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This quick French Bread Pizza recipe is a Budget Byte classic because it’s super quick, super easy, customizable, and cheap! In just 20 minutes, a slice of French bread turns into four crispy, cheesy pizzas with golden crust, tomato sauce, and all your favorite toppings. But one of my favorite reasons to make this French bread pizza is because it’s a great way to use up leftovers in your fridge. You can top this pizza with anything, so stock up on your fridge and find some creative pizza toppings! 😊
“LOVE this recipe! I usually eat it fresh the first night, and when the few slices I need are baking, I gather the rest and freeze them. Fantastic for those nights when you’ve already planned a meal, you get home late and hungry! I also use the pizza sauce recipe from the website – and I prefer fresh mozz.”
July
Easy Way to do Pizza Night
Don’t get me wrong, I think homemade pizza made with fresh pizza dough is totally worth the effort when I have the time (after all, I used to work at a pizza counter many moons ago!!). But on those extra busy nights when everyone is now hungry, this French bread pizza is a shortcut I keep coming back to. The bread already provides a sturdy base and is ready to go, so all you need to do is add sauce, cheese and toppings before baking. You get crispy edges, melty cheese, and all the flavors of pizza night with minimal effort.
I skip any additional prep and add the topping directly to the bread before baking here. The crust is still crispy on the edges while the inside remains soft and chewy. This easy French bread pizza is also a great recipe for using up some leftover vegetables, cooked meat, cheese, and sauce that might be forgotten in the fridge. Sometimes the most creative pizzas start with whatever needs to be used!
- Choose the right bread. Soft French bread works best for this recipe because the edges are crispy but the center remains slightly chewy. I find that very dry handmade bread or baguettes become a little too hard once toasted with toppings. Other breads I’ve tried and loved for making quickie pizzas are naan, English muffins, pitas, and even tortillas!
- Don’t overload the toppings. Too much topping can make the bread soggy and prevent the cheese from browning. I try to keep the toppings in a fairly even layer so that each bite gets lots of flavor without weighing down the bread.
- Pay attention to ingredients with high humidity. Fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and other vegetables release water when cooked. If you’re using a lot of fresh vegetables, dry them first or use enough to keep the bread crunchy.
- Choose a thick pizza sauce. I LOVE using my homemade pizza sauce here. Thick and rich in taste, and doesn’t make the bread soggy. Store-bought pizza sauce can also be used. I avoid using pasta or marinara sauce, simply because they are thinner and can make the French bread soggy.
- Use what you have, or hit the salad bar! One of my favorite ways to have fun with pizza toppings without spending a lot of money is to visit the salad bar at the grocery store. You can get several different items to complement your pizza, without having much leftovers. Remember to get less than you think. A little goes a long way, and salad bars are priced by weight! I’ve shared some of my favorite pizza toppings below!
Easy French Bread Pizza
Cost $2.85 recipe / $0.71 serving
French Bread Pizza is a quick and easy weeknight meal that’s budget-friendly. Adjust the toppings to suit your taste or what you have on hand!
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Collect and prepare all ingredients.
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Preheat oven to 400ºF. Cut the French bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half into halves. Place French Bread slices, cut side up, on a large baking sheet.
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Top each slice of bread with about 2 tablespoons pizza sauce and 1 oz. (or 1/4 cup shredded) mozzarella. Add any additional toppings you want.
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Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the bread is lightly browned and the edges are crispy. Serve hot.
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For extra crispy crust: Place the French bread slices face up on a baking sheet and bake at 400ºF for 3-5 minutes before adding the topping. This step is completely optional (I usually skip it to save time and still get a crispy base!), but it comes in handy if your pizza sauce is thinner or you want extra insurance against a soggy crust.
Portion: 1PortionCalories: 364kcal (18%)Carbohydrate: 54G (18%)Proteins: 17G (34%)Fat: 9G (14%)Sodium: 925mg (40%)Fiber: 3G (13%)
How to Make French Bread Pizza Step-by-Step Photos
Gather all your ingredients.
