Pepperoni Pizza Panini

Name: Pepperoni Pizza Panini
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces ricotta cheese, about 2 cups; 1 large egg; 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, about 1⁄2 cup; 2 tablespoons fresh, chopped basil; 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder; 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse black pepper; 8 slices thick, crusty bread, (sour dough, ciabatta, multigrain—you pick!); 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil; 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated, about 2 cups; 8 ounces pepperoni, sliced, about 1 cup; 1 bell pepper, seeded and deveined, diced, about 1 cup; 1 small onion, peeled and diced, about 1 cup; 1 cup marinara sauce

Estate Comforts

Pepperoni Pizza Panini

Print Recipe

The Strategy:

A brilliant, chaotic fusion of two beloved comfort foods. By fortifying the sandwich with a heavily seasoned ricotta blend alongside traditional mozzarella, you create an incredibly lush, molten core that perfectly mimics the decadent texture of a supreme pizza, all encased in a fiercely crispy, olive oil-seared crust.

Makes: 4 sandwiches | Total Time: 30 minutes till it’s ready

Ingredients

For cheese filling base

8 ounces ricotta cheese, about 2 cups
1 large egg
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated, about 1⁄2 cup
2 tablespoons fresh, chopped basil

For cheese filling seasoning

1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder
1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1⁄2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

For panini

8 slices thick, crusty bread, (sour dough, ciabatta, multigrain—you pick!)
2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated, about 2 cups
8 ounces pepperoni, sliced, about 1 cup
1 bell pepper, seeded and deveined, diced, about 1 cup
1 small onion, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
1 cup marinara sauce

Overhead prep shot of ciabatta bread, ricotta cheese blend, mozzarella, pepperoni, diced peppers, onions, and marinara on marble

Instructions

For cheese

Place the ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and onion and garlic powders into a bowl. Whisk together. Season with salt and pepper.

For sandwiches

Lay the bread slices on your work surface. Spread each with olive oil and place olive oil side down.
Spread each slice with the ricotta mixture and pile on mozzarella.
Layer four slices with pepperoni, bell pepper, and onion. Drizzle a bit of marinara sauce over the top.
Top with the remaining bread slices, cheese side down.
Place two sandwiches at a time into the panini press. Slide the cover down and press to smash the sandwiches together.
Grill until golden on both sides with the cheese melted.

Extreme close-up action shot pulling the panini apart, showing a dramatic stretch of molten ricotta and mozzarella cheese

Make It "My Way":

Make this panini even more pizza-like by topping the sandwich with a couple of extra slices of pepperoni before closing the lid. Or better yet, layer two panini on top of each other and smash again. The structural limits of this sandwich are entirely up to you.

The full recipe lives in the Vault

Ingredients, step-by-step method, and every chef-tested detail are reserved for members of the Estate Registry.

Join the Estate Registry

The Heart of the Table

This is the ultimate intersection of ease and profound satisfaction. It takes the familiar, deeply nostalgic flavor profile of a Friday night pizza delivery and repackages it into a fast, hot, incredibly messy sandwich format. It is unpretentious comfort food, meant to be eaten with your hands while loudly enjoying a weekend game.

A gorgeous single-view lifestyle photo of freshly prepared Pepperoni Pizza Panini.

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Do not serve this whole. You must slice it aggressively down the center and immediately pull the halves slightly apart before serving to showcase that incredible, theatrical stretch of the molten ricotta and mozzarella blend. Serve on a dark plate to make the bright red marinara and pepperoni visually explode.
THE POUR: A violently cold, highly carbonated craft Amber Ale or an Italian Peroni. The sharp carbonation is essential for cleansing the palate between bites of heavy cheese and rich, oily pepperoni.
THE VIBE: Boisterous, highly casual, and incredibly fun. This is premium game-day fare, perfect for eating around the television with loud friends.

Chef’s Recommendations

The Green Course: Classic Caesar Salad
The Bitter Green: Broccoli Rabe with Garlic, Lemon, and Red Pepper
The Italian Close: Biscotti with Brown-Sugared Pine Nuts and Chocolate Chips
Lemon Against the Cheese: The Gin Fizz

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Pepperoni Pizza Panini

Pepperoni Pizza Panini

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

Neighborly Grace

✨ The Gilded Swaps