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This homemade French Bread Pizza has a crisp garlic-butter crust covered with pizza sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and plenty of pepperoni. It is ready in about 25 minutes, easy to customize, and one of my favorite dinners for busy weeknights.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This was a hit with my 7-year old and 1-year old. I loved it also. I ate mine with a side salad. It was very filling and the tips to prevent the bread from getting soggy worked out great. Quick, easy, cheap, and a delicious meal. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!” -Stephanie
“Best pizza I ever had! While we were eating everyone was saying it was better than Pizza Hut! Love the tip about putting the pepperoni next to the bread first instead of adding the sauce directly to the bread.” -Sherry
“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!” -RC
Why I Love This Easy Pizza
French bread pizza is one of my favorite shortcuts for homemade pizza night. It takes about the same amount of time as heating a frozen pizza, but the crust is fresher, the cheese is meltier, and everyone can choose their own toppings.
I make this when I need a quick family dinner or when I have a group of hungry teenagers at the house. It is easy, filling, less expensive than takeout, and I can use toppings I already have in the refrigerator.
For a long time, I could not figure out why my French bread pizzas tasted good but had a soft, soggy crust. The two steps that made the biggest difference were toasting the bread with garlic butter before adding the sauce and placing a layer of pepperoni between the bread and sauce. The pepperoni creates a simple moisture barrier while the pre-baking gives the bread crisp, golden edges.
You can make the entire loaf the same way or divide it into sections so everyone can build their own pizza. Once you know the basic method, the topping possibilities are endless.
🩷Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- French bread: Choose a soft, wide loaf rather than a thin, very crusty baguette so the edges become crisp without the bread turning hard or chewy.
- Garlic butter: Melted butter, garlic powder, and chopped fresh parsley create a flavorful garlic bread base.
- Pepperoni: Part of the pepperoni goes directly on the toasted bread to help keep the sauce from soaking into it.
- Pizza sauce: Use a thick pizza sauce rather than a watery pasta sauce for the best texture. Our Homemade Pizza Sauce works great on this.
- Mozzarella cheese: Low-moisture shredded mozzarella melts evenly and gives the pizza its classic cheesy topping.
- Optional garnishes: Fresh parsley, oregano, grated Parmesan, or crushed red pepper can be added after baking.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
One of the best things about French bread pizza is how easy it is to customize. Divide the loaf into sections and let everyone choose their own sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Different bread: Italian bread, ciabatta, hoagie rolls, or a soft homemade loaf can be used instead of French bread. Gluten-free bread can also be used, but the baking time may need to be shortened.
- Different sauces: Replace the pizza sauce with pesto, Alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, or a thick marinara sauce.
- Different cheeses: Use provolone, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, or a combination of cheeses with the mozzarella.
- Combination pizza: Add cooked Italian sausage, bell peppers, black olives, mushrooms, onions, and mozzarella.
- BBQ chicken: Use barbecue sauce, cooked chicken, bacon, red onion, cilantro, mozzarella, and cheddar.
- Buffalo chicken: Toss cooked chicken with buffalo sauce and add cheddar or mozzarella. Serve it with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
- Hawaiian pizza: Top the bread with ham, pineapple, mozzarella, and optional bacon.
- Margherita pizza: Use tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil.
- Caprese pizza: Add tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, then finish the baked pizza with basil and balsamic glaze.
- Pesto vegetable pizza: Spread pesto over the bread and top it with bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella.
Always cook sausage, chicken, bacon, and other raw meats before adding them to the pizza. Vegetables that release a lot of water, such as mushrooms or spinach, should be cooked first or patted dry.
How to Make French Bread Pizza
- Prepare the oven and garlic butter. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Melt the butter, then stir in the garlic powder and chopped fresh parsley.
- Prepare the bread. Slice the French bread in half lengthwise and place both halves cut-side up on a large baking sheet. If the center is very fluffy, gently press it down with your hands. Brush the garlic butter evenly over the bread.
- Toast the bread. Bake the bread for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cut sides are lightly golden. This gives the crust more flavor and helps prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Add the toppings. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Arrange half of the pepperoni directly over the toasted bread, spread the pizza sauce over the pepperoni, and cover it with mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining pepperoni on top.
- Bake the pizzas. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling.
- Slice and serve. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes if you want the cheese more browned, watching it closely. Let the pizzas rest for a couple of minutes, garnish with parsley or oregano, and cut them into slices.
Recipe Tips
- Choose the right loaf: A soft grocery store-style French bread loaf works better than a narrow artisan baguette. Very crusty bread can become difficult to bite after it is baked twice.
- Press instead of hollowing: You do not need to remove any bread from the center. Gently press down the soft interior to create a flatter surface for the toppings.
