Pizza Grilled Cheese brings together two of the most comforting foods into one epic sandwich. With gooey mozzarella, flavorful pepperoni, and a garlic-parmesan butter spread over crisp white bread, it’s a decadently delicious take on a classic grilled cheese. Each pie offers the flavors of a classic pizza while adding the crispy, buttery qualities of a grilled sandwich.

Most important, though, is the garlic-parmesan butter, which is smeared onto every slice of bread to form a once-inky, now-a-glorious-chestnut crust. Laden with slices of mozzarella cheese and pepperoni between pieces of bread, it also guarantees an even, gooey melt in that classic pizza profile. That way, after you add cheese, the sandwich will cook on medium-low heat so that the cheese can melt properly without burning the bread.

Accompanied by warm pizza sauce on the side for dipping, the sandwich is designed for dipping, with each bite absorbing tangy tomato flavor. It’s a quick, easy meal that’s bound to please everyone from pizza enthusiasts to grilled cheese lovers!

Why You’ll Love This Pizza Grilled Cheese:

Bring Out the Ease: With simple ingredients and less prep, this is a deliciously satisfying meal in no time at all. Great for a quick lunch, after-school snack or easy dinner!

Melty, Gooey Goodness: The mozzarella cheese becomes a stretchy gooey spot the same way the best part of any pizza does.

Flavorful Butter Spread: A spread made of butter, garlic, and Parmesan takes this grilled cheese up a notch, too, forming a golden crust full of flavor.

Customizable: You can vary the fillings, trying different cheeses to make it your own. You can add veggies, swap out meats, use your favorite herbs — the world is your oyster!

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Key Ingredients:

Unsalted Butter: Super-soft butter glides readily and gives a perfectly crisp, golden crust. Use unsalted butter — it gives you more control of the saltiness, particularly when adding Parmesan.

Grated Parmesan Cheese: This provides nutty, slightly salty depth, complementing the butter and mozzarella while tacking further into “pizza” territory.

Garlic Powder: This adds a touch of pazzazz garlic flavor that is reminiscent of a classic garlic bread, this ingredient pairs naturally with pizza.

Italian Seasoning: A blend of oregano, basil, and thyme that gives the sandwich an authentic pizza flavor. You can also use whatever dried herbs you like or as a blend.

White Bread: White bread is a perfect choice due to its soft texture and even browning. It crisps up well and makes for the perfect “canvas” for the gooey cheese and savory fillings.

Mozzarella Cheese: Sliced mozzarella guarantees an even melt, giving the classic pizza cheese pull. Fresh mozzarella will also work but might let out more liquid, so for it, do pat it dry before using.

Pepperoni: The pepperoni gives you a spicy, savory punch that really makes this sandwich taste like pizza. The toppings are flexible, so feel free to use your favorite pizza toppings instead, like cooked mushrooms or sliced olives.

Pizza Sauce: Side of pizza sauce is tart and tomato-y and the perfect finishing touch for the pizza. These are so delicious served warm for the best dipping!

The ingredients list with quantities, along with step by step cooking instructions can be found in the recipe card below

Directions:

Prepare the Butter Mixture

Make the Spread: In a medium bowl combine softened butter, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and Italian seasoning and mix until smooth and well combined. That flavorful smear will form a golden crust and impart savory richness in all those bites.

Butter the Bread

Smear the butter mixture on one side of each slice of bread. Arrange your butter side up slices on a sheet tray for assembly convenience.

Assemble the Sandwich

Skillet: Sandwich a buttered slice of bread (butter side down) in a skillet on medium-low heat.

Cheese, Pepperoni Layer (O) 1 oz mozzarella, 6 slices pepperoni, 1 slice mozzarella, 6 slices pepperoni, 1 slice mozzarella

Top with Bread: Place one more slice on top, butter side up, and lightly press down, with a spatula, to secure.

Cook Until Golden

Grill the Sandwich: Cook for 3-5 minutes, until bottom is golden brown and crispy. Gently turn using a spatula, cooking until the other side is golden and the cheese has completely melted. Lower the heat, and cover for a minute, if needed, to melt the cheese.

Serve and Enjoy

Cut and Dip: Transfer the sandwich from the skillet and cut in half. Serve right away, with warmed pizza sauce alongside for dunking, a tangy, delightful counterpoint to the cheesy, pepperoni hoagie.

Serving Suggestions:

This Pizza Grilled Cheese is a meal by itself, but here are ideas for pairing and serving:

Easy Side Salad: A simple side salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette complements the richness of the sandwich.

Soup Pairing: Tomato soup is an obvious grilled cheese match, and it pairs wonderfully with the pizza flavors. And you can try it with minestrone or Italian wedding soup, too.

For a little extra spice and flavor, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or grated Parmesan on top as a garnish.

To make this a heartier meal, serve this sandwich with roasted vegetables, a pasta salad, or a plate of crunchy veggies and dip.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips:

These pie pizza grilled cheese sandwiches are best fresh off the skillet, hot, crispy, gooey and full of flavor. But if you end up with a few left over (or you’re prepping ahead for the week), they can be enjoyed later with a little bit of attention.

Storing Leftovers

To store leftover sandwiches and maintain their flavor as much as possible, transfer any extras to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. They will be good for 1 - 2 days.Plant-based bacon. Just remember that the bread might not be quite as crisp and might get a little softer in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, a brief reheat in a skillet or toaster oven may restore some of the golden crunch.

Reheating

To reheat, heat the sandwiches in a skillet over medium-low heat until the bread is crisp and the cheese has melted. Do not use a microwave, as it will render the bread too mushy.) Or, heat in a toaster oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees.

Recipe Variations to Try:

This recipe can easily be adapted to suit your favorite pizza flavors! These are just a few fun variations:

Veggie Pizza Grilled Cheese

You can layer sliced bell peppers, mushrooms or olives with the mozzarella cheese. This version is nice for veggie lovers and adds bonus color and flavor.

Hawaiian Pizza Grilled Cheese

A few slices of pineapple alongside the pepperoni or a switch to Canadian bacon makes for a Hawaiian-inspired spin. This sweet and savory combo is too legit to quit!

Grilled Cheese: Margherita Pizza

Use fresh mozzarella and toss in a few leaves of fresh basil for a Margherita-inspired version. If desired, add a few slices of tomato.

Four Cheese Pizza Grilled Cheese

Mix up your cheeses! Go for a mixture of mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and cheddar for a rich smorgasbord of cheesy flavors.

Spicy Pepperoni Pizza, Grilled Cheese

For an extra kick, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes inside the sandwich (or use spicy pepperoni). This version is for the spice lovers out there!

Conclusion:

This Pizza Grilled Cheese is the ultimate mashup of two things everyone loves! The crunchy herbed bread, melting mozzarella, and salty pepperoni come together to make a warm, cheesy snack that’s like a pizza in tiny form! Whether you’re having it with a little soup or salad on the side, or by itself, this sandwich doesn’t fail.

So the next time you’re craving pizza but need it in a little quicker time frame, grab that skillet for some easy, cheesy Pizza Grilled Cheese. Enjoy every gooey, crispy, pizza flavored bite!