Mozzarella Stick Grilled Cheese (Printable version)

Golden toasted bread layered with melted mozzarella sticks and a tangy marinara dipping sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy & Cheese

01 - 8 frozen mozzarella sticks
02 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese

→ Bread

03 - 4 slices Italian or sourdough bread

→ Sauces

04 - ½ cup marinara sauce (plus extra for dipping)

→ Butter & Oil

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Directions:

01 - Bake the frozen mozzarella sticks as per package guidelines until golden and crispy. Keep warm.
02 - Spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each bread slice.
03 - Place two bread slices buttered side down. Layer each with 2 slices mozzarella cheese, 4 cooked mozzarella sticks, and 2 tablespoons marinara sauce.
04 - Cover each assembly with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
05 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook sandwiches 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden brown and cheese melts.
06 - Remove from heat, slice in half, and serve hot with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms two frozen appetizers into something that feels deliberately fancy without any real effort.
  • The contrast between crispy bread and molten cheese inside is the kind of textural moment that makes you forget you're eating comfort food.
  • You can have it ready in under 20 minutes, which means weeknight lunch just got a lot more interesting.
02 -
  • Cook the mozzarella sticks all the way through before assembly—a cold or partially frozen stick inside will ruin the whole thing because it won't melt in time.
  • Medium heat is your friend here; high heat will burn the bread before the cheese even starts melting, which I learned the hard way on my third attempt.
  • Let your butter soften on the counter for a few minutes instead of microwaving it, because melted butter spreads unevenly and creates burnt spots.
03 -
  • Use a griddle instead of a skillet if you're making multiple sandwiches—the even heat means more consistent browning and you can press multiple sandwiches at once.
  • Freeze your assembled sandwiches before cooking and add two extra minutes per side if you want a make-ahead option that tastes equally good straight from the freezer.
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