This Grilled Pizza Panini is the kind of ten minute recipe that feels almost too good to be true. It turns simple ingredients into a melty, toasty, pizza inspired sandwich that hits every craving at once.

Instead of regular bread, you get a panini built on real pizza bases, which means each bite tastes like a cross between your favorite grilled cheese and your go to slice. It is a fun twist on a classic pizza grilled cheese and one of those recipes you end up making again and again because it is fast, comforting, and ridiculously satisfying.

Grilled Pizza Panini stack on each other - 1
  • What Makes This Recipe So Good
  • What Goes Into Grilled Pizza Panini
  • How To Make Grilled Pizza Panini
  • Tips For Making Grilled Pizza Panini
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • Grilled Pizza Panini Recipe

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Most pizza sandwich recipes use regular sliced bread, which turns soft long before the cheese even melts. This Grilled Pizza Panini starts with actual pizza bases, giving you a crisp, chewy crust that holds up to sauce, cheese, and heat without going soggy.

It also cooks faster and more evenly than traditional pizza, which makes this recipe perfect when you want something satisfying without waiting for dough to rise or an oven to preheat.

What Goes Into Grilled Pizza Panini

Flat lay photo of ingredient shot of mozzarella cheese slices, mini pizza dough, red capsicum paste, pizza sauce, pepperoni, Italian dried herbs, olive oil spray - 2

This recipe uses simple ingredients that come together to create a crisp, cheesy, pizza inspired panini with big flavor and very little effort.

  • Mini Pizza Bases: Thin bases create a crisp, chewy texture that never turns soggy.
  • Pizza Tomato Paste: Adds concentrated tomato flavor without weighing the panini down.
  • Pepperoni: Brings salty, savory richness that makes each bite taste like real pizza.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Melts into stretchy layers that hold everything together.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

How To Make Grilled Pizza Panini

Preheat the panini maker. - 3
  1. Preheat the Press: Heat your panini maker, sandwich press, or grill according to the instructions so it is ready for toasting.
Lay all the bases and spread each one with tomato paste and capsicum paste, then sprinkle with Italian herbs. - 4
  1. Prepare Bases: Lay all the bases and spread each one with tomato paste and capsicum paste, then sprinkle with Italian herbs.
Top four of the bases with pepperoni and mozzarella, seasoning with salt or pepper - 5
  1. Layer Fillings: Top four of the bases with pepperoni and mozzarella, seasoning with salt or pepper if you like.
Place the remaining pizza bases on top to create sealed panini - 6
  1. Close the Sandwiches: Place the remaining pizza bases on top to create sealed panini stacks that hold the fillings in place.
Spray the press with oil, lightly coat each sandwich, and cook until the crust turns golden and the cheese has fully melted. - 7
  1. Toast: Spray the press with oil, lightly coat each sandwich, and cook until the crust turns golden and the cheese has fully melted.
Remove the panini from the press - 8
  1. Serve Warm: Remove the panini from the press, let them rest briefly, and serve while they are hot and melty

For a fresh and balanced plate, serve this Grilled Pizza Panini with a side of Garlic Green Beans for something crisp and bright, or add a warm bowl of Stuffed Mushrooms to bring earthy depth that complements all the melty cheese. If you want something a little heartier, Roasted Sweet Potatoes add a caramelized sweetness that pairs beautifully with the savory pepperoni and melted mozzarella.

Tips For Making Grilled Pizza Panini

  • Use thin pizza bases so the panini crisps quickly without drying out.
  • Spread the tomato paste in a light layer so the filling stays balanced and the crust does not turn soggy.
  • Keep the cheese close to the center to prevent it from leaking out while the panini cooks.
  • Lightly spraying the outside with oil helps the crust turn golden and evenly toasted.

You can, but the texture will be softer and less crisp. Pizza bases give you that chewy, golden crust that makes this panini taste closer to real pizza.

A grill pan or regular skillet works. Press the sandwich down with a spatula or a heavy pan until the crust turns golden and the cheese melts.

Leave a small border around the edges and keep the cheese in the center to help it melt inward instead of outward.

Side view image of Pizza Panini - 9 Karina in a white and black dress with her hair blowing back, standing in front of her cooktop, cooking salmon in a pan - 10

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IngredientsUSMetric1x2x3x

  • ▢ 8 bases mini pizza dough bases thin
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons Pizza Tomato Paste or Pizza Sauce, divided
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons roasted red capsicum/pepper paste (optional, but it guarantees a great flavour; if you don’t have this just replace with extra tomato paste), divided
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons Italian dried herbs mix (oregano; basil; parsley; thyme, etc)
  • ▢ 12 slices Pepperoni divided (or more — adjust to your tastes)
  • ▢ 8 slices Mozzarella cheese, thin
  • ▢ Olive oil spray

Instructions

  • Preheat your Panini Maker ; Sandwich Press or George Foreman Grill according to manufacture instructions. (Or use any of the other cooking methods mentioned above in this post).
  • Lay each pizza base down on a work surface. Spread both the pizza tomato paste/sauce and the red capsicum/pepper paste on each pizza base; sprinkle with the Italian herbs.
  • On only four of the bases, layer with the pepperoni slices and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and/or pepper (optional). Place the remaining four bases over each pizza to create a sandwich. Spray your Panini/Press machine with cooking oil spray, and lightly spray the outer sides of each sandwich (or brush over with oil). Place onto the Panini/Sandwich maker and cook until the pizza crust turns golden and the cheese on the inside has melted through.
  • Serve!

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Grilled Pizza Panini stack on each other - 11

Grilled Pizza Panini

Ingredients

  • 8 bases mini pizza dough bases thin
  • 2 tablespoons Pizza Tomato Paste or Pizza Sauce, divided
  • 2 tablespoons roasted red capsicum/pepper paste (optional, but it guarantees a great flavour; if you don’t have this just replace with extra tomato paste), divided
  • 2 tablespoons Italian dried herbs mix (oregano; basil; parsley; thyme, etc)
  • 12 slices Pepperoni divided (or more – adjust to your tastes)
  • 8 slices Mozzarella cheese, thin
  • Olive oil spray

Instructions

  • Preheat your Panini Maker ; Sandwich Press or George Foreman Grill according to manufacture instructions. (Or use any of the other cooking methods mentioned above in this post).
  • Lay each pizza base down on a work surface. Spread both the pizza tomato paste/sauce and the red capsicum/pepper paste on each pizza base; sprinkle with the Italian herbs.
  • On only four of the bases, layer with the pepperoni slices and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and/or pepper (optional). Place the remaining four bases over each pizza to create a sandwich. Spray your Panini/Press machine with cooking oil spray, and lightly spray the outer sides of each sandwich (or brush over with oil). Place onto the Panini/Sandwich maker and cook until the pizza crust turns golden and the cheese on the inside has melted through.
  • Serve!

Notes

Nutrition

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