Name: Oven-Baked Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiche
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: Other
Ingredients: 12 slices ciabatta bread; 0.5 cup salted butter; 1 jar marinara sauce; 12 slices mozzarella cheese; 4 ounces pepperoni slices

Oven-Baked Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiche

Oven-Baked Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiche cover

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Oven-Baked Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiche

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Oven-Baked Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwiche

12 slices ciabatta bread(or crusty sandwich bread)

½ cup salted butter(softened, or mayonnaise)

1 jar marinara sauce(1 jar is 24 ounces)

12 slices mozzarella cheese(pre-sliced cheese)

4 ounces pepperoni slices

Instructions

Position a rack in the bottom of the oven, set a sheet pan on top, and preheat the oven to 450°F.

Spread 6 slices of bread with half of the butter and place, buttered sides down, on a second sheet pan.

Spread each bread slice on the sheet pan with 1 to 2 tablespoons marinara sauce and top with 2 slices of cheese. Top with pepperoni and the remaining bread slices. Spread the tops with the remaining butter.

Carefully remove the hot sheet pan from the oven and place it on top of the sandwiches, rimmed edges up.

Place the stacked baking sheets in the oven on the bottom rack. Bake until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown and crispy, 10-12 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the remaining marinara in a microwave or on the stove.

Remove sandwiches from the oven and serve immediately with remaining warmed marinara sauce. Refrigerate any leftover sandwiches up to 2 days and reheat in a regular oven or toaster oven at 325°F for 5-10 minutes.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Preheat Both Sheet Pans 🔥
Preheat the top sheet pan in the oven for at least 10 minutes before placing sandwiches. This ensures even, crispy browning on both sides simultaneously and prevents soggy bread.
Butter Generously on Both Sides 🧈
Apply a thin, even layer of softened salted butter to both the outside surfaces of your ciabatta bread. This creates a golden, crispy exterior that rivals stovetop grilled cheese while the oven cooks the interior evenly.
Reduce Marinara Sauce Thickness 🍝
Strain excess liquid from jarred marinara or simmer it for 2-3 minutes before spreading. This prevents soggy bread and ensures the sauce complements rather than overwhelms the mozzarella and pepperoni.
Layer Strategy Matters 📐
Build from bottom up: bread, butter-side down, then sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, more mozzarella, and finally top bread butter-side up. This ensures cheese encapsulation that melts perfectly while pepperoni stays in place.
Monitor Final Minutes Closely ⏱️
Check sandwiches at 10 minutes instead of waiting the full time—oven temperatures vary greatly and bread can burn quickly once cheese melts. Optimal doneness is golden-brown bread with slightly bubbling cheese edges.