Why it’s so good!
I always have a batch of this copycat sizzler cheese toast (aka parmesan toast) ready to go in my freezer. It’s so incredibly easy to make and it’s lip-smackingly delicious.
It makes a great simple cheesy snack or side to your dinner but IMO it comes into it’s own when you’re dunking it into soup like this easy butternut squash soup or as an alternative to grilled cheese with your favourite tomato soup.
It’s a great after-school quick snack, too. Sizzler cheese bread takes just minutes to make and it cooks even quicker than that. Make it ahead to use up stale bread and it stores beautifully in the freezer, then even cooks from frozen!
This recipe was first posted here on March 7th, 2017. It has been updated with new images and a better method.
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Ingredients you’ll need
Jump to the recipe for full ingredients and instructions.
- Bread: Sizzler cheesy toast is generally made with thick, soft white bread. I love making it with ciabatta too for that chewy yet crunchy texture. Either are fine. I find thicker bread best but it even works with thinner slices too. Texas toast style bread is perfect.
- Cheese: Sizzler generally make their cheese toast using Pecorino Romano but parmesan cheese works just as well. Whichever you choose, you must use a block and finely grate it yourself. You simply won’t get as good a flavour from pre-shredded varieties and you definitely won’t get a good result from the shelf-stable type.
- Butter: Use a good quality salted butter here. Margarine will work but real butter will give the best flavour. Make sure it’s at room temperature.
It truly needs nothing else and has all the flavour you need however some people like to experiment adding dried spices like onion powder, garlic powder, paprika or dried parsley.
Use up leftover bread
This recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover bread. We so often buy a really nice loaf but regularly have loads leftover. I get lured in by the smell of fresh bread and then two days later, there is still half a loaf in the pantry.
You could just slice it up and freeze it to use for toast or you could turn it into breadcrumbs, dry them out and use it for these chicken schnitzels or you could make this sizzler cheese toast.
How to make cheese toast
This parmesan bread is so simple to make and only requires 3 ingredients – bread, butter, cheese. That’s it.
Jump to the recipe for full ingredients and instructions.
1. Make the parmesan butter
Start by mixing together softened butter and very finely grated parmesan or pecorino cheese in a bowl. I grate the parmesan using a microplane grater to get it lovely and fine making it easy to mix into the butter.
2. Load up the bread
Spread that gorgeous parmesan cheese butter on one sideof each slice of bread.
3. Toast the bread
Using a skillet or frying pan over medium heat – not too hot so that it doesn’t burn the cheese – place one slice of your Sizzler cheese bread butter side down. Let it cook for 60-90 seconds until deep golden brown and crispy. Flip it over and use the bread to mop up any melted butter in the pan, then set it aside while you fry the rest.
Optional cooking methods
While the skillet method seems to be the best and quickest method, there are other ways you can toast your sizzler cheesy toast too.
- Sandwich press: This used to be my go-to – a flat sandwich grill press. You can do 2-3 slices at once and don’t need to watch is so closely. Let the lid sit just touching the top of the toast and let it go for 4-6 minutes. Additionally, this option toasts the other side of the bread too, if you want that.
- Under a grill / boiler: This one can be tricky as they may burn if you don’t keep an eye on them. Heat the overhead grill / boiler to high then place the toasts on a tray under it until golden.
See it here with my mushroom cauliflower soup.
Can you freeze it?
Yes, you can but only uncooked. Once cooked you should eat them immediately.
To store your buttered parmesan bread slices in the freezer, place a small piece of baking paper between each slice and place them in an airtight container or zip lock bag.
You can cook these cheesy toasts straight from frozen.
Now, you never need to throw away stale bread again. Crunchy, cheesy and totally addictive, Sizzler Cheese Toasts are the absolute perfect way to use it up.
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Ingredients
- 6 slices thick soft bread or crusty bread about 1.5cm thick (stale is fine)
- 85 g salted butter softened (3oz)
- 85 g Pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese from a block, finely grated (3oz)
For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided
Equipment
- Skillet
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the butter and cheese until well combined.
- Spread evenly over one side of each slice of bread.
- Method 1 – Stove top: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place a slice of bread into the pan, butter side down. Cook for 60-90 seconds (notes), or until deep golden brown. Flip and use the other side of the bread to soak up any butter in the pan. Set aside and repeat with the rest.
- Method 2 – Sandwich press: Place parmesan side up under a heated adjustable level sandwich press. Lower so the top is just touching the cheese, and cook 4-6 minutes until golden.
- Method 3 – Overhead grill / broiler: Using this method, keep a close eye on them so they don't burn. Heat the overhead grill / broiler to high then place the toasts on a tray about 6 inches under it, parmesan side up. Cook until golden.
- Please take a moment to leave a comment & rating. It's appreciated and so helpful.
Notes
- Tablespoons: I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (equal to 4 teaspoons). Check yours before measuring.
- Timing for frying will depend on exactly how high you have the stove heat and your pan and the first one will often take a little
- Perfect for using up day old, good quality bread.
- Sizzler cheese toast freezes well before cooking. Freeze with a piece of baking paper between each. Can be cooked straight from frozen.
- Nutrition details are approximate only – scroll below the recipe to find the full nutritional information.
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