A fun twist on pizza night

This mash-up combines two favourites—cheesy pepperoni pizza and a crisp Caesar salad—into one epic sandwich. Toasty ciabatta buns get loaded with marinara, melty mozzarella, and plenty of pepperoni, then topped with a crunchy Caesar salad and finished like a sandwich. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or casual get-together.

Table of Contents

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips for Success
• FAQ
• Meta Description

Ingredients

Makes 4 sandwiches

• 4 ciabatta or kaiser-style buns, halved
• 1½ cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups pepperoni slices
• 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• Creamy Caesar dressing, to taste
• ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup seasoned croutons, crushed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Assemble the pizza buns.
   • Lay the bun halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet.
   • Spread marinara sauce on each half.
   • Sprinkle mozzarella evenly across all the buns.
   • Top the bottom halves with a generous layer of pepperoni.
3. Bake.
   Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the buns are golden and toasty.
4. Make the Caesar salad.
   • In a large bowl, toss the chopped romaine with Caesar dressing to your liking.
   • Stir in the grated parmesan, lemon juice, and black pepper.
   • Add the crushed croutons and toss again to combine.
5. Assemble the sandwiches.
   • Remove the buns from the oven and let them cool slightly.
   • Spoon a generous amount of Caesar salad onto each bottom half (the ones with pepperoni).
   • Cap each sandwich with the cheesy top bun.

Tips for Success

• Make it meatless by skipping the pepperoni or swapping it for plant-based slices.
• Add extras like sautéed mushrooms, banana peppers, or red onion slices for a pizza shop twist.
• Use store-bought Caesar or homemade—whatever suits your time and taste.

FAQ

Can I use a different type of bun?
Yes! Any sturdy sandwich bun will work, including sourdough rolls, focaccia squares, or sub rolls.

What’s the best way to crush the croutons?
Place them in a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin or the bottom of a pan. You want a mix of crumbs and chunky bits for texture.

Can I prep anything in advance?
Absolutely. You can make the Caesar salad up to 1 day ahead and keep it chilled (hold off on the croutons until right before serving to keep them crunchy).

Day 12: Caesar-oni Pizza Sandwiches

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• Author: Andrea Buckett

Ingredients

• 4 ciabatta buns (or other large kaiser style bun)
• 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups pepperoni slices
• 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
• Creamy Caesar dressing
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Lemon juice
• Black pepper
• 1 cup seasoned croutons, crushed

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425° F

1. Slice the buns in half horizontally. Place the buns on a baking sheet. Slather each half of the buns with some marinara sauce. Top each side with mozzarella cheese. Top the bottom half of each bun with lots of pepperoni slices. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. 

2. In the meantime, toss together the romaine lettuce with as much caesar dressing as you like. Stir in the parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Season with black pepper to taste. Toss in the seasoned croutons. 

3. Remove the pizza buns from the oven, let cool slightly. Place some of the salad mixture on top of the pepperoni side of the buns. Close up each sandwich with the top of the bun.