Pizza Grilled Cheese

This tasty pizza grilled cheese is the best comfort food mash up! Made with garlic bread, marinara sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, this super gooey sandwich is perfect for both kids and adults!

This post was originally published in January 2018 and has been updated for content.

Trying to stay creative with meals that my kids don't get sick of can be overwhelming, to say the least.

This pizza grilled cheese recipe is fun twist on the classic sandwich. It's a gooey piece of pizza, in sandwich form! I love doing fun mash up recipes like this or my carbonara mac and cheese.

These easy grilled cheese sandwiches are great for lunches, after-school snack or easy dinner. Cut the sandwiches into quarters for fun party snacks!

Serve this gooey grilled cheese sandwich recipe with a bowl of creamy tomato soup, mac and cheese or some crispy potato wedges!

Jump to:

• 🍕 Ingredient notes
• 📋 Substitutions and variations
• 🔪 Step by step instructions
• ⭐ Expert tips
• 🥘 Alternative cooking methods
• 🥡 Storage suggestions
• 🍕 More pizza recipes
• #ScarlatiFamilyKitchen
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

🍕 Ingredient notes

• Bread - White bread or texas toast are the best type of bread for grilled cheese. French or Italian bread, ciabatta bread or bagels make for fun alternatives!
• Cheese - Shredded mozzarella is the type of cheese I prefer for this delicious sandwich. It's gooey, melts easily and is also the most like regular pizza. Add some ricotta or cream cheese for an even more gooey cheese sandwich. Provolone is also a great option!
• Sauce - I like using my old school Italian gravy for this, however any marinara or pizza sauce will work.
• Pepperoni - I prefer using mini slices of pepperoni because they have a tendency to stay on the sandwich best. For larger slices, cut them into smaller pieces and layer them with the cheese.

📋 Substitutions and variations

• Toppings - Add your favorite pizza toppings, such as grilled veggies, Italian sausage or mini meatballs!
• Dairy Free - Use a dairy free plant based mozzarella cheese and also butter. Cook the sandwiches on low heat to prevent burning as dairy free cheese typically takes longer to melt.

🔪 Step by step instructions

First, spread the side of each slice of bread with unsalted butter and sprinkle with both the garlic powder and italian seasoning.

Spread the buttered slices of bread with the marinara and then top four of the bread slices with both cheese and pepperoni.

Place the top piece of bread on top so the outside of the bread has butter and the toppings are in the middle.

Preheat a griddle pan or electric griddle to medium heat. Cook the sandwiches for about 2-3 minutes on each side till golden brown and the cheese is melted.

⭐ Expert tips

• Make sure to spread the butter from crust to crust for even browning.
• Press down the pepperoni slices and cheese into the bread with marinara to help make sure they stick and don't fall out.
• If the outsides of the sandwiches are browned and the cheese is not melting, then reduce to medium-low heat and place a pot lid on top of the sandwich. This will help create more heat for the cheese to melt without the sandwich burning.

🥘 Alternative cooking methods

• Oven Baked - Assemble the sandwiches as directed and then place on a sheet pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 350˚ for 10-15 minutes, flipping half way through, until the cheese is melted and the sandwich is golden brown. Place sandwiches under the broiler for 30-60 seconds for additional browning if needed.
• Air Fryer - Assemble the sandwiches as directed and then place in the air fryer basket. Cook at 375˚ for 3-5 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and the cheese is melted.

🥡 Storage suggestions

Leftover sandwiches will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in frying pan on a stovetop, under the broiler or also in the air fryer.

🍕 More pizza recipes

If you loved this easy recipe for pizza grilled cheese sandwiches, check out these other pizza recipes that I know you will love too!

• Pizza Bread
• Italian Flatbread Pizzas
• Homemade Breakfast Pizza
• Cast Iron Pizza Recipe

📖 Recipe