Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Clearly, I'm aware there are innumerable ways to make grilled cheese sandwiches. I think any form of pan fried sandwich that includes cheese is considered a grilled cheese, and lately they've gone from the simple home-cooked comfort food of our childhood to trendy menu offerings at several popular restaurants.

However, I've only had it one way. My favorite way - the classic grilled cheese sandwich. Regular buttered white sandwich bread with one slice of american cheese. I'm very particular about HOW to make it and some of that will be seen in this post, but I've never tried other ingredients. Until now!

Pizza grilled cheese sandwiches are now a family favorite in this house, and they're a great alternative to ordering pizza.

Here's how its done!

Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients (Per sandwich!)

2 slices white sandwich bread

1 tbsp butter

½ cup mozzarella cheese

6 pepperoni slices

1 tbsp marinara sauce

2 pinches garlic powder
ANY OTHER DESIRABLE PIZZA TOPPING*

Butter bread directly. It creates a much better effect than melting butter in a pan.

Lay both slices of bread buttered side down (so that the butter will be on the outside of the sandwich) next to each other.

After about 30 seconds (this can vary based on how hot pan is - just let bread firm up a bit), add your toppings, cheese first. Stack toppings on ONE piece of bread so empty slice can easily be moved.

Flip empty slice of bread on top of topping filled slice.

Squish sandwich with spatula to 'glue' together.

Carefully flip sandwich over.

Once you have achieved desired grill level, add a pinch of garlic powder, and flip over to toast the garlic powder into the bread.

Repeat with other side of sandwich.

(Note - an alternative would be to soften the butter in advance, and mix with garlic powder before spreading on the bread.)

Remove from heat, plate, and cut in half to serve.

*(we've added black olives, chopped red bells, and powdered 'red hots'. Other ideas would be mushrooms, feta, pineapple, spinach, cooked crumbled sausage - get creative!

We usually go totally kid friendly and serve with fries, but this would be great with a side salad as well!  If you are a fan of the classic 'soup and sandwich' combination, try this with a cup of Tomato-Basil soup - perfection!