Prepare bread: Start by preheating your oven to 400ºF. You will need one slice of French bread, about 12-16 inches long. French bread is perfect for pizza because it is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. nice!
Cut the French bread in half lengthwise, then cut each half open. Place the French Bread slices on a large baking sheet, cut side up.
Add sauce: Now spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce on top of each slice of French bread.
Sprinkle some cheese: Add about ¼ cup shredded mozzarella to each slice of French Bread. You need 4 oz. total mozzarella.
Add your toppings: You can bake this French bread pizza as is, or add some toppings! I added some shredded cheddar to one, pepperoni to the next, diced green peppers and red onions to the third, and pepperoni and black olives to the last. Use what you’ve got and love it!
Once your pizza is topped, you can bake it straight away, or freeze it. To freeze, press a small amount of the topping into the bread to help it stick, then freeze for about an hour on a baking sheet, or until firm. Once solid, transfer to a gallon-sized freezer bag for longer storage. Bake frozen pizzas as you would fresh pizzas, with a few extra minutes of baking time.
Grilling: If you’re ready to enjoy this pizza now, bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the bread are brown and crispy. Serve hot! Sometimes I also like to add a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes. 😉
Top Ideas
The best part about French bread pizza is that you can keep it classic or turn it into a freezer clean-out dinner! Here are some easy topping combos to try:
- Spinach, mushrooms, Swiss (I also like to swap Swiss for feta)
- Pepperoni, diced pepperocini, onions
- Artichoke hearts, olives, roasted peppers
- Pepperoni, salami, or other cold meats
- Shredded chicken, broccoli and shredded cheddar
- Canned ham and pineapple
- Drizzle pesto on top after baking
- Caramelized onions, goat cheese and spinach
- Ricotta, mozzarella, garlic and spinach
- Buffalo chicken, mozzarella and a little ranch (add ranch after grilling)
- Cooked sausage, peppers and onions
- Taco seasoned ground beef or beans, cheddar, and sliced jalapeños
This shortcut pizza is delicious, but it’s also easy to make into a complete pizza dinner! One slice of French bread makes 4 pizzas, and you can easily make more or less by buying another loaf or just using what you need from one pizza. I like to time a batch of air fryer fries so they cook at the same time as the pizza, then they’re all served hot and crispy together. For a fresh side dish, Caesar salad is always a classic pizza pairing, and my creamy cucumber salad is perfect for a cool, crunchy side without any extra effort.
French bread pizza is also SO fun for parties, game days, or casual family nights at home. Put sauce, cheese, and some toppings in small bowls, then let everyone decorate their own pizza before baking. It keeps dinner easy, customizable, and a little more fun without spending money on takeout.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers, once cooled, in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place the pizza on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake at 350ºF until the cheese is melted again and the edges are crispy. The wire rack helps air circulate underneath so the bread reheats without getting too soft on the bottom.
To freeze your French bread pizza (before baking), simply top it as usual, press a little topping into the bread to keep it in place, and freeze on a baking sheet for about an hour, or until solid. Once solid, transfer to a gallon sized freezer bag. They will keep for up to 3 months and you can bake them as usual, straight from the freezer, just adding a few minutes to the baking time.
Try These Other ShortCut Pizza Recipes:
- This Pizza Melt gives you the convenience of pizza and grilled cheese in one skillet, which is the dinner shortcut energy I sometimes need.
- Pizza Roll Ups is a fun homemade substitute for frozen pizza rolls, with tortillas, pepperoni, mozzarella sticks, and sauce for dipping!
- my Pizzadilla perfect if you want the quick taste of pizza, but with the golden, crispy edges of a stovetop quesadilla.
Our French Bread Pizza Recipe was first published on 11/29/10. We’ve updated it to make it best and republished 10/06/26.
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