This is the best grilled cheese sandwich recipe and sure to be a real treat! This pizza grilled cheese sandwich is piled high with crispy salami, melty mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce and fresh basil. So good!
Did ya know that April is grilled cheese month? There seems to be some sort of food holiday all the time, am I right?? I can’t keep up with it all.
Truth be told, though, if you know me you know that I need no excuse to enjoy cheese.
But, since it is grilled cheese month, I thought why not go all out and bring you guys something wickedly delish, like this epic pizza grilled cheese sandwich. Grab those napkins and let’s get to it, shall we?
I am beyond excited to share this ooey gooey yummy pizza grilled cheese sandwich with you all. It combines all the delicious flavours of pizza in sandwich form. Plus, it comes together in no time at all.
I crisped the salami here in a pan for a little, but that’s totally optional. And then you know what I did?
There was a little salami grease in the pan.
Yes.
I went there.
Along with a little dab of butter, I grilled the sandwiches in the salami renderings. Talk about good!
How To Make This Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Butter the slices of bread.
- Divide half of the cheese between two slices of bread. Then top the cheese with crispy (chopped) salami, pizza sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, remaining cheese and basil. Top with a second slice of bread to form each sandwich.
- Grill the sandwiches in a greased frying pan until golden brown on both sides, then cut in half (if you want).
Tip: Serve this pizza grilled cheese with this tomato basil soup for a hearty, satisfying meal!
Tips for Making This Recipe
- Use a good bread! Hit up your local bakery and get what’s fresh! I used a really yummy seed bread. It was still warm when I bought it and made for such a yummy grilled cheese sandwich.
- Crisp the salami. This is totally optional, but I love to crisp it.
- After crisping that salami? Chop it! And even if you don’t crisp it, still chop! It make for easier eating when biting into your sandwich.
- Don’t have the heat too high so you burn the bread and not melt the cheese. It’s better to have it on the lower side to get that golden brown exterior and melty, cheesy interior.
- This pizza grilled cheese is delicious dunked into some pizza sauce for extra pizza flavour.
Recipe Variations
- A spicy salami is used in this recipe, but use whatever you like best.
- Have pepperoni on hand? Use that instead!
- Try a little dab of pesto smeared on the bread instead of using basil.
- Don’t have pizza sauce? Try your favourite pasta sauce.
More Grilled Sandwiches
If you make this pizza grilled cheese sandwich recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 6 thin slices salami (spicy or regular)
- 4.5 teaspoons butter, divided
- 4 slices sandwich bread, use your favourite variety
- 3 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (about ¾ cup)
- ¼ cup pizza sauce
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 to 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- To crisp salami (optional), heat a 10-inch or 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Place salami in the skillet and cook until crispy (should only take 2 to 4 minutes). Stay with it because it can burn quickly. Drain salami on a paper towel-lined plate.Note: After the salami is cooked, you can chop smaller (if you like); this makes the sandwich easier to eat, so you aren't biting off huge slices of salami.
- Spread 3 teaspoons of butter among the 4 slices of bread (on both sides).Note: You may use less (or more) butter, depending on how large your slices of bread are and how buttery you like things.
- On top of two slices of bread, add half of the mozzarella cheese (about 1.5 ounces or 6 tablespoons).
- Top cheese with salami.
- Place pizza sauce on top of salami along with crushed red pepper flakes.
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese (about 1.5 ounces or 6 tablespoons) and basil.
- Place remaining slices of buttered bread on top of ingredients to form the two sandwiches.
- Heat leftover grease from salami and remaining 1.5 teaspoons of butter in a 10-inch or 12-inch non-stick frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat. Gently swirl the pan to coat it well with the grease and melted butter.
- Place sandwiches in the pan. Cook the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes on one side.
- Carefully flip the sandwiches to the other side and continue to cook for another 3 to 4 minutes or until they're golden brown and crispy on the outside and the cheese is melted inside. Serve and enjoy!Note: You can cut the sandwich in half or enjoy as is.
Notes
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Terri says
Now this is my kind of collision- pizza and grilled cheese. I love this !
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Mine toO! Thank you Terri!
mimi rippee says
Oh my! Well these are fun! And who wouldn’t enjoy this sandwich. I woulnd’t even need the pepperoni. Fabulous, thanks!
Lisa says
Oh wow. These look ooey-gooey-crispy-pizza-good-delicious, Dawn! Thanks for the idea!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
They sure are delish! Thanks Lisa 🙂
Colleen says
Every month is grilled cheese month at my house, and pizza month, as well. So I must try this delectable sandwich! I know it will be a big hit. Thanks for sharing, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Haha..so true, Colleen! So true!! Thank you so much 🙂
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Dawn, this is exactly what I want for dinner tonight! Love you how crisped the salami. And good tip about chopping it – I can see myself biting into a sandwich and pulling out the whole slice! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Thanks Kelly! It’s definitely a tasty one 🙂
Anne|Craving Something Healthy says
WOW! What a great sandwich idea for a party. I might just have to plan one so I can make these! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
For sure! Thanks Anne 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
What can I say? Grilled cheese is absolutely your niche – you’ll never let us down. Here we go again – delicious, gooey, and just perfect pizza grilled cheese. I’m in!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
You’re so kind! Thanks a million, Ben! I do love cheese 🙂
Marissa says
This is just pure genius, Dawn! You’ve combined two of my favorite things on the planet into one delicious sandwich. We often have a pizza night on the weekend and this is absolutely what we’re going to make!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thank you so very much, Marissa! It’s a yummy one for sure 🙂