Go Back
+ servings
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

French Bread Pizza - 4 ways!

Skip the pre-made, frozen store-bought French bread pizza and make your own!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: french bread, pizza
Servings: 4
Calories: 565kcal
Author: Tricia

Ingredients

For the sauce:

  • 1 (14oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

For the French bread pizza:

  • 1 loaf soft French bread (18 to 24 inches)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)
  • Fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley, optional

Optional topping ideas:

    For traditional pizza:

    • thin sliced pepperoni, or
    • cooked ground beef, or
    • cooked sweet Italian sausage, crumbled, or
    • plain cheese pizza with fresh basil leaves

    For Hawaiian pizza:

    • sliced ham
    • pineapple tidbits
    • sliced red onion
    • crumbled cooked bacon

    For BBQ Chicken Pizza:

    • use sweet BBQ sauce in place of the pizza sauce
    • diced cooked chicken
    • crumbled cooked bacon
    • sliced red onion
    • shredded cheddar cheese

    For Supreme French Bread Pizza:

    • pepperoni
    • cooked sweet Italian sausage, crumbled
    • sliced red onion
    • sliced green bell pepper
    • sliced black olives

    Instructions

    To prepare the sauce:

    • Combine all sauce ingredients and set aside. Sauce may be made 24 hours in advance and refrigerated until needed

    To prepare the French bread:

    • Adjust the oven rack to an upper-middle position. Preheat oven to 450°F.
    • Using a serrated knife, cut the bread in half crosswise. Cut each half lengthwise to create 4 equal pizza crusts. Place the bread, cut side up on a large rimmed baking sheet.
    • In a small bowl, combine the butter, granulated garlic, salt and red pepper flakes. Cover and microwave until melted, about 40 seconds. Stir to combine then brush the butter mixture on the cut side of bread.
    • Bake in the preheated oven until well browned around the edges, about 5 minutes.
    • Remove from the oven and spread the sauce evenly over the toasted bread. Top with mozzarella then Parmesan. Add additional toppings as desired.
    • Bake until the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes then serve.

    Notes

    • Sauce is easily doubled and also freezes well. It's great for dipping, too!
    Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1246mg | Potassium: 222mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 872IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 4mg