Dinner

French Bread Pizza Recipe

ByAiden Wells October 20, 2025October 20, 2025

Introduction

French bread pizza is a quick and delicious twist on classic pizza that uses crusty French bread as the base. It’s perfect for an easy weeknight meal or a satisfying snack that everyone will love.

The image shows a rectangular pizza cut into six square slices arranged in two rows on a wooden board. The pizza has a golden-brown crust as the bottom layer, a thin red tomato sauce layer in the middle, and a top layer of melted white cheese covering most of the surface. Small, round, red pepperoni slices are scattered evenly across the cheese on each slice, with some crispy edges. The cheese looks soft and gooey, with a slight shine from oil. The wooden board rests on a white marbled surface, and there are glass jars with seasoning in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 loaf French bread (or Italian bread)
¼ cup butter (softened)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup pizza sauce
1 ½ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 450º F.
Step 2: Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Spread the softened butter evenly over the cut sides. Sprinkle garlic powder and Italian seasoning on top.
Step 3: Place the bread halves on a baking sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes until the butter melts and the bread turns lightly golden.
Step 4: Remove the bread from the oven and spread pizza sauce evenly over each half. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top and add pepperoni slices or your favorite toppings.
Step 5: Return the bread to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Step 6: Remove from the oven, slice, and serve warm.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor, add chopped fresh basil or red pepper flakes before serving.
Try different cheeses like cheddar or provolone for a unique twist.
Use turkey pepperoni or vegetables for a lighter topping option.
If bread gets too crisp, cover it loosely with foil during the second bake.

Storage

Store leftover French bread pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven at 350º F for 5-7 minutes to keep the crust crisp and cheese melty. Avoid microwaving, which can make the bread soggy.

How to Serve

Two long pieces of pepperoni pizza sit side by side on a wooden board over a white marbled surface. Each piece has a thick golden-brown crust at the bottom, followed by a red tomato sauce layer. On top, there is a thick layer of melted white cheese covering the sauce, with small round pepperoni slices spread evenly over the cheese. The pepperoni is a deep reddish-brown with a slightly oily shine, creating small pools of orange oil on the cheese. The edges of the crust show a slight crispiness. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of bread?

Yes, Italian bread or any sturdy, crusty bread works well as a base for French bread pizza. Avoid very soft or thin breads as they may become soggy.

Can I prepare the French bread pizza ahead of time?

You can assemble the pizzas and store them covered in the refrigerator for a few hours before baking. Bake just before serving to enjoy fresh, hot pizza.

French Bread Pizza Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 96 reviews

Author: Aiden
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A quick and easy French Bread Pizza recipe featuring a crispy, buttery French bread base topped with savory pizza sauce, gooey melted Mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices, baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a delicious homemade pizza night with minimal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread Base

1 loaf French bread (or Italian bread)
¼ cup butter (softened)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Toppings

1 cup pizza sauce
1½ cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni slices (quantity as desired)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450º F to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for crisping the bread and melting the cheese evenly.
Prepare the Bread: Slice the French bread loaf lengthwise into two halves. Spread the softened butter evenly across the inner sides of the bread halves. Then sprinkle the garlic powder and Italian seasoning evenly over the buttered surface to infuse the bread with flavorful aromas.
Bake the Bread Base: Place the buttered bread halves on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes until the butter has melted and the bread surface turns lightly golden and crispy, forming a delicious base for your pizza.
Add Sauce and Toppings: Remove the bread from the oven and spread an even layer of pizza sauce over each half. Then sprinkle the shredded Mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce, followed by arranging pepperoni slices or your preferred toppings on top.
Bake to Finish: Return the assembled bread pizzas to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and golden brown, ensuring a perfect cheesy finish.
Serve: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing the french bread pizzas into portions. Serve warm and enjoy your homemade, crispy and cheesy French Bread Pizza!

Notes

You can customize toppings to include vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives for extra flavor and nutrition.
If you prefer a crispier crust, broil the bread halves for 1-2 minutes before adding sauce and toppings.
Use freshly grated Mozzarella cheese for better melting quality.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for best texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: French Bread Pizza, quick pizza recipe, easy dinner, homemade pizza, baked pizza, pepperoni pizza, cheesy bread

Aiden Wells

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