Description
Homemade french bread pizza delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort. Quick weeknight dinners become delightful when crusty bread meets melted cheese and classic toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread Base:
- 1 loaf French bread
Protein and Toppings:
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 handful fresh basil, chopped
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure a crispy bread base.
- Create a robust pizza sauce by heating olive oil and sautéing minced garlic until aromatic. Incorporate tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the French bread by generously brushing cut surfaces with olive oil, then enhancing with garlic powder, salt, and pepper for additional depth.
- Distribute the prepared pizza sauce uniformly across the bread halves, ensuring complete coverage.
- Layer shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce, creating a smooth, melty foundation.
- Arrange pepperoni slices strategically across the cheese, and include any additional preferred toppings.
- Transfer the prepared bread pizzas into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Elevate the final presentation by scattering chopped fresh basil and sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes for an optional burst of color and heat.
Notes
- Swap French bread with gluten-free alternatives like cauliflower or zucchini bread for a low-carb option.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like provolone, parmesan, or goat cheese to enhance flavor profiles.
- Prepare sauce ahead of time and store in refrigerator for up to 5 days, saving precious cooking minutes during busy weeknights.
- Use turkey pepperoni or plant-based pepperoni for lighter protein options without compromising taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg