This is a simple, quick, and delicious take on pizza!
Crusty French bread is topped with garlic butter, pizza sauce, oregano, and two kinds of cheese before baking to melty perfection.
Add your favorite toppings for a new pizza that your family will love!
Why You’ll Love French Bread Pizza
- Leave the boxed pizzas in the freezer section and save money by making pizza.
- Easy to make, this recipe is so much faster than delivery.
- No pizza dough needed, no rolling, no rising.
- They taste great, choose your own favorite pizza toppings!
- Cut portions any size you like to feed a few or feed a crowd. French bread pizzas are great for sleepovers and movie nights!
- Use the air fryer to cook or reheat smaller sections.
Ingredients
I love a good homemade pizza with homemade dough but this pizza bread is quick and easy when time is short.
FRENCH BREAD: Pick up a large loaf of French bread at the market or make homemade French bread. Top it with garlic butter for an extra layer of flavor.
SAUCE: Either buy a jar or make some homemade pizza sauce. Change it up by stirring in some bbq sauce, a couple of tablespoons of pesto. You can also use marinara sauce with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
Toppings:
What can’t go on a pizza? This is where the fun begins! Start with mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Meat: Pepperoni, Homemade Italian Sausage, leftover Shredded Chicken, ham.
Veggies: Toppings can be any assortment of onions, olives, red peppers, artichokes, chopped spinach, diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or jalapenos. Anything goes!
How to Make French Bread Pizza
Here are the basics that make this a perfect French bread pizza recipe!
- Cut the French bread in half lengthwise and brush it with garlic butter.
- Place on a baking sheet cut side up and bake until browned per the recipe below.
- Top baked halves with pasta sauce, sprinkle with oregano, cheeses, and toppings of choice.
- Bake until browned and bubbly and let cool before serving.
To serve, cut into 2-inch slices and top with a little bit of parmesan cheese, chili flakes, fresh basil, or even a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Tips for Perfect Pizza Bread
- Cooking the bread with garlic butter adds a crisp topping and keeps the bread from getting soggy.
- If you don’t have garlic butter, brush the bread with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder or a few cloves minced garlic.
- Ensure meat is cooked before adding. If your toppings have a lot of moisture, cook them first (like mushrooms) or lightly squeeze them dry (like pineapple).
- Place finished French bread halves under the broiler to make the cheese and toppings extra crispy!
- Leftovers? Follow this easy guide for how to reheat pizza!
Did Someone Say Pizza Party?
- Quick and Easy Pizza Bagels
- Homemade Air Fryer Pizza Rolls – with a pre-made crust
- Cheesy Breakfast Pizza
- Quick and Easy Pizza Bagels – perfect after-school snack
- Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls – easy & cheesy
- Tortilla Pizza
- Pizza Sliders
Did your family love this French Bread Pizza? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
French Bread Pizza
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- ¼ cup salted butter softened
- 1 clove garlic minced, or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ cups pizza sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- toppings as desired pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, pineapple, etc.
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 450°F.
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Cut the loaf of bread in half lengthwise.
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Combine butter and garlic in a small bowl. Spread over the bread. Place on a baking sheet, cut side up, and bake 5 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp on top.
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Remove from the oven and spread pizza sauce on the top. Sprinkle with oregano.
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Top with cheeses and toppings as desired. Bake 12-15 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes if desired.
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Cool 5 minutes before slicing.
Video
Notes
- Cooking the bread with garlic butter adds a crisp topping and keeps the bread from getting soggy.
- If you don't have garlic butter, brush the bread with olive oil or melted butter and sprinkle with garlic powder or a few cloves of minced garlic.
- Ensure meat is cooked before adding. If your toppings have a lot of moisture, cook them first (like mushrooms) or lightly squeeze them dry (like pineapple).
- Place finished French bread halves under the broiler to make the cheese and toppings extra crispy!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Pizza
Cuisine American
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Used a loaf of french bread from our local Walmart. Cut the ends off and split the loaf in half lengthwise. Followed directions baking at 425 degrees F. instead of 450 for 5 minutes with butter garlic mixture; 12 minutes after topping with Rao’s pizza sauce, oregano, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and under broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, leaving rack in baking position. Used Rao’s pizza sauce. PERFECT!!
So glad you enjoyed it, Helaine!
very good, easy to prepare.
Thank you so much! It’s absolutely delicious
Tried this recipe today. 450° is way too hot for this. My pizza was burnt and I had it on the middle rack. Will do this again but not at 450° and not for so long.
Cooking at 450°F helps to make the french bread pizza nice and crispy. You will want to keep an eye on it closer to the end of the bake time because they crisp up quickly though.
Thanks for the recipe! It was delicious and easy! Will definitely make this again. Pinterest has turned off the comments for this pin so I’m leaving one here.
These came out black and burnt to a crisp on the bottom. We couldn’t event eat them. I followed the recipe to a T and baked on the middle rack for 12 minutes. I’m seeing other comments saying the same thing, maybe the recipe could be modified?
I’ve made this countless time and haven’t had this problem so I’m not sure what happened for you. May I ask what type of pan you used (was it a dark pan?).
The best pizza recipe! Will definitely make this many more times!
Delicious! Came out perfect.
I liked it it was good.
Delicious!!! I had not made French bread pizza’s in years. Came across your recipe and so glad I did! That garlic butter makes all the difference! I topped with sauce, sausage, green peppers and mushrooms. I sometimes do jalapenos too. I left one as a white pizza, both were really good! Thanks for the recipe!
Aww thank you so much for the comment, Robin! Glad you enjoyed it
Yuck. Burnt on the bottom
Oh no Megan, we haven’t had that problem. I use the middle rack in our oven, I hope that helps!
I made half the loaf with sautéed arugula, caramelized onions, dry sautéed wild mushrooms topped with Alfredo sauce and Parmesan. The other half had a red sauce with turkey pepperoni, capers, anchovies, mozzarella, Datil peppers and Parmesan.
Perfection.
That sounds delicious, Michael! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Delicious pizza! Love the taste
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Monica! :)