Craving pizza? These easy garlic bread pizzas are a fun, customizable Friday night meal the whole family will love. Crispy, garlic-buttered French bread topped with ooey-gooey cheese and all your favorite toppings.
A Tasty Twist on French Bread Pizza
French bread pizza brings back fond childhood memories of quick, delicious frozen pizzas. But these homemade versions take things up a notch with the addition of sweet, caramelized garlic butter.
Roasting whole garlic bulbs slowly mellows and sweetens the cloves. When mashed into softened butter with a pinch of salt, you get spreads with rich, roasted flavor.
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How to Make French Bread Garlic Pizza
Making garlic bread pizzas at home is simple and customizable for the whole family.
Bake the Garlic Bread
First, bake two whole bulbs of garlic wrapped in foil for 45-60 minutes until caramel-soft. Cool, then squeeze the roasted cloves into softened, unsalted butter. Slice a loaf of French bread lengthwise into 8 pieces. Spread the garlic butter generously on the slices and bake for 8-10 minutes until crisp and golden.
Add Toppings and Bake
Remove the crispy garlic bread from the oven. Top with tomato sauce, sliced mozzarella, pepperoni, bell peppers, or any other favorite pizza toppings. Return the baking sheet to the oven for 12-15 minutes until the cheese melts.
Finish and Serve
Finish these cheesy garlic bread pizzas with crushed red pepper, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. Slice and serve right away. The crispy garlic edges paired with hot melty cheese makes this an instant family favorite.
More French Bread Pizza Ideas
The possibilities are endless when it comes to French bread pizza toppings. Try out these tasty topping ideas:
- Buffalo chicken with hot sauce, blue cheese, chicken, and celery
- Barbecue chicken with barbecue sauce, chicken, red onion, and cilantro
- Butternut squash with pesto, roasted butternut squash, spinach, and pine nuts
The crispy garlic bread foundation plus fun flavors makes homemade French bread pizza night a guaranteed hit. Easy, family-friendly, and infinitely customizable!
Homemade Garlic Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 2 bulbs garlic
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup butter softened and unsalted
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 16 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup sliced bell peppers
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice off tops of garlic bulbs, drizzle with oil, wrap in foil. Roast 45-60 mins until caramelized. Cool and squeeze out cloves.
- Raise oven heat to 400°F. In a bowl, mash roasted garlic cloves into the softened butter. Season with salt.
- Slice bread loaf lengthwise into 8 pieces. Arrange slices on baking sheet and spread butter mixture evenly.
- Bake 8-10 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Remove bread and top with sauce and desired toppings. Bake 12-15 minutes more until hot and melty.
- Finish with Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and basil. Slice and serve.
