Description
This Garlic Bread Pizza recipe combines the beloved flavors of garlic bread and classic pizza into an easy and delicious dish. Featuring a garlic butter spread on crusty French bread, topped with pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan, this recipe makes a perfect quick dinner or snack that’s crispy, cheesy, and full of savory flavor.
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 400ºF and line a sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine ½ cup softened salted butter, finely minced 6 garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley. Mix well to create the garlic butter spread.
- Prepare Bread: Cut the 1 pound French bread in half lengthwise, creating two long slices like garlic bread.
- Apply Garlic Butter and Bake: Spread half of the garlic butter mixture evenly onto each bread half. Place the bread cut side up on the parchment-lined sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes to lightly toast the bread and melt the butter.
- Add Pizza Sauce: Remove bread from the oven and spread ¼ cup pizza sauce on each piece, evenly covering the surface.
- Top with Cheese and Pepperoni: Sprinkle 8 ounces shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese evenly over the bread. Add 15 pepperoni slices distributed across both halves and sprinkle 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake Until Melted and Golden: Return the bread pizzas to the oven and bake for 18 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the bread edges turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with red pepper flakes, chopped fresh parsley, and extra parmesan cheese. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
- Use a bakery-style loaf with a soft crust for the best texture and flavor.
- For a quicker version, use frozen garlic bread instead of making the garlic butter mixture. Skip the garlic butter step, then add pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings before baking.
- Freshly shredded low-moisture mozzarella melts better and gives superior flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Parmesan enhances the cheesy flavor, but you can adjust the amount or omit based on preference.
- If you like heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes on before serving to add a spicy kick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- 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: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
