French Bread Pizza
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My homemade French bread pizza recipe features French bread brushed with garlic butter and baked with pizza toppings. It’s crisp, bubbly, and ready in 15 minutes.
Whenever my partner or family craves pizza, and I don’t have the time or energy to make dough from scratch (yes, even 2-ingredient pizza dough), I turn to these French bread pizzas. I’ve made them since I was a teen, and they’ve become a weeknight staple for us.
French bread pizzas can sometimes taste like a shortcut if the bread and toppings aren’t balanced. After plenty of trial and error (and growing up in a time where sourdough became standard), I found that thick slices of French bread are key, along with a layer of butter. They stay crisp underneath, soft in the middle, and hold up a generous layer of sauce, cheese, and all the toppings without falling apart!
The result is a quick, satisfying pizza that tastes just as good as the real thing. Okay, not just as good, but easier and without sacrificing any flavor.
Table of Contents
Why make my French bread pizza recipe
- Fun to customize. Like any good pizza recipe, you can add your favorite toppings, and everyone can customize their individual pizzas.
- Quick and easy. I’m talking 15 minutes all up!
- Works for one, two, or ten people. When it’s just me, I’ll make a half pizza, but when I have a hungry crew, I make a double batch and cut the slices smaller to make an appetizer.
Key Ingredients
Here’s what goes into French bread pizza, along with my kitchen notes. The complete list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
- French bread. Similar to a baguette but larger and rounder. I can find a loaf of French bread in the bakery aisle of my local grocery store, but if you can’t find it, use any soft, round bread loaf (like an Italian loaf, a Cobb loaf, or a wide baguette).
- Unsalted butter. Melted. Olive oil also works.
- Garlic. To be mixed with the butter to make garlic butter. This is entirely optional, so skip this if you don’t want any garlic flavor.
- Tomato sauce. My easy Pomodoro sauce is perfect for this baguette pizza. Otherwise, use your favorite bottle of store-bought marinara or pizza sauce.
- Mozzarella cheese. I highly recommend shredding the mozzarella by hand, as it melts better (no anti-caking agents!).
- Toppings. I used mini pepperoni slices, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes. You can add anything you’d typically add to a pizza!
How to make French bread pizza
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2- Brush with garlic butter. Slice the French bread lengthwise. Whisk together the melted butter and garlic and spread over the top of the bread.
Step 3- First bake. Bake the bread for 7-8 minutes or until lightly toasted.
Step 4- Add toppings. Remove the bread from the oven, spread it with tomato sauce, and sprinkle it with cheese and toppings.
Step 5- Second bake. Bake the pizza for 7-8 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Opt for day-old bread. I tested freshly baked bread and day-old bread, and I found the older bread had a sturdier crust that kept the toppings from spilling over.
- Always toast the bread twice. Lightly toasting the bread in the oven prevents it from becoming soggy when you add the toppings and do the second bake.
- Don’t have fresh garlic? I’ll let you in on a little secret: I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic all the time, and it works!
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Reheating: Reheat in an oven or toaster oven until warm. I don’t recommend microwaving this pizza as it makes the bread too chewy.
Frequently asked questions
You can definitely prep these pizzas ahead of time. I like to use pre-toasted bread, then wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If you want to keep them longer, freeze the pizzas on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, pop them straight into the oven from frozen and add about five extra minutes to the baking time.
I’ve found that placing the oven rack in the top middle rack works best. If it’s too high, the bread edges cn burn before the cheese gets melty. If your oven has a broil setting, you can broil for the final minute.
French Bread Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/4 cup tomato sauce I used pomodoro sauce
- 1 1/4 cups Mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup mini pepperoni
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the French bread lengthways. Whisk together the melted butter and garlic and spread over the top of the bread.
- Bake the bread for 7 minutes or until lightly toasted.
- Remove the bread from the oven, spread with tomato sauce, then add the mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and parmesan cheese.
- Bake the French bread pizza for 7-8 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- Tips: See my recipe tips above for the perfect French bread pizza.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or oven until warm.
Nutrition
More weeknight pizza recipes
Originally updated September 2024
And what to put some ham or meat on top? What you think?
You can definitely do that. I like ham and pineapple (Hawaiian twist) or some leftover shredded chicken (for a high protein topping!).
This was so creamy and tasty. My brother couldnt believe I made this alone. Really thanks!
You are so welcome, Mario- I’m so glad your brother enjoyed it, too.
Seriously addictive pizza right here. I could eat these every single day.
Love to hear that, Marlene!
This really is recipe for pizza in completely different way. French-Italian recipe haha. Amazing.