Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Mix the softened butter with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and brush generously over the cut sides of both bread halves.
- Place the buttered bread cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes to lightly toast. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- While the bread toasts, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 8–10 minutes until fully browned and cooked through, then drain off any excess grease.
- Season the cooked meat with the remaining ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Spread ⅓ cup of pizza sauce evenly over each toasted bread half, going all the way to the edges. Divide the seasoned meat mixture evenly over both bread halves and spread to the edges.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices evenly over the meat on both halves. Top with the shredded mozzarella, then sprinkle the Parmesan, remaining ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the top.
- Bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and lightly golden at the edges. For extra golden cheese, broil on high for 1–2 minutes at the very end — watch closely! Let cool for 2–3 minutes, then slice and serve.
Nutrition
Notes
Storage: Store leftover pizza bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes until warmed through. To freeze, wrap individual slices tightly and freeze for up to 2 months; reheat from frozen at 375°F for 15–18 minutes.
Lighter swap: To make this a bit more nutritious, use lean ground turkey instead of ground beef and turkey pepperoni instead of regular. You will still get incredible flavor with less saturated fat.
Sodium tip: Use a low-sodium pizza sauce and reduce or omit the added salt in the meat mixture to keep the sodium in check, especially if you are feeding little ones or watching your intake.