Mozzarella Stick Grilled Cheese

# What You Need:

→ Dairy & Cheese

01 - 8 frozen mozzarella sticks

02 - 4 slices mozzarella cheese

→ Bread

03 - 4 slices Italian or sourdough bread

→ Sauces

04 - 1/2 cup marinara sauce

→ Butter & Oil

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# How to Make It:

01 - Bake the frozen mozzarella sticks according to package instructions until golden and crispy. Set aside and 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 on a clean surface. Layer each with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese, 4 cooked mozzarella sticks, and 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce.

04 - Top each with the remaining bread slices, buttered side up.

05 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place sandwiches in the pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

06 - Remove from heat, slice in half, and serve immediately with extra marinara sauce for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It tastes indulgent but comes together faster than delivery would arrive.
Those crispy baked mozzarella sticks stay warm and gooey all the way through, no sad deflated cheese here.
You get that restaurant-quality golden crust without any fancy techniques or stress.

02 -

Medium heat is non-negotiable—too high and your bread burns before the cheese inside melts, too low and you end up with a grease-soaked sandwich instead of that crispy exterior.
Don't skip baking the mozzarella sticks first, or they'll leak out and get hard instead of staying creamy, and you'll lose that magic moment when you bite through the crust and find that stretch.

03 -

Let your butter soften at room temperature for a few minutes before spreading—cold butter tears the bread and creates uneven toasting.
Press the sandwich gently while it cooks so the layers knit together, but not so hard that you squeeze out the filling or flatten the bread into a dense puck.