.
The extra crisp cheese on the outside, along with the gooey, flavorful insides, makes for an irresistible meal.
Enjoy your pizza-inspired grilled cheese sandwich!