Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza grilled cheese with crispy, golden bread and melty mozzarella stuffed with pepperoni and pizza sauce. Cook on medium heat or a panini press until the cheese fully melts, then dip in warm marinara for an easy lunch or kids meal.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Total Time 18

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 720

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Bread and grilling fat

8 bread
1 tbsp Butter Use enough to coat the outside of each bread slice for crisp grilling.

Cheese and pizza filling

2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded Shred fresh or use pre-shredded for best melt.
1 cup pepperoni slices Even coverage helps keep each bite pizza-like.
0.5 cup pizza sauce Use as the saucy layer inside the sandwich.
1 tsp Italian seasoning Sprinkle evenly so every edge flavors.

Serving sauce

1 Marinara sauce for dipping Warm before serving for easy dipping.

Equipment

1 cast iron skillet
1 sheet pan

Method

Assemble the sandwiches

Butter one side of each bread slice for even browning.
On the unbuttered side, layer mozzarella, pepperoni, a spoonful of pizza sauce, and Italian seasoning.
Top with the second bread slice, buttered-side out, to seal the filling inside.

Grill until golden and melted

Grill on medium heat or on a panini press for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden and the cheese melts fully with visible stretch.

Serve

Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce for dipping so the cheese stays gooey.

Notes

Pro tip: Keep the heat at medium so the bread turns crisp before the cheese overcooks—press gently if using a panini press. Store assembled sandwiches in the fridge up to 2 days and reheat in a skillet to re-crisp; freeze only the unassembled components (bread-buttered sides and filling) since grilled bread may soften after thawing. Dietary swap: use gluten-free bread and reduced-sugar or dairy-free mozzarella if needed for a different diet.