Pizza Toast Upgraded Melt (Printable)

Thick sourdough slices layered with garlicky tomato sauce and melted cheese, finished under a broiler.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 2 thick slices sourdough or country-style bread

→ Tomato Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup high-quality marinara sauce
03 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

→ Cheese

05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/4 cup shredded provolone cheese
07 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Toppings (optional)

08 - 8–10 slices pepperoni or salami (omit for vegetarian)
09 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
11 - 1/4 bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

→ Seasoning

13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
15 - Red pepper flakes, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Set your oven broiler to high and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
02 - Combine marinara sauce, minced garlic, and olive oil in a small bowl and mix well.
03 - Lightly toast sourdough slices in a toaster or under the broiler until golden.
04 - Spread a generous amount of the garlicky tomato sauce evenly over each toasted bread slice.
05 - Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and provolone cheeses atop the sauce on each slice.
06 - Distribute chosen toppings such as pepperoni, red onion, olives, and bell pepper evenly over the cheese.
07 - Top with remaining mozzarella, provolone, and all grated Parmesan cheese.
08 - Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper over each slice.
09 - Place baking sheet under broiler for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbling, and golden brown.
10 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's faster than ordering takeout and tastes like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
  • The broiler does all the work while you stand there watching the cheese get all golden and bubbly, which is oddly therapeutic.
  • You can eat it with your hands, throw whatever toppings you want on it, and nobody judges you for it being technically a snack that becomes dinner.
02 -
  • Don't walk away from the broiler—it goes from perfect to burnt in about thirty seconds, and you want to catch it at that bubbling golden moment.
  • The bread stays structurally sound because of that initial light toast, which creates a barrier that sauce and cheese can't immediately soak through.
  • If your cheese isn't browning enough, it means your broiler might not be hot enough or you're too far away from it; move the rack closer and give it another minute.
03 -
  • Invest in a good marinara—it's the main flavor here and there's nowhere to hide with a bad sauce, so pick one you'd actually want to eat on its own.
  • Watch your broiler the whole time; every oven is different, and the difference between gorgeous golden cheese and burnt disappointment is literally seconds.
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