Mozzarella Stick Grilled Cheese

# 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 - 0.5 cup marinara sauce, plus extra for dipping

→ Butter & Oil

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bake frozen mozzarella sticks according to package directions until golden and crispy. Keep warm.

02 - Evenly spread 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 mozzarella cheese, 4 cooked mozzarella sticks, and 2 tablespoons marinara sauce.

04 - Cover each sandwich with the remaining bread slices, buttered side facing up.

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

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

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -

Every bite delivers that ooey-gooey satisfaction of melted mozzarella without the mess of actual fried sticks.
It comes together faster than scrolling through restaurant menus, and tastes infinitely better than delivery.
Marinara sauce tucked inside turns this into something restaurant-worthy that still feels homemade and fun.

02 -

Don't skip the mozzarella stick baking; a cold stick will leave a deflated pocket in your sandwich and no one wants that.
Medium heat is your friend here—go too hot and the outside burns while the cheese inside barely melts, which is a tragedy worth preventing.

03 -

Bake your mozzarella sticks the day before and reheat them gently to save assembly-line stress on cooking day.
Press the sandwich gently while it cooks (don't flatten it to a pancake, just encourage the cheese to meld) and you'll get that perfect balance of crispy outside and cohesive inside.