Go Back

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza sandwich grilled cheese with melty mozzarella and pepperoni between toasted bread. You’ll get a crispy, golden exterior and cheesy pizza-style filling with quick skillet or panini-press grilling.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 820

Ingredients
  

Bread base
  • 8 bread Use sandwich bread sliced thin enough to grill evenly.
Grilling
  • 1 Butter Use enough to coat the exterior for crisp browning.
Cheese and toppings
  • 2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded Shred for faster melting.
  • 1 cup pepperoni slices Layer evenly so every bite has filling.
  • 0.5 cup pizza sauce A spoonful per sandwich keeps it saucy without soaking through.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning Sprinkle over the filling for pizza-style flavor.
Serving
  • 1 Marinara sauce for dipping Serve warm for the best dip and reheating comfort.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Assemble the sandwiches
  1. Butter one side of each bread slice so the exterior browns evenly during grilling.
  2. On the unbuttered side of 4 slices, layer mozzarella, pepperoni, a spoonful of pizza sauce, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Top with the remaining 4 slices, buttered-side out, pressing lightly so the fillings stay inside.
Grill until golden and melty
  1. Grill on medium heat (or use a panini press) for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese melts.
Serve
  1. Serve immediately with warm marinara for dipping.

Notes

Pro tip: Shred the mozzarella and keep the pizza sauce to a spoonful per sandwich so the bread crisps instead of turning soggy. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed and crisp again. Freezing is not recommended because the bread texture can soften. For a gluten-free swap, use gluten-free sandwich bread and follow the same grilling times.