Description
A delightful twist on a classic grilled cheese, this Garlic Parmesan Pizza Grilled Cheese combines the comforting melty cheese and toasted bread with flavorful garlic Parmesan butter, zesty marinara sauce, and spicy pepperoni slices for an irresistible pizza-inspired sandwich.
Ingredients
Scale
Butter Mixture
- 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Main Ingredients
- 8 thick slices of sturdy bread (sourdough or Italian)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pizza or marinara sauce
- 24 thin slices of pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat Skillet: Warm a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat to prepare for even toasting without burning the bread.
- Make Garlic Parmesan Butter: In a bowl, thoroughly mix the softened unsalted butter with grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt to create a flavorful spread.
- Butter Bread Slices: Spread half of the garlic Parmesan butter mixture on one side of 4 bread slices. Place these buttered sides down onto the hot skillet.
- Add Toppings: On each bread slice in the skillet, spread 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce evenly, then sprinkle 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, layer 6 slices of pepperoni, and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese to build layers of flavor.
- Assemble Sandwich: Spread pizza sauce on one side of the remaining 4 bread slices, and place these sauce side down on top of the cheese and pepperoni layers. Spread the remaining garlic Parmesan butter on top of these bread slices to ensure both outer sides will toast well.
- Cook Sandwiches: Cook the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, flipping carefully, until the bread is golden brown and crispy and the cheese inside is melted and gooey.
- Serve: Remove the sandwiches from the skillet and let them cool slightly to set. Cut each sandwich in half and serve immediately with extra pizza sauce for dipping if desired.
Notes
- Use thick, sturdy bread like sourdough or Italian for the best sandwich structure and to hold the fillings well.
- Cook over medium-low heat to allow cheese to melt thoroughly without burning the bread.
- Feel free to swap pepperoni for other pizza toppings such as mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives for a customized flavor.
- For a crispier crust, you can press the sandwiches lightly with a spatula while cooking.
- Leftover sandwiches can be reheated in a skillet or air fryer to retain crispness.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
