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!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Pizza and grilled cheese in one delicious bite, that certainly is a great way to celebrate grilled cheese month.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thanks so much 🙂 I think so too!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I love that grilled cheese has a whole month to celebrate it! This one is going on the menu soon. Pizza grilled cheese is not to be missed and yours looks absolutely perfect 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Me tooooo! Happy to hear that 🙂 Thank you Jennifer!
Kevin says
Mouth is drooling over these photos, this one will be coming up quick in the menu line up!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Thank you Kevin 🙂 Enjoy!!
Laura says
So tasty, Dawn! I love anything that is Pizza! This would be perfect weeknight dinner!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Totally! Thanks Laura 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
This is AMAZING Dawn!! Seriously making me drool over here. I had no idea it was grilled cheese month! What a perfect way to celebrate – but I’m with you, I never need an excuse to eat cheese!! 🙂 Pinned! XO Have a great week!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Glad I’m not the only one 😉 Thank you Katherine! Have a great week too!!
Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats says
Dawn, this is brilliant. Why not fry the sammies in the salami fat? GOLDEN IDEA!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Right 😉 ?! Thanks Jo!
Milena says
Hello, dinner! I was just wondering what to serve with salad tonight. This creation of yours looks incredible and I bet everyone in my family will be happy biting into one, two or three of these yummy pizza sandwiches! Pinned.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
WOO HOO! Happy to hear that! Thanks Milena! Hope you love it as much as we do 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl says
Dawn, you’re a woman after my own heart when you fried the sandwiches in the salami renderings! YUMMMM!!!! I seriously need one of these in my life. They look extra cheesy and delicious – just like I like my grilled cheeses 🙂 Happy Monday!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yay! Thank you kindly Haylie! Hope your week is going great 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina says
You are killing meeeee!!!! I didn’t realize it is grilled cheese month – I need to get on that! In the meantime – this has become my new favorite! And if I were a betting person – I’d bet it will remain my favorite for all time!! Delizioso!! Have a great week, my friend! XOXO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Yes!!!! You’re so sweet! Thank you Annie! You too 🙂 XOXO
Kim - The Puffy Biscuit says
Dawn, this looks AMAZING. It doesn’t get any better than pizza and sandwiches for me. (I have been avoiding dairy for the past few weeks and your photos are seriously making me question my life decisions. LOL!) I love the idea of crisping up the salami. I do that when I make ham and grilled cheese sandwiches and I think the extra step makes such a huge difference in flavour and texture.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Lol!! Thank you very much, Kim!! Yes, crispy totally adds something special 🙂
Holly says
There is something so comforting about grilled cheese and you have out-done yourself with this beauty! It is over the top in the best way and just one of those sandwiches that is perfect for a rainy day like we are having here today.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Thank you so very much, Holly!! Total comfort food!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This is the best of both worlds – pizza and grilled cheese! What a brilliant idea to combine the two! I love that you’ve crisped the salami! Extra flavor! These would be perfect for lunch any day of the week!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I think so too 😉 Thanks Kathy!
David @ Spiced says
Oh, I definitely don’t need an excuse to enjoy a good grilled cheese sandwich! This one is packed with the best flavors ever…you know how much I love a good pizza! 🙂 And the spicy salami in there? That’s a must for sure! I’m going to be drooling over this one all day now, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Right? Thanks David!
Valentina says
Oh my gosh — when two of the most delicious foods in the world come together to create one over-the-top amazing meal! Grilled cheese AND pizza . . . um . . . . YUM!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Totally!! Thanks Valentina 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
Where has this been all my life? I NEED a pizza grilled cheese, like, right now. Your grilled cheese pics always make me so hungry :). Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Lol! You and me both, Kelsie! Thanks so much for the kind words, my friend 🙂