On a normal day, I would have simply made a batch of pizza dough, some marinara sauce and topped the pizza as desired. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to restock after the move and while I have flour, I have no yeast, nor did I have have the time to buy it and then make the dough. Luckily, my local bakery sells sweet French loaves for 97 cents each, and just one loaf is more than enough dinner for two growing boys.
One thing to note about making French bread pizza rather than regular pizza is that the temperature must be set lower so that the bread does not burn. Toppings should be selected that are best eaten raw or just heated through unless you’re willing to par-cook them or place already cooked toppings on the pizza. Other than that, have fun with it!
If there’s one food a kid can’t resist, it’s pizza. Of course, ordering pizza for two kids with different tastes can cost a small fortune, so making your own is much more budget-friendly. (I think this round of french bread pizza cost me a total of 6 dollars.)
The trick to this recipe isn’t so much what you use, but how you cook the “pizzas”. Timing is critical if you want the bread to be crisp on the outside, soft and warm in the center and not soggy from the sauce. With just a little preparation and a touch of patience (difficult with two boys screaming “I’m Hungry! in your ear every ten seconds), you can have a wonderful meal in just a few minutes that will please kids of all ages.
Yield: 4 servings
French Bread Pizza
Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes
Need lunch or dinner ready in a hurry? Just grab a loaf of french bread, a jar of your favorite marinara or pizza sauce, and some toppings. Youre all set to make your own French Bread Pizza!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Pizza sauce
- Any cheese blend you prefer
- Whatever other toppings make you happy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Meanwhile, slice french bread in half lengthwise and cut into desired portion sizes. Arrange bread on a baking sheet cut side up, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 5 minutes.
- Remove bread from heat. Spread on pizza sauce, sprinkle liberally with cheese and top as desired. Return to oven and bake for approximately 8 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from heat, allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve.
- Share and Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition information applies to only cheese as a topping
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 383Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 786mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g
Nutritional information does not include toppings other than cheese
What I would have done Differently had I thought of it at the time:
Here, I did a four-cheese version. Only I didn’t use four cheeses. I used two. Which I guess makes it a two-cheese version. But I’ve never heard of a two-cheese pizza. So I guess what I made here was a cheese pizza. But I’m still going to call it a four-cheese pizza. Cool with you?
And there you go! A nice colorful assortment. Now just throw ’em in the oven! I put them on the lowest rack in a 375 degree oven at first, because I wanted to give the bread a chance to get a little crisp without cooking the toppings too much. After about 8-10 minutes, I cranked up the heat and moved them to the top rack for a couple of minutes.
This is the easiest way to prep a lot of individual pizzas in no time at all. For busy weeknight dinners, entertaining kids, or almost any occasion, these personal pizzas fit the bill. Dont worry, theres no homemade pizza dough to knead and stretch thanks to store-bought French bread, and using jarred marinara works just fine! If you want to get fancy, you can use homemade pizza sauce or fresh mozzarella, but guess what? Whatever you can find in any ol average grocery store works great. Dont overthink it. Just pick your toppings and go for it!
Four Cheese, which is actually Two Cheese, which is actually Cheese, which I’m actually going to call Four Cheese anyway. And here, because I had no parsley in my garden (it’s really inconvenient) I chopped up some basil and threw it on, which is going to turn black as soon as it hits the oven, but I tried…
The limit does not exist! (Well, Im sure it actually does, but feel free to pile on plenty of toppings.) The good thing about these French bread pizzas is theyre not too big, so if you want to try some whacky topping combinations, you wont have a whole 12-inch pizza to deal with if things go awry. Whip up several, some with marinara and all the meats, some with pesto and lots of veggies—whatever you like! Slice em up and let everyone try some of each. In fact, you can replicate some of your favorite pizza recipes. The toppings listed below are a great starting point, but you can top these pizzas with whatever you please!Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Bake Off: Discover the winning temperature for the best homemade bread!
FAQ
What temperature is French bread done at?
What is the best temperature to bake pizza dough?
Is French bread pizza better than regular pizza?
How long to cook frozen French bread pizza in oven?
Can you freeze French bread pizza before baking?
Yes, you can freeze assembled French bread pizza before baking. Wrap each half tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer-safe bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To bake, preheat the oven and bake the pizza directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time to ensure it cooks through.
How many slices of bread should one eat per day?
You should consume 2 to 4 slices of bread daily, for breakfast or a meal in the afternoon. In addition, you should consider the total carbohydrates in your daily diet.
How long does baked French bread pizza last?
Baked French bread pizza will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend reheating in the oven or air fryer for best results. How do you reheat French bread pizza in the oven? Leftover pizza can be reheated in the oven at 350ºF for 10-15 minutes.
Can you make French bread pizza ahead of time?
You can prepare the French bread pizza ahead of time by assembling the buttered bread, sauce, cheese, and toppings. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, simply remove the wrap and follow the baking instructions in the recipe.