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Half French bread pizza on a cutting board with dipping sauce on the side.
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5 from 38 votes

French Bread Pizza

French bread pizza is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners. Toasting the bread with garlic butter and placing pepperoni underneath the sauce gives you a flavorful, cheesy pizza with crisp edges every time.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: French Bread Pizza
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 484kcal
Author: Erica Walker

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.
    Spreading butter with brush on top of sliced French bread for Pizza.
  • Place French bread on a large baking sheet, open-side up. Bake 5-8 minute or until bread is nice and golden-brown.
    Two halves of French bread covered with butter mixture.
  • Remove bread from oven and reduce oven heat to 350-degrees. Place half of the pepperoni in a layer over the bread.
    Two halves of French bread on a sheet toasted with butter and topped with pepperoni.
  • Spread pizza sauce over the pepperoni.
    Sauce and pepperoni french bread on a baking sheet.
  • Add cheese and remaining pepperoni.
    Two halves of French bread topped with sauce, cheese and pepperoni on a sheet pan.
  • Bake for another 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley and oregano. (optional)
    Two halves of French Bread Pizza on a covered cookie sheet.
  • Cut into slices and serve immediately.
    Sliced French bread pizza on a cutting board.

Video

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

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1122mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 805IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 330mg | Iron: 2.6mg