French Bread Pizza

5 from 1 vote

This crispy and cheesy French Bread Pizza recipe is an easy dinner for the whole family to enjoy!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword French Bread Pizza, French Bread Pizza Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Resting Time 5

Total Time 35

Servings people

Calories 483.1kcal

Place rack in the upper-middle position in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Cut the loaf of bread in half crosswise, and then cut each piece in half horizontally to make 4 equal pieces.
Place the bread cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the crust with the olive oil.
In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic powder and salt. Flip the bread cut-side up and brush the cut side with the melted butter mixture.
Bake the bread (cut-side up) until it’s browned on the edges, about 5 minutes.
Spread sauce evenly on each piece of toasted bread. Top with mozzarella, then Parmesan, and finally the pepperoni or other optional toppings (in that order). Return to the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
Let the pizza rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Look for a large loaf of soft French bread in your grocery store's bakery. I find that this softer bread creates a better crust than a smaller, crispier French baguette.
Add any of your favorite pizza toppings. My boys keep it simple with plain cheese pizza, while we typically add sliced pepperoni. You can also top the pizza with sautéed sliced mushrooms, onion, bell pepper, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, chopped fresh tomatoes, and olives for a veggie-packed meal. Try Italian sausage for a flavorful punch, too.
We like the ease of store-bought marinara sauce or pizza sauce, but you can also use homemade marinara sauce or homemade pizza sauce when time allows.
Garnish the pizzas with fresh herbs like chopped fresh basil or oregano right before serving. A sprinkling of crushed red-pepper flakes adds spicy flavor, too.
Hawaiian Pizza: Top the pizza with diced ham and/or cooked bacon and diced pineapple.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: Use bbq sauce instead of the marinara sauce and cheddar cheese instead of the Parmesan. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken, sliced red onion and bacon.
Instead of French bread, use flatbread or Naan bread to make individual pizzas. You don't need to toast the flatbread before adding the toppings and baking in a 425°F oven for about 10-12 minutes.