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This mashup takes two beloved comfort foods - pepperoni pizza and grilled cheese - and turns them into one mouthwatering treat. When you put gooey mozzarella and zesty pepperoni between slices of bread slathered with garlic butter, you'll get a sandwich that tackles both your pizza and grilled cheese hankerings in one go.
I whipped these up one day when the kids wanted pizza but we were running short on time. Now they actually beg for these instead of calling for delivery when we're busy, and I'm thrilled I can have them ready to eat in just minutes.
What You'll Need
- Artesano bread: Gives you that perfect not-too-soft, not-too-firm foundation for all your fillings
- Mozzarella cheese: Delivers that wonderful stretchy pull you want when it melts
- Pepperoni: Adds that distinctive pizza kick and mild heat
- Unsalted butter: Lets you manage how salty your sandwich turns out
- Garlic powder: Adds that garlicky taste without burning like fresh cloves often do
- Italian seasoning: Brings those real pizza herb flavors
- Fresh or dried parsley: Adds a pop of color and gentle flavor to your garlic butter
How To Make It
- Get your pan ready:
- Warm a medium skillet over medium low heat then drop in your tablespoon of butter. Wait for it to completely melt and spread across the pan. This sets you up for perfectly even browning without burning your sandwich.
- Build your sandwiches:
- Put two bread slices next to each other in the pan. Add one slice of mozzarella on each, then arrange 9 pepperoni slices in a single layer, and finish with another slice of mozzarella. Having cheese on top and bottom helps lock in the pepperoni and gives you that amazing meltiness throughout.
- Start cooking:
- Cap each stack with the remaining bread slices and cook for around 3 minutes per side. Keep an eye on them since timing changes based on your stove. You want to see golden brown bread and cheese starting to melt before you flip them.
- Fix up the garlic butter:
- While your sandwiches cook, melt 3 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Mix in parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt until everything's combined. This mix creates that awesome garlic bread flavor that makes this sandwich special.
- Finish with garlic butter:
- Brush plenty of garlic butter on both sides of each sandwich. Put them back in the skillet for 30 seconds on each side to toast the garlic butter into the bread. This gives you a tasty, crispy outside that really brings the pizza feeling home.
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This sandwich takes me back to my college days when pizza and grilled cheese were pretty much all I ate. Putting them together was a game-changer that's stuck with me ever since. The garlic butter is my little trick that turns a basic sandwich into something you'll crave again and again.
Quick Shortcuts
You can mix up the garlic butter up to three days ahead and keep it in the fridge. Just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it before you use it.
To make things even quicker, try keeping some precooked pepperoni around. Many stores now sell crispy pepperoni chips that work great in this and don't need microwaving first.
Getting all your stuff measured and set out before you start makes everything go smoother and faster, which really matters when you've got hungry kids asking if dinner's ready yet.
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Make It Your Own
This sandwich works great with all sorts of pizza toppings you love. Try throwing in some thin slices of bell pepper, mushrooms, or olives if you want veggies. For meat fans, bacon, ham, or Italian sausage taste amazing in here too.
For different cheese options, try sprinkling some parmesan between the mozzarella layers for extra flavor or swap provolone for one of the mozzarella slices.
If you love herbs, you can jazz up the garlic butter with fresh basil or oregano when you can get them for that wonderful smell and taste of fresh pizza.
What To Serve With It
Though it's mighty tasty by itself, this sandwich goes really well with a simple green salad with Italian dressing to cut through the richness.
For a full pizza joint experience at home, put out a small dish of warm marinara sauce on the side so you can dip each bite.
During game days or casual get-togethers, cut these sandwiches into quarters and serve them as finger food alongside other snacks for a stepped-up pizza experience.
Common Recipe Questions
- → What type of bread works best?
Grab some thick, soft bread like Sara Lee® Artesano™ for the best results. It'll get nice and crispy while still being sturdy enough to hold everything inside.
- → Can I use a different cheese?
Sure thing. Try provolone or cheddar if you want to mix up the flavor profile instead of using mozzarella.
- → How do I make the garlic butter?
Simply melt some unsalted butter and mix in fresh parsley, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a tiny bit of salt for a tasty spread.
- → Can I make this sandwich ahead of time?
These taste way better fresh from the pan, but you can get the garlic butter ready and have all your ingredients prepped for faster cooking later.
- → What should I serve it with?
Try dunking it in some marinara sauce or add a simple green salad on the side to make it a full meal.