French Bread Pizza
French bread pizza is one of the fastest, easiest ways to get homemade pizza on the table. It’s nostalgic for adults and cheer-inducing for kids, and this (budget-friendly!) homemade version far exceeds the kind from the freezer aisle. It’s extra cheesy, a little messy, and only needs a handful of ingredients to come together: It’s comfort food at its best. We should all be eating more French bread pizza.
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) loaf soft French or Italian bread
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup other toppings: sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, pepperoni, cooked sausage, cooked bacon, diced peppers, leftover veggies, or any other favorite toppings (optional)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped or torn fresh basil leaves
- Heat the oven to 425ºF. Arrange a rack in the top third of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F.
- Slice and compress the bread. Cut the bread in half crosswise with a serrated knife, then cut each half lengthwise so you have 4 pieces. Place the bread cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet and press down firmly and evenly with your hands until it’s compressed by about half.
- Toast and season the bread. Flip the bread so that it's cut-side up. Bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the cut-sides of the bread all over with the garlic clove.
- Top the bread. Spread the pizza sauce evenly onto the bread. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese and pile on additional toppings, if using.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Bake the pizzas until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 10 minutes.
- Finish with Parmesan cheese and basil. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil. Cut each pizza in half and serve immediately.