- Toast before topping: Brushing the bread with garlic butter and baking it before adding the sauce is the most important step for a crisp crust.
- Use thick sauce: Watery sauce can quickly soak into the bread. Use pizza sauce or simmer a thin sauce until it thickens.
- Create a moisture barrier: Place pepperoni or other toppings on the bread before adding the sauce. For a meatless pizza, use a thin layer of mozzarella instead.
- Freshly shred the cheese: Cheese shredded from a block usually melts more smoothly than packaged shredded cheese.
- Prepare wet toppings: Cook mushrooms, spinach, and other high-moisture vegetables before adding them. Drain pineapple well and pat fresh tomatoes dry.
- Do not overload the bread: Too many toppings can weigh down the pizza, trap moisture, and keep the cheese from melting evenly.
- Use the broiler carefully: If the cheese has melted but has not browned, broil the pizza for 1 to 2 minutes. Stay close because it can burn quickly.
- Let it rest before slicing: Waiting a couple of minutes helps the cheese stay on the pizza instead of sliding off with the first bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
A soft, wide loaf of grocery store French bread is usually the best choice. It becomes crisp around the edges while staying soft and chewy inside. A very thin or crusty baguette may become too hard after baking.
No. I gently press down the soft center of the bread instead of removing it. This creates more room for the toppings while keeping enough bread to support the sauce and cheese.
Toast the bread before adding the sauce, use a thick pizza sauce, and avoid adding too many wet toppings. I also place pepperoni directly on the bread before adding the sauce. For a meatless pizza, a light layer of mozzarella can create a similar barrier.
Yes. You can leave off the pepperoni and place the sauce directly on the toasted bread. Make sure the sauce is thick and do not use too much. You can also sprinkle a thin layer of mozzarella on the bread before adding the sauce.
The cheese may be melted before it has time to brown, especially when the final baking temperature is lower. Place the pizza under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching it the entire time.
Make Ahead and Storage
To prepare ahead: Slice and toast the bread with the garlic butter, then let it cool completely. Store the toasted bread at room temperature in an airtight container and refrigerate the sauce, cheese, and toppings separately. Assemble and bake the pizzas when you are ready to eat.
To store leftovers: Place leftover slices in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat the pizza in a 350 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is hot and the crust is crisp. You can also reheat individual pieces in an air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes. The microwave works, but the bread will be softer.
To freeze: Toast the bread and allow it to cool. Add the toppings, place the pizzas on a baking sheet, and freeze until firm. Wrap each portion tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake directly from frozen at 375 degrees F until the cheese is melted and the center is heated through, usually 18 to 25 minutes depending on the size and number of toppings.
Pairing Ideas
Turn this French Bread Pizza into an easy pizza-night meal with our Olive Garden Salad, Winger’s Wings, or Pizza Pasta Salad. Serve warm Marinara Dipping Sauce or Buttermilk Ranch Dressing on the side for dipping.
More Pizza Recipes
Pizza night is always popular at our house. Here are a few more of our favorite pizza recipes to try:
This French Bread Pizza is quick enough for a busy weeknight and easy to change based on what your family likes. Try it with your favorite toppings, then leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear which pizza combination you made! 💛🍕
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
- Use a soft, wide French bread loaf. Thin, crusty baguettes can become too hard after baking.
- Press down the soft center of the bread instead of hollowing it out.
- Toasting the garlic-buttered bread before adding the sauce helps prevent a soggy crust.
- Use a thick pizza sauce and cook or drain toppings that contain a lot of moisture.
- Place pepperoni or a thin layer of mozzarella underneath the sauce to create a moisture barrier.
- Freshly shredded mozzarella usually melts more smoothly than packaged shredded cheese.
- Broil the finished pizza for 1 to 2 minutes if you prefer browned, bubbly cheese.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat them in the oven or air fryer for the crispiest texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I made this for dinner. I cut off the top of my homemade bread loaf (my kids don’t like the top piece) and used that as the crust. It smells delicious and they are excited to eat!
That’s a great idea. I would love to know how this turned out on your homemade bread. Please let us know!
Good recipe. Next time I will be putting the sauce on first then pepperoni. I found it was needing more sauce and it was mainly in the area where the pepperoni was. I made one half without pepperoni and it was not soggy at all.
Great tips! So glad to hear that you liked it.
Love!
This looks SO good, I’m actually making this for dinner tonight!! I never thought about putting on the sauce first then toppings. 😉 Can’t wait to try it! 😉💕💕🍕🍕
Let us know how you liked it!
Made this tonight and what a delicious treat! Recipe saved and will make it again! Thank you.
Wonderful recipe. It came out great. The pizza was easy and simply DELICIOUS 😋
This is VERY good! Love the garlic butter on the bread then toasted. Will keep this for future use. Hubby loved it too!