Description
Crusty bread embraces melted cheese and zesty pizza flavors in this ultimate pizza grilled cheese masterpiece. Savory marinara, gooey mozzarella, and pepperoni create a quick lunch that satisfies comfort food cravings with Italian-inspired flair you’ll devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Cheese Ingredients:
- 24 slices pepperoni
- 12 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) grated Parmesan cheese
Bread and Butter Ingredients:
- 8 slices Italian or white bread
- 1/2 cup (1 stick / 113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) marinara or pizza sauce, plus extra for dipping
- Optional: fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Craft a flavorful garlic-infused butter by thoroughly blending softened butter with grated Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until the mixture becomes a uniform, aromatic spread.
- Select bread slices and create a workspace for sandwich assembly, positioning each piece with the unbuttered side facing upward.
- Delicately spread a thin, even layer of marinara sauce across the surface of each bread slice, ensuring complete coverage.
- Layer a slice of mozzarella cheese directly onto the marinara-coated bread, creating a rich, melty foundation for each sandwich.
- Artfully arrange six pepperoni slices atop the cheese, distributing them evenly to guarantee a consistent flavor profile in every bite.
- Add a second slice of mozzarella cheese to complete the inner layers, creating a decadent cheese barrier.
- Crown each sandwich with the remaining bread slices, positioning them with the buttered exterior facing outward for optimal grilling.
- Preheat a skillet or griddle to medium-low heat, creating an ideal environment for achieving a golden, crispy exterior.
- Carefully transfer the assembled sandwiches to the heated cooking surface, allowing them to sizzle and transform.
- Monitor the sandwiches closely, cooking for 3-5 minutes per side and gently pressing with a spatula to ensure even browning and thorough cheese melting.
- Once the bread reaches a rich, golden-brown color and the cheese becomes luxuriously melted, remove the sandwiches from the heat.
- Allow the grilled cheese to rest momentarily, enabling the molten cheese to stabilize and prevent immediate burning.
- Slice the sandwiches diagonally, revealing the gooey, pepperoni-studded interior.
- Plate the grilled cheese alongside a ramekin of additional marinara sauce for dipping, and optionally garnish with fresh basil leaves to elevate the presentation.
Notes
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like provolone or fontina for varied flavor profiles.
- Swap pepperoni with cooked Italian sausage or crispy bacon to customize the sandwich.
- Use gluten-free bread to make this recipe celiac-friendly and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Allow sandwiches to rest briefly after cooking to help cheese set and prevent burning your mouth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg