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If you haven’t made homemade French Bread Pizza before, you are in for a treat. Crispy crust with a chewy center, soft and fluffy on top, it’s easy to make and a perfect quick dinner.
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French Bread Pizza is one of those quick and easy suppers that I turn to often, especially on busy weeknights. As quickly as you can defrost and heat up a frozen pizza, you can have fresh pizza with all your favorite pizza toppings on light, fluffy bread with loads of cheese and delicious sauce. This is one of my favorite recipes because it is fast, easy to make and so fun for your kids to dress up any way they like.
Ingredients in French Bread Pizza
The beauty of homemade pizzas is how versatile they are! All kinds of pizza toppings, cheeses, marinara sauce and crust options. For the easiest French bread pizza, here’s what you need:
- Loaf of French bread – one large loaf of French bread will feed 4-6 people, easily.
- Butter – about six tablespoons butter, melted
- Fresh parsley – finely chopped
- Garlic powder – about a teaspoon
- Pizza sauce – use your favorite bottled sauce, homemade sauce or other marinara sauce. Add more to taste.
- Pepperoni – as much as you like!
- Mozzarella cheese – about two cups or more.
- Optional Toppings: Peppers, olives, onions, pineapple, sausage, parmesan cheese, mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, red pepper flakes, ham, fresh basil, artichokes, or ground beef.
Tips for Avoiding Soggy French Bread Pizza
I love using French bread when making pizza but for a long time I didn’t understand why it was always soggy and not crispy and cheesy. Here are some tips I found that really help:
- Layer on some of your toppings FIRST, then add the sauce.
- I like to do a layer of pepperoni and then spread the sauce over it.
- Pre-baking the bread also helps so it doesn’t get soggy. You will get lightly crisp French bread pizza every time!
Follow These Steps for Perfect Pizza
- First, spread on some garlic butter and bake. This gives the pizza an AMAZING flavor.
- Next, add a layer of pepperoni. This helps the bread from getting soggy.
- Then, add the sauce.
- Add cheese and some more pepperoni.
- Last of all, bake and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions about French Bread Pizza
Yes! Follow steps 1-7 in the recipe. Instead of baking the pizzas a second time, place the pizza in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until frozen. After it’s completely frozen, place slices in individual freezer bags and keep frozen for up to 6 months.
To reheat frozen pizza, preheat oven to 400-degrees. Place pizza slices on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Most toppings can be frozen. The only ingredient we’ve found doesn’t freeze well is fresh tomatoes. They can make the bread soggy. Other than that, throw on all of your favorite toppings and freeze away!
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More Delicious Pizza Recipes
If you’re the type to eat pizza every night of the week, you should definitely try these delicious pizza recipes: Thai Chicken Pizza, Gino’s Deep Dish Pizza, Turkey Bacon Avocado Pizza, and Easy Healthy Pizza.
How to Make French Bread Pizza
How to Make French Bread Pizza
Video
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 loaf French Bread
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or more to taste)
- 1/2 cup pepperoni (or to taste)
- 2 cup Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400-degrees. In a small bowl, melt butter. Add garlic powder and fresh parsley. Slice French bread lengthwise and brush garlic butter mixture onto the bread.
- Place French bread on a large baking sheet, open-side up. Bake 5-8 minute or until bread is nice and golden-brown.
- Remove bread from oven and reduce oven heat to 350-degrees. Place half of the pepperoni in a layer over the bread.
- Spread pizza sauce over the pepperoni.
- Add cheese and remaining pepperoni.
- Bake for another 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley and oregano. (optional)
- Cut into slices and serve immediately.
Notes
- To avoid soggy pizza, layer on some of your toppings FIRST, then add the sauce.
- I like to do a layer of pepperoni and then spread the sauce over it.
- Pre-baking the bread also helps so it doesn’t get soggy. You will get lightly crisp French bread pizza every time!
Nutrition Information
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Thanks for the great tips and oregano on top and made the garlic butter with fresh garlic!
Excellent! I made it with hot pepper cheese and exactly to the recipe. Very good!
Best French bread pizza I’ve ever made according to 4/4 eaters tonight. The garlic butter sent it over the top! Also easy to customize with toppings after the basic idea of toast, non-sauce layer, sauce, and then toppings. Appreciate the basic ratios, too! Thanks so much! Will definitely make again!
This recipe worked perfectly, though I ended up putting the finished pizzas under the broiler for about 1 1/2 minutes. The temp suggestions and all the preparation tips were spot on. Fabulous. Crispy exterior to the bread, nice interior texture. Perfect. Don’t ever buy frozen and nuke it again.
This French bread pizza is great! I used just a little less garlic powder, I used a box grater to shred my cheese, and Prima Della Pepperoni from Walmart. I used French bread from King Soopers. Follow the directions and you will not be disappointed. It is great reheated.
This is the right way! My family loved it. Thank you for a great and easy recipe!
This is a total family favorite! I love how this method keeps it crisp and delicious, no sogginess here!
Yum!! I love french bread pizza and so does my family! It’s perfect because we can all pick our favorite toppings!
Yum! We love French bread piazza for lunch after church. My husband always asks for wings with his pizza, any chance you have a recipe for buffalo wings? ??
Yes, we do! Boneless Buffalo Wings
I read that it is better if you place down the toppings first, than the sauce and cheese. kepsthem from burning or drying out
I haven’t tried your recipe yet but, the pictures appear that you hollowed out your French Bread first. Can you tell me if that’s what you did?
I actually just pressed down on the soft part of the bread so I could fit more toppings. I didn’t remove any bread from the middle. Hope this helps!
This is by far the easiest and best recipe! Thank you!!!
Thanks Jayson! So glad you liked it!
I love your technique! I’m thinking it’s the perfect dinner after a busy Monday. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you like it, Sarah! Thanks you for the 5 stars! 🙂
Enjoy your recipes . I love to cook . Please keep them coming .
Comments like this make all the work worth it! Thank you so much!