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Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza grilled cheese made with crispy golden bread stuffed with melty mozzarella, pepperoni, and pizza sauce. Pan-grilled until the cheese melts, then served with warm marinara for dipping.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 850
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Bread
  • 8 bread
Grilling fat
  • 1 butter
Cheese and toppings
  • 2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup pepperoni slices
  • 0.5 cup pizza sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Serving
  • 1 marinara sauce for dipping

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Build the sandwiches
  1. Butter one side of each bread slice evenly, so the outside crisps as it grills.
  2. On the unbuttered side, layer mozzarella, pepperoni slices, a spoonful of pizza sauce, and Italian seasoning in a single mound.
  3. Top each filling layer with a second bread slice, buttered-side out, pressing lightly so the filling stays inside.
Grill
  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot, then place sandwiches in the pan with space between them.
  2. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side on medium heat (or use a panini press), until both sides are golden and the cheese fully melts.
Serve
  1. Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Notes

For the crispiest melt, keep the heat at medium so the bread browns without burning before the cheese loosens. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; rewarm in a skillet on medium-low until hot and melty. Freezing isn’t recommended for best texture. For a lower-fat swap, use part-skim mozzarella and reduce butter to a thin spread.