Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you!

Craving pizza but short on time? French bread pizza is the ultimate quick fix—crispy, cheesy, and customizable—whether you’re baking it in the oven or crisping it up in the air fryer!

French Bread Pizza on a pan made in the oven


 

French bread pizza is a quick, easy, and versatile dish that’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or a casual snack. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic cheese and tomato or something more adventurous like BBQ chicken or veggie delight, French bread pizza delivers the crispy crust and gooey cheese that everyone loves.

Everyone in my family is pizza crazy. For a simple lunch the kids love little English muffin pizzas but when I’m feeding the whole family French bread pizza is the perfect solution.

We take a soft, crusty, loaf of French bread, top it with our favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings and bake it for a perfectly crisp, cheesy, delicious pizza dinner. It’s an easy, great tasting dinner, or lunch, that everyone can customize with whatever toppings they like! Once you’ve tried the original you have to give this lasagna french bread pizza a try!

Want that great pizza flavor without the bread? Try our pizza casserole with pasta or …if you’re skipping carbs altogether try this keto pizza casserole or meat lover’s pizza stuffed peppers.

ingredients to make French Bread Pizza

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you need to make this:

  • French bread – French bread is the best choice due to its crusty outside and soft inside. Italian and other bread can work too, but I recommend toasting any softer bread before adding toppings to help it hold its shape.
  • Tomato Sauce – You can make your own or use your favorite brand. Like other toppings, you can have fun with it. Like alfredo? Use alfredo instead of tomato based sauce. Or do you prefer pesto? Do that instead. Or you could mix and match your sauces! This is your pizza, make it the way you like!
  • Mozzarella cheese – Mozzarella cheese is a great starting point and maybe all you want. But provolone, ricotta, asiago, and parmesan are all great choices too!
  • Parmesan cheese – This adds a little extra flavor to your pizza. Mix it with the mozzarella for a one, two punch.
  • Toppings – You can stick with classics like pepperoni, sausage, peppers, and mushrooms, leave it a cheese pizza, or use your own combination. Check out Pizza Toppings below for some more tips!
French Bread Pizza on a pan made in the oven

French Bread Pizza in the Oven

Here’s what you need to do to make this pizza in the oven for a great Friday – or any night – pizza dinner.

  1. Prep the bread. Before starting, preheat your oven to  400°F. As it heats, slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise then cut each half in half again so you have 4 pieces of bread. Once the bread is cut and ready, place them with the cut side up on a cookie or other baking sheet. You may want to spray with non-stick spray to help prevent sticking if any cheese falls off onto the pan.
  2. Top the pizza. Spread sauce over each slice. You may want to leave a bit of room on the sides so it doesn’t spill over while it cooks. After your sauce is in place, sprinkle on your cheese and any toppings you want.
  3. Step 3 – Bake the pizzas. Once the toppings are on and ready, place the baking sheets with the pizzas on them into the oven. Bake them for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  4. Step 4 – Serve. Remove from the oven and let them rest a few minutes before serving.
French Bread Pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers

French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer

If you’re short on time, don’t want to heat up the kitchen with the oven, or you’re making a single serving the air fryer is a perfect option for making French bread pizza. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Prep the bread. Slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise then cut each half in half again so you have 4 pieces of bread. Once the bread is cut and ready, place them with the cut side up in the air fryer basket.
  2. Top the pizza. Spread sauce over each slice. You may want to leave a bit of room on the sides so it doesn’t spill over while it cooks. After your sauce is added, sprinkle on your cheese and any toppings you want.
  3. Bake the pizza. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 – 12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
  4. Serve. Remove from the air fryer and let it rest a few minutes before serving.

Pizza Toppings

Probably the absolute best thing about making your own pizza is that you can customize it any way you like. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Cheese: Some of my favorites include mozzarella (fresh and shredded), ricotta, romano, and/or goat cheese.
  • Meats: For some added flavor and protein, you can add pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, ham, chicken, salami, or anchovies. Just make sure you cook the sausage, ground beef, chicken, or any other raw meat before putting it on your pizza. It won’t cook fully on top of the pizza! You could also try buffalo chicken, shrimp, crab, or lobster meat for speciality pizza.
  • Vegetables: Some of my favorite veggies to add are green peppers, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, black olives, and artichoke hearts. You can also try roasted tomatoes or red peppers. Once it is done baking, you can add spinach or arugula to the top for extra green.
  • Garnishes: For a boost of extra flavor, you can try adding fresh basil, fresh Parmesan cheese, or dried herbs (oregano, basil, or Italian seasoning). You can also use a dressing after it comes out, like Ranch, or if you make it buffaloized, you might want to try adding some blue cheese dressing once it is out of the oven.

Topping Ideas for Your French Bread Pizza

One of the best things about French bread pizza is its flexibility. Here are some popular topping combinations to inspire your next pizza creation:

  • Classic Margherita: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a drizzle of olive oil.
  • BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce, shredded chicken, red onions, and cheddar cheese.
  • Veggie Delight: Tomato sauce, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and olives.
  • Meat Lovers: Pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon on top of marinara and mozzarella.
  • Hawaiian: Tomato sauce, ham, pineapple, and mozzarella.

Do You Have to Use French Bread? 

You don’t have to use French bread, but it does give you the best texture for pizza. It is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. 

You could use a loaf of Italian bread, but since it tends to be softer on the outside I suggest cutting it into your individual pizza pieces and then toast the pieces at 400 degrees F for about 5 to 10 minutes. 

Once it has toasted a bit, you can then add your toppings and finish according to the instructions below. Toasting a softer bread first will give you a firmer bread to start with so you don’t end up with soggy pizza. 

French Bread Pizza topped with pepperoni

Looking for More Easy Dinner Recipes?

Like this recipe?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipes like this.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

French Bread Pizza

Created By: Kat Jeter & Melinda Machado
French bread pizza is an easy dinner recipe made with a loaf of bread and your favorite toppings for a delicious family pizza night.
French Bread Pizza on a pan made in the oven
Print Recipe
4.41 from 5 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf french bread
  • 1 cup Tomato Sauce
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • Any toppings you like on your pizza!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Slice french bread loaf in half lengthwise and then slice each half into half again so you have 4 pieces of french bread.
  • Spread 1/4 cup of sauce on each piece of bread.
  • In a small bowl combine the two cheese and then sprinkle the cheese over each piece of bread. If you are adding topping place them on top of the cheese. .
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Notes

Note: Nutritional information does not include additional toppings. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 437kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 1210mg, Potassium: 364mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 552IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 341mg, Iron: 4mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Course: Main
Handwritten signature for Kat & Melinda