If Pizza Lava Toast flooded your FYP months ago with the promise of an "ooey-gooey" experience but you haven't given it a shot, you're not alone. With millions of views, this recipe might be worth a second look when you're craving some 'za but don't have the time or money to order up a slice. The good news is that you probably have all of the ingredients on hand to make the dish when you're in a pizza pinch.
The "recipe" is easy cheesy: Break out two slices of bread. For the bottom piece, lay your cheese around the borders of the bread, then top with a second piece. Push your thumb into the middle of the bread to create a dam and spoon in a little pool of pizza sauce. Sprinkle with more cheese and your choice of toppings. Throw it in the oven at 375 degrees for about eight minutes, and enjoy! The result is like a pizza grilled cheese.
It's not the most gourmet of pizza alternatives, but you can make it as basic or as elevated as you want using a variety of toppings, some good cheeses, and a sprinkling of Italian seasoning. Spice it up with Calabrian chiles or hot chili oil, go for an all-veggie version, or try a take on a meat lover's option with pre-cooked sausage, ham, and pepperoni.
Personally, I have an affinity for the English muffin versions of my childhood - gently toasted, then slathered with Ragú or Prego, and topped off with some quarter-sized Hormel pepperoni and slightly rubbery, shredded mozzarella cheese. I'll admit that as an adult, the memory of it is certainly better than the taste, but an upgraded variety featuring a thickened up version of Marcella Hazan's red sauce and some fresh mozzarella might be in my future soon.