Pizza Grilled Cheese Fusion (Printer View)

Toasted Italian bread with mozzarella, pepperoni, and marinara creates a warm, cheesy delight.

# Components:

→ Bread

01 - 4 slices Italian bread or sourdough

→ Cheese & Meats

02 - 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
03 - 12 to 16 slices pepperoni

→ Sauce

04 - 1/4 cup marinara sauce, plus extra for dipping

→ For Cooking

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Method steps:

01 - Lay out the bread slices and spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each slice.
02 - Place 2 slices butter side down. Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons marinara sauce on the unbuttered side of each slice.
03 - Evenly layer mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then top with pepperoni slices.
04 - Cover with remaining bread slices, butter side up, to form two sandwiches.
05 - Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
06 - Place sandwiches in the skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden and cheese melts.
07 - Remove sandwiches from the pan and let rest for 1 minute before slicing diagonally.
08 - Serve hot with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 20 minutes, which means dinner doesn't have to wait.
  • The pepperoni gets slightly crispy at the edges while the cheese pools underneath, creating pockets of molten bliss.
  • Dipping into warm marinara feels like you're cheating on your diet in the best possible way.
02 -
  • Don't skip the softened butter step; cold butter tears the bread and makes everything harder.
  • Keep your heat at medium, not high—too much heat burns the bread before the cheese melts through.
  • If the marinara is watery, pat it slightly with a paper towel so your sandwich doesn't get soggy during cooking.
03 -
  • Make sure your skillet is properly heated before the sandwich touches down, which creates a barrier that keeps the bread from getting greasy.
  • Press down gently while cooking to encourage even cheese melt and golden browning, but don't squash it—you want melting, not flattening.
  • If your cheese is shredded rather than sliced, use slightly less because shredded cheese takes up more volume and can overwhelm the sandwich.
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