Description
This Garlic Bread Pizza recipe combines the rich flavors of garlic butter spread on crusty French bread topped with savory pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan cheese. It's a quick and easy meal perfect for an indulgent snack or casual dinner, baked to golden perfection with bubbly cheese and optional garnishes like red pepper flakes and parsley.
Ingredients
Scale
Garlic Butter
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 6 garlic cloves finely minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
French Bread Pizzas
- 1 pound French bread or Italian bread
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese shredded
- 15 pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes optional
- Chopped fresh parsley to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside to prepare for baking.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine ½ cup softened salted butter, 6 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley until well mixed.
- Prepare Bread: Cut the 1 pound French or Italian bread in half lengthwise to create two long pieces resembling garlic bread.
- Spread Garlic Butter: Spread half of the garlic butter mixture evenly over each bread half. Place the bread cut side up on the prepared sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes to lightly toast.
- Add Pizza Sauce: Remove the bread from the oven and evenly spread ¼ cup pizza sauce over each piece.
- Top with Cheese and Toppings: Evenly distribute 8 ounces shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, 15 pepperoni slices, and 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese over the sauced bread halves.
- Bake Until Golden: Bake again for 18 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the bread edges turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let the pizzas rest for 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, and extra parmesan cheese for garnish. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
- Use a bakery-style loaf with a soft crust for optimal texture.
- For a quick alternative, use frozen garlic bread instead of making garlic butter; skip the garlic butter step, then add sauce, cheese, and toppings before baking.
- Freshly shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese melts best for this recipe.
- Mixing some parmesan with mozzarella adds extra flavor and richness.
- Letting the pizzas rest after baking helps the cheese set for easier slicing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
