Recipe

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This pepperoni sandwich has all the flavors of a grilled cheese and pepperoni pizza in one epic lunch kids and adults will love.

Buttery, toasted bread with sliced pepperoni and melted cheese, this epic Pepperoni Sandwich recipe is a definite way to spruce up the usual school lunch!

grilled pepperoni sandwich with melted cheese

Easy Pepperoni Sandwich Recipe

If you can make a grilled cheese, you can make this pepperoni sandwich, it’s that easy. A good grilled cheese sandwich never gets old at my house, and while I have many variations, this version is (IMO) better than leftover pizza -definitely much faster!

I often pack this sandwich for lunch with cheese and pepperoni used in previous meals like Pizza Chicken or family pizza night. This way, no ingredients go to waste and lunchboxes return home empty.

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More Pepperoni Pizza Sandwich Variations

These pepperoni sandwiches are also fair game for additional pizza toppings like:

sliced black olives
sliced tomatoes
chopped spinach
sliced mushrooms
sliced bell peppers
ham
sausage
pesto– instead of mayonnaise
marinara sauce- just a little!

If you do plan to load up on the toppings, I recommend using thickly sliced sandwich bread like Texas toast or sourdough. The slices are heartier and hold up better under more ingredients.

Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

There’s an art to crafting the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, and below I share with you step-by-step directions on how to assemble and grill this sandwich:

Spread butter
Spread a thin layer of softened butter over each slice of bread and flip the slices over.
Assemble
Spread mayonnaise over each slice of bread and layer with the sliced tomato, cheese, and pepperoni. Assemble the sandwich.
Grill it
Heat a medium, non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the sandwich to the pan and grill for 3 minutes until the cheese begins to melt. Flip and grill for an additional minute or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Remove the sandwich from the heat and slice it in half, or leave it whole.

Watch this quick video to see how it’s made and get extra tips!

How to Pack this Pepperoni Sandwich for a School Lunch

If you are packing this pepperoni sandwich for lunch, here’s how to keep the bread nice and toasty:

1. Cooldown
Let the sandwich cool down to room temperature before slicing sealing it in the lunchbox. Otherwise, the steam from the hot sandwich will create condensation and make the bread soggy.

2. Give it space
Make sure to keep the sandwich separate from other ingredients like fruit, veggies, etc. Having a compartmentalized lunch container makes this easy to do and you can still pack other snacks and sides in one container.

If you’re short on time or want to make this sandwich quickly, you can forgo the grilling step. While it does add a nice touch, it isn’t necessary and this sandwich is still a delicious lunch option your kids will enjoy. Just be sure to skip the butter.

Pepperoni Grilled Cheese

Servings: 2 sandwiches

Prep Time: 3

Cook Time: 12

Total Time: 15

This pepperoni sandwich has all the flavors of a grilled cheese and pepperoni pizza in one epic lunch kids and adults will love.

5 from 24 votes

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Watch How It’s Packed:

Ingredients

Butter, for grilling
4 slices thick sandwich bread
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tomato, sliced
2 slices Mozzarella cheese
8-12 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.