Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza Grilled Cheese merges two perfect foods: grilled cheeses and pizza! Tons of pepperoni, gooey cheese, and marinara sauce make this recipe addictive!
Jump to Recipe

Pizza Grilled Cheese celebrates the marriage of two perfect foods: grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza! Tons of spicy pepperoni, gooey cheese, and vibrant marinara sauce make this recipe an irresistible lunch or dinner! 

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Four pizza grilled cheese sandwiches all sliced against a wood background

Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

Like a coffee order, a grilled cheese recipe is very personal. There is simply no wrong way or wrong time of day to enjoy melted cheese sandwiched between buttery, golden-brown bread. If you prefer slightly burnt, not-so-melted triangles made after a bit too much to drink, thatโ€™s your prerogative. If hunks of fancy Brie and onion jam on homemade bread float your boat, then so be it. No judgement here! 

Personally, I love grilled cheese with a little extra personality! I just canโ€™t resist introducing my own flare to this American classic. Pizza Grilled Cheese is my Achilles heel, my junk food weakness! Filled with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese, flavorful pepperoni, zesty basil, and loads of butter, this sandwich is the epitome of all my childhood dreams coming true. 

Kids and adults alike love this recipe! So, get in the kitchen with your littles ones (or by your dang self!) and letโ€™s get to it. 

Four slices of bread with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices before baking

Pizza Grilled Cheese Ingredients

Bread- I love a grilled cheese made on two slices of Wonder Bread but you can totally use what youโ€™ve got on hand. 

Butter- Salted or unsalted butter both work, but Iโ€™d recommend using a spreadable tub butter for easier smothering. 

Cheese- Name a cheese that melts better than mozzarella, Iโ€™ll wait. If you feel like going a little crazy, add in some shredded provolone or fontina. 

Pepperoni- Pile on as many pepperonis as youโ€™d like! Just keep in mind that pepperoni releases lots of grease when cooked. Pepperoni can be replaced with italian sausage or omitted (to be made vegetarian). 

Basil- Herbaceous and sweet, basil cuts through the heavy cheese and adds a delightful brightness. 

Parmesan- Pizza should always be topped off with a heavy rain of salty, funky parmesan cheese. Shaved, shredded, or grated parm will work. 

Pizza Sauce- My Homemade Pizza Sauce is flavorful, perfectly spiced, and begging to be served alongside this sandwich. Give it a try or use your favorite jarred sauce! 

A close up of a grilled cheese with pepperoni on top with it being pulled apart

How to Make Pizza Grilled Cheese 

Pizza Grilled Cheese sandwiches are pretty straightforward but that doesnโ€™t mean there isnโ€™t a little technique involved. So, Iโ€™ve compiled a few of my go-to, very professional grilled cheese making tips just for guys. Youโ€™re welcome (haha)! 

  • BE PATIENT- Do not rush the process! You may be hungry and tired, but accept that it takes time to get the bread toasted and the cheese melted just right. Start with a cold pan, allowing it to heat up with the grilled cheese on it. This allows for the pan to heat up slowly, ensuring that heat is evenly distributed. 
  • CHOOSE THE RIGHT BREAD- Choose a bread with a tight crumb. This means no hole-ridden sourdough or ciabatta; they will cause the cheese to spill out to the bottom of the pan and burn. 
  • SPREAD THAT BUTTER- Spread a hefty amount of butter from edge to edge of that bread! Good coverage is the key to every bite being just as good as the last. 
A pizza grilled cheese sandwich piece being dipped into marinara sauce before eating

TIP: This recipe calls for broiling the sandwich for a few minutes. Be sure to preheat the oven well before cooking the grilled cheese. You want that oven to be HOT and ready! 

Favorite Pizza Recipes

If you love this, you will also love this Garlic Herb Crust Pepperoni Pizza, Pizza Meatloaf, Meaty Pizza Roll recipe, Pizza Nachos and Sicilian Pizza

A close up of a grilled cheese with pepperoni on top with it being pulled apart

Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Pizza Grilled Cheese merges two perfect foods: grilled cheeses and pizza! Tons of pepperoni, gooey cheese, and marinara sauce make this recipe addictive!
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • White bread slices
  • Butter room temperature
  • Tons of mozzarella cheese slices
  • Pepperoni slices
  • Basil optional
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Pizza sauce for serving and dipping

Instructions

  • Set your oven to broil.
  • Spread butter on just one side of two slices of bread.
  • Then flip over the buttered slices. Leave one slice to the side and top the other slice with tons of cheese then both slices together butter side up with cheese in between!
  • Heat up a griddle or frying pan then fry your grilled cheese on both sides until golden brown and cheese is melting.
  • Finally add another slice of mozz cheese to the top of the sandwich and top with pepperoni and basil and pop in the oven just until the top melts down then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with additional pizza sauce!

Notes

TIP: This recipe calls for broiling the sandwich for a few minutes. Be sure to preheat the oven well before cooking the grilled cheese. You want that oven to be HOT and ready!ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 887kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 2406mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 406IU | Calcium: 430mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!
Filed Under:  Lunch, Snacks, Super Bowl and Game Day Party

Comments

  1. A variation that I like is to spread the pepperoni on a doubled paper towel and microwave on high for 40-45 seconds till crisp. Then I pat away any visible grease, crumble the pepperoni and sprinkle on the cheese inside the the sandwich and cook as usual. That way your grilled cheese is minus almost all of the fat/grease from the pepperoni. You can serve pizza sauce with the sandwich if desired, although in my youth the classic accompaniment for dipping a grilled cheese was Campbell’s cream of tomato soup.

  2. Lovin’ hard on these pizza grilled cheese sandwiches. A great crowd pleaser for mid-week meals and Game Day offerings. So yummy!

5 from 5 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating