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This pepperoni sandwich has everything you love about pizza tucked inside buttery, toasted bread. Here, you’ll learn how to make it, grill it until the cheese is perfectly melted, and pack it for lunch without the bread getting soggy.
Why You’ll Love This Pepperoni Sandwich
This pepperoni sandwich is an easy way to bring everything you love about pizza into a school lunch. Grilling the bread gives it a crisp, buttery crust, while the melted cheese holds everything together, making it much tastier than a slice of leftover pizza for lunch. It’s also way more delicious than a grilled cheese, so if you’ve got pepperoni, let’s use it!
Making It for Lunch
- Assemble the sandwich
Spread mayonnaise on the bread, then layer the tomato, mozzarella, and pepperoni. Butter the outside of each slice before grilling. - Grill it
Grill it over medium heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Remove it from the pan and let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing so the cheese has time to set. - Pack it for lunch
Let it cool down to room temperature first to prevent steam from building inside the lunch box. Then pack it in its own compartment so it stays crisp. Add fruit and veggies in separate compartments and pack it inside an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.
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Laura’s School Lunch Packing Tips
Yes. Skip the butter and grilling step for a quick cold pepperoni sandwich. It’s still delicious and packs well for school.
Mozzarella gives this sandwich its classic pizza flavor, but provolone, Monterey Jack, mild cheddar, fontina, or a pizza-blend cheese all melt beautifully. Choose a cheese that melts well and complements the pepperoni.
Absolutely! Try sliced black olives, mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, ham, sausage, pesto instead of mayonnaise, or a light spread of marinara. If you’re adding several toppings, use a sturdy bread like sourdough or Texas toast to help hold everything together.
Let the sandwich cool completely before sealing it in the lunch container. Packing it while it’s still hot creates steam, which softens the toasted bread.
More Ways to Make Lunch Easy
Keep the pizza-inspired lunches going with a pepperoni uncrustable and this turkey pepperoni sandwich. If sandwiches are your go-to for lunch, check out all these sandwich ideas.
Pepperoni Grilled Cheese
Watch How It’s Made:
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 1½ teaspoon mayonnaise
- 2 tomato slices, sliced thin
- 1 slice Mozzarella cheese
- 4 to 6 slices pepperoni
Instructions
Assemble the sandwich:
- Butter each slice of bread and flip them over onto a large, flat surface. Spread the mayonnaise over 2 slices of bread and layer with tomato, cheese, and pepperoni. Assemble the sandwiches, buttered side facing up.
Grill it:
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Grill the sandwiches, 1 at a time, for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese begins to melt. Flip and grill for an additional minute until the cheese melts.
- Remove the sandwich from the pan and allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
For a packed lunch:
- Once cooled, pack the sandwich into a lunch container, separated from other ingredients like fruit and veggies.
Rita says
Sooooo good
Vicki says
Like pizza on a sandwich!
Jan says
My teens love this!
Holly says
My little ones love pepperoni! Made this for this school lunches today and it was a huge hit! Pepperoni grilled cheese is definitely a new lunch time winner!
Justin says
This was so good!
Shaheen says
What I appreciated most about this recipe was how quick and easy it was to prepare. It’s a fantastic option for a busy weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch. Plus, the ingredients are readily available in most kitchens.
devon says
I always use mayo for grilling grilled cheese. It worked very well on this sandwhich.
Cam says
This pepperoni grilled cheese was amazing! It literally tastes like a pizza in a sandwich.