Your family will love this homemade French bread pizza! Crusty French bread is topped with garlic butter, pizza sauce and cheese then customized with your favorite toppings.
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Easy French Bread Pizza
If I ever ask my kids what they want for dinner, it’s PIZZA! We love making easy recipes like this pizza bread, sheet pan pizza, pizza on a bagel recipe or pizza chicken roll ups. On Valentine’s we make heart shaped pizza!
We love to make French bread pizza recipe with my homemade French bread recipe. It’s much easier than making homemade pizza dough and the best part is customizing it. I make one half caprese bread style and the other half with cheese and pepperoni.
Homemade French Bread Pizza Ingredients
The base of pizza with French bread requires only 5 simple ingredients. Then you can add any desired toppings that you prefer!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- French bread: You can definitely buy french bread from the store, but I love to use homemade French bread or French baguette. My French bread recipe makes two loaves, so this pizza bread is absolutely perfect for using leftovers.
- Butter: I like to spread butter and garlic on top of the bread, then bake it in the oven for a few minutes prior to adding the toppings. This helps keep it crispy and also adds extra flavor.
- Garlic: I usually use garlic powder, but fresh minced garlic would absolutely work too. Just sprinkle it on top of the butter.
- Pizza sauce: I make my own pizza sauce because it’s super quick and easy and there’s no cooking involved. Just mix the ingredients together! If buying from the store, I love the DeLallo brand.
- Cheese: You can’t have pizza without the cheese! My go-to is freshly shredded mozzarella.
Pizza Topping Ideas and Variations
Below are a few variation ideas and pizza toppings that would be delicious.
- Classic: Pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni make the best pepperoni pizza recipe!
- Caprese: Pizza sauce, cheese, tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze
- Alfredo: Alfredo sauce, cheese and chicken
- Pesto: Pesto sauce, cheese and other toppings like chicken, tomatoes or spinach
- Spinach and artichoke: White pizza sauce, cheese, spinach and artichokes
- BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, cheese, chicken and other toppings like peppers, onions or bacon
- Ham & pineapple: Pizza sauce, cheese, ham and pineapple
- Buffalo chicken: Buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, cheese and chicken
- Veggie: Pizza sauce, cheese and any of your favorite veggies
- Cooked meats: Sausage, chicken, meatballs, ham or Canadian bacon.
- Produce: Banana peppers, olives, spinach mushrooms, red onions, red bell peppers and tomatoes.
- Garnish: Fresh basil, balsamic glaze, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, olive oil.
How to Make French Bread Pizza
Now I know that you can buy this pizza bread in the frozen freezer section (I definitely have before), but it is so much more delicious to make your own.
- Toast the bread. First, cut the loaf of french bread in half. Spread the butter on top of the bread and then sprinkle the garlic powder on top to make a garlic bread base. Bake for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
- Add toppings. Top with your favorite sauce, cheese and toppings.
- Bake. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Slice and enjoy. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Then cut into slices and enjoy while warm!
Best Pizza Bread Tips
To prevent sogginess and create the best pizza bread, follow these tips for a pizza night win!
- Pre-bake the bread. Lightly toasting the bread first is my main tip to prevent the bread from getting soggy. Spread on the butter and garlic and bake the bread in the oven for about 5 minutes before adding the toppings.
- Don’t overdo it on sauce. Adding too much sauce can cause the bread to get soggy as well. I add about 1/4 cup sauce per French bread half. Use the back of a spoon to evenly spread it on and leave about 1/2 inch room from the edges.
- Prep toppings. If needed cook your meat first and if your veggies contain a lot of moisture, like mushrooms, cook them first or pat any wet ingredients dry.
- Time saving. If in a hurry, quickly broil your bread, but watch it closely so it doesn’t burn or get too crispy.
Recipe FAQS
In this case, this recipe is called French bread pizza because I treat a loaf of French bread just as I would pizza dough. I top it with everything I would put on my pizza, and therefore turn it into French bread pizza.
This recipe is made with a loaf of French bread, garlic butter, pizza sauce, and cheese. You can top it with whatever you like.
Leftover pizza will keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in a warm oven or microwave for a few minutes.
Yes! Cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and store in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven from frozen.
You can also freeze pre-made pizza bread! Just press the toppings into the bread, flash freeze and then once frozen store in a freezer safe container. Bake from frozen adding a few minutes to baking time.
Want more great pizza recipes? Check out my crescent roll veggie pizza or any of best homemade pizza recipes. You may also love these French bread rolls!
More Delicious Pizza Recipes
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French Bread Pizza Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread , sliced in half horizontally
- ¼ cup salted butter , softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional toppings: Pepperoni, Sliced olives, Sliced peppers, Mushrooms, Red onions, Tomatoes, Basil, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Spread the butter over each bread slice and sprinkle with garlic powder. Place on a baking sheet. Bake 3 to 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
- Spread the sauce evenly over the top of each slice. Add any additional toppings, if desired. Top with cheese.
- Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool for a few minutes, slice, and enjoy!
Notes
- Classic: Pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni
- Caprese: Pizza sauce, cheese, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze
- Alfredo: Alfredo sauce, cheese, and chicken
- Pesto: Pesto sauce, cheese, and other toppings like chicken, tomatoes, or spinach
- Spinach and artichoke: White pizza sauce, cheese, spinach, and artichokes
- BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, cheese, chicken, and other toppings like peppers, onions, or bacon
- Ham & pineapple: Pizza sauce, cheese, ham, and pineapple
- Buffalo chicken: Buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, cheese, and chicken
- Veggie: Pizza sauce, cheese, and any of your favorite veggies
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 5 Ingredients Or Less, Dinner, Italian, Pizza
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Awesome and Easy!!!
This is one of my kids’ favorite dinners and I love it because it’s so easy. Everyone gets to top their own section of the French bread with their favorite toppings. Everybody is happy! :)
Added pizza sauce, mozzarella, and favorite toppings. Baked until melty and delicious. Perfect for a quick, homemade pizza. The fam loved it!
Super easy to make and brings back childhood memories! Now my kids love these too, thank you!
Thanks Brenda! I’m so glad you love the recipe!
Everyone loves these! Quick and very tasty!
Family loved it! Made one half dairy free cheese & butter and daughter with dairy allergy loved it too!
That is great to hear! I am glad that both were great recipes. Thanks for sharing the way you made the pizza.
Sooo good! I love finding good simple meals I can make quickly on a weeknight my whole family will love! Thank you.
So easy to make! I had a little “pizza bar” and everyone picked their own toppings!
When I was in elementary school, lunch cost 25 cents, all you can eat. The pizza was on french rolls, with sauce, cheddar cheese and hot dog slices. It was the best. I say this having gone to many of the best pizza places in NYC and LA. I am 72 years old.
Toasting the bread with garlic butter first makes such a difference in the flavor! So tasty and easy. Can’t wait to try it with all different kinds of toppings!
Hi I’m Kathie I’m 73 and have made several french bread pizzas. Always thinking they’re ok but no real flavor. I made it your way but did cut down on temperature to 350 as Yvonn suggested and it was great. Thanks, who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks
I love this, Kathie! Also, thanks for the variation idea. I am sure you have a wealth of knowledge to share. Keep cooking :)
Can you freeze these, and then bake in an air fryer?
I haven’t tried, but I don’t see why not. Let me know if you test it out :)