Pizza Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Golden crispy bread meets melty mozzarella, tangy marinara, and pepperoni in this comfort food 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

→ Other

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

# How-To:

01 - Lay out all bread slices. Spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each slice.
02 - Flip two slices buttered side down. Spread 1 tablespoon marinara sauce evenly on each slice.
03 - Sprinkle half the mozzarella cheese over the sauced bread slices, ensuring even coverage.
04 - Arrange pepperoni slices over the mozzarella layer, distributing evenly between both sandwiches.
05 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese over the pepperoni.
06 - Place remaining bread slices on top, buttered side facing outward to create the complete sandwich.
07 - Heat non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook sandwiches 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently with spatula, until bread turns golden brown and cheese melts completely.
08 - Sprinkle oregano, garlic powder, and remaining Parmesan cheese over sandwiches during final minute of cooking.
09 - Cut each sandwich diagonally in half and serve immediately with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes twenty minutes from craving to first bite, which matters when hunger hits hard
  • The marinara dipping sauce makes every corner feel intentional, like a tiny pizza party
02 -
  • Low and slow heat prevents burning the bread before the cheese has time to melt completely
  • Letting the sandwiches rest for one minute after cutting keeps the cheese from running out instantly
03 -
  • Warm your marinara in the microwave for 15 seconds so it spreads effortlessly
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you want extra crispy edges and that restaurant-style press mark

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