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French Bread Pizza combines my two loves: French Bread and Pizza all in one easy dinner! Crunchy, garlicky, and delicious, this easy pizza recipe has your favorite toppings and is the easiest way to make pizza at home in no time at all!

Slices of bread topped with melted cheese and pepperoni are arranged on a wooden surface. A striped cloth is partially visible in the background.

We love that making French Bread Pizza easy and fast – no yeast required. It’s the perfect last minute easy dinner recipe, especially if you have leftover bread or if you want to use the second loaf in my two loaf homemade French Bread Recipe! It’s also a great appetizer for a party…or just because you love pizza.

While I’m preferential to a soft French bread pizza, most people like it crunchy and not soggy – so this recipe is geared towards that, although there are notes in the recipe for how to make it soft like I like it!

A loaf of French bread rests on a marble surface, surrounded by small bowls of sliced pepperoni, marinara sauce, shredded cheese, a clove of garlic, and olive oil—perfect components for creating a delicious French bread pizza.

Ingredient Notes

  • French Bread: use any kind you like, but it’s best to get a long loaf of french bread, not a round one.
  • Oil and Garlic: To make the bread crunchy so the pizza sauce doesn’t soak in you’ll need to toast it first, so I give it a slathering of garlic and oil to add tons of flavor.
  • Sauce: I’ll talk about this in variations, but you need some sort of pizza sauce. I love my homemade no-cook pizza sauce but you can also use marinara sauce.
  • Cheese: Mozzarella, of course! I recommend shredding your own cheese for optimal melting. (Packaged shredded cheese is coated to keep it fresh, and sometimes it doesn’t melt as well because of that.) 

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions and below the recipe card for process shots.

Variations

Making pizza is so easy and fun to try different variations for ANY time of day. I’m sharing delicious variations on how to easily switch up this one homemade pizza recipe. Use your favorite pizza toppings!

  • Hawaiian Pizza: use pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese, top with ham and pineapple and bacon.
  • Pesto: use pesto instead of sauce, top with mozzarella and your favorite toppings.
  • BBQ Chicken: use BBQ sauce and mozzarella, then top with sliced red onions and leftover chicken.
  • Breakfast French Bread Pizza: skip the sauce and top with scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon and cheddar cheese.
  • Top your pizza with any veggies you like, bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, etc. Or even fresh basil, oregano, or parsley.
Two sliced baguettes with butter spread on each half are placed on a dark baking tray. The tray is on a white surface.
Four slices of French bread on a baking sheet, topped with tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and pepperoni slices, ready to be baked.

How to make French Bread Pizza

  1. Slice French bread loaf in half horizontally. Just cut carefully so you don’t end up with it thick at one end and skinny at the other.
  2. I like to mix minced garlic with oil and brush it all over the top of the pizza then toast it for a few minutes, just until that “crust” forms on the top so the sauce doesn’t soak in.
  3. Add pizza sauce and desired toppings.
  4. Bake again until cheese is melted.

How to make French Bread Pizza Not Soggy

If putting the sauce on the pizza and baking it seems soggy to you, the best way to avoid a soggy filling is to bake the French bread for 3-5 minutes BEFORE adding the sauce. Brush the bread with olive oil first; this toasts it a bit so the sauce doesn’t soak into the bread. For even more flavor, sprinkle it with garlic powder and/or parmesan cheese.

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sliced pizza with pepperoni and olives on top

Storing and Reheating Pizza

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
  • If you want to keep it crunchy, you should reheat leftovers in the oven at 400°F. Or you can use a toaster oven or air fryer. You can also reheat in the microwave, but it will be soft, not crunchy.

Expert Tips

  • If you prefer a softer pizza (soggy, as some would call it), skip the first bake.
  • You do not have to add the garlic to the oil.
  • You can make French bread pizza in an air fryer! Do the pre-cook at 400°F for a few minutes then the same once the toppings are added. This is my favorite air fryer.
A close-up of French bread pizza topped with melted cheese and pepperoni slices. The bread is toasted, and the pizza is sprinkled with herbs. It rests on a wooden surface.

French Bread Pizza Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Learn how to make one of our favorites – French Bread Pizza! This easy recipe is the perfect method for making your favorite pizza with your favorite sauce and toppings on french bread instead of pizza dough.

Recipe Video

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 6 servings
Serving Size 1 serving
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 loaf French Bread
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ½-1 cup pizza sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Assorted Toppings

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil for easy cleanup.
  • Slice the french bread in half horizontally. Place both halves face up on prepared cookie sheet. I sometimes cut it in half first to make cutting easier (making 4 halves).
  • Crush garlic in a garlic press and stir into olive oil in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to rub the oil over the top of the bread.
  • Bake the bread for about 4-5 minutes, or until the edges just get lightly brown and the top has formed a "crust" (don't let the top get too golden).
  • Spread sauce evenly over bread. Top with cheese and toppings.
  • Bake again for 5-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  • Slice and serve hot. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
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Recipe Notes

  • Don’t like garlic? Skip adding it to the oil.
  • Want it softer? Skip the first bake.

Topping Ideas:

  • Pepperoni, salami, sausage
  • Olives, mushrooms, peppers, onions
  • Ham, pineapple
  • Reheat pizza in the oven or using a toaster oven or air fryer to keep leftovers crunchy.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 683mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 341IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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This is the perfect easy 30 minute meal or Friday night dinner – use your favorite toppings. My kids love this!

Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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