Garlic bread and pizza join forces to create this easy, 30 minute meal that's perfect for movie night or a fun party appetizer. French bread is slathered in garlic butter and your favorite pizza toppings then baked until golden brown and bubbly in the oven.
Why you'll love this recipe
Flavor: Crusty, buttery garlic bread meets your favorite freezer French bread pizza.
Simple ingredients. Grab a loaf of bakery French bread, garlic, butter, and your favorite pizza toppings.
Easy to customize. Kids and adults alike will enjoy adding their favorite sauces and toppings.
Great for: Quick weeknight dinners, freezer meal prep, party appetizer sliced into small portions.
Serve with: Italian Chopped Salad or Garden Salad
Jump to:
Ingredients and substitutions
- French bread - You'll need one 12 ounce loaf of long, thin French bread from your local bakery or grocery store. I recommend buying your bread the same day you plan to prepare your pizza so it's nice and fresh.
- Cheeses - We're using a combination of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Mozzarella adds a melty, cheese-pull quality (like a classic pizza) and parmesan adds salty, complex flavor. Pre-shredded cheese or cheese grated from a block will work in this recipe.
- Sauce - Pizza sauce could be substituted with a white sauce if desired.
- Garlic - Fresh minced garlic adds the best flavor to your garlic bread pizza. Jarred minced garlic often has a harsh flavor, so I'd recommend substituting with garlic powder instead.
- Butter - The base of the garlic spread. Unsalted or salted butter works.
- Seasoning - Salt and parsley add flavor to the spread, mimicking that classic garlic bread flavor.
- Toppings - I'm using pepperoni today, but feel free to add your favorite pizza toppings. Thin slice vegetables to ensure they cook quickly in the oven, and only add cooked meats to your pizzas.
How to make garlic bread pizza
- Use a serrated knife to slice your French bread into four pieces. Mix garlic butter in a small bowl, then spread onto the sliced side of each piece.
- Bake until lightly toasted.
- Add sauce and spread into a thin layer.
- Add your favorite toppings like cheese and pepperoni, then bake until lightly browned and melted.
Tips and tricks
Buy fresh bread - Buy your French bread the same day, if possible. Bakery bread doesn't last as long as processed sliced bread, so it's best used within a day or two of purchase.
Use a serrated knife - A serrated knife or bread knife made with a serrated blade cuts easily through crusty bread, while a regular chef's knife will crush it.
Customize your toppings - Add your favorite pizza toppings. Thin sliced bell pepper, mushrooms, and onions are great veggies to add. Crumbled and cooked sausage, shredded rotisserie chicken, and cubed ham make great protein additions.
Toast your bread before adding toppings - We're toasting the garlic butter on our bread before adding toppings to ensure the bread gets nice and toasty. Skipping this step can result in soggy bread.
Storage
Leftover pizza will keep for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or frozen for up to 3 months. Assembled pizza can be baked from frozen by adding an extra 2-3 minutes to the final baking time.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, these pizzas are easy to make ahead and freeze for later. Follow the recipe as written but before baking a second time, Wrap your pizzas tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Pizzas can be baked from frozen by adding up to 2-3 minutes to the baking time.
Make sure your rack is set to the center of the oven. If it's too far up or down, the top or bottom can burn before the rest of the pizza is done. Keep an eye on your pizza as it cooks and don't rely on baking time alone. The times and temperatures listed are meant for a standard oven, so you'll need to make adjustments and keep an eye on your pizza if you're trying to use a toaster oven.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Garlic Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 4 ounces (113 g) pizza sauce
- 4 ounces (113 g) fresh grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 ounces (56 g) fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 2 ounces (56 g) pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Make sure oven rack is set to the center of the oven.
- Using a serrated knife, slice French bread in half, then slice each piece in half lengthwise to create four pieces. Arrange cut side up on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- In a bowl, add softened butter, garlic, salt, and parsley. Mix to create a paste. Spread over the cut sides of the bread.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Remove from oven.
- Spread sauce over bread and top with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and pepperoni. Bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly on top.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Use fresh bread: Fresh bakery bread is best within 1-2 days of purchasing and doesn't keep nearly as long as processed, sliced bread. I recommend purchasing bread the day you plan to make your pizzas for best results.
- Variations: Add your favorite pizza toppings like onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, cooked and crumbled sausage, cooked bacon, or banana peppers.
- Storage: Leftovers will keep for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or frozen for up to 3 months. Assembled pizza can be baked from frozen by adding an extra 2-3 minutes to the final baking time.
I had so much fun creating this recipe! I hope you give it a try and love it as much as I do. If you have a question, check out the post above, which is packed with information about the recipe. Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment and a star rating to share your feedback!