Homemade French Bread Pizza

My Homemade French Bread Pizza uses French bread as a perfect base, pizza sauce from scratch, and any combination of ingredients for toppings. This delicious pizza can be made semi-homemade and you’re sure to have your guests coming back for more!

Italian Food is one of my many food love languages. For some delicious pasta recipes, try my Skinny Fettuccini Alfredo, Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe, or Shrimp Pesto Pasta. Or for a cold pasta salad, my Summer Pasta Salad is epic!

French Bread Pizza

Have you ever made French bread pizza? We used to enjoy “pizza muffins” when the kids were little, which were a smaller version of French bread pizza. I simply piled toppings on halved English muffins. Pretty good for a really quick meal.

However, taking the time to make your own bread and sauce, and keeping them both handy for those quick week-night meals is even better. The bread and sauce freeze well, and letting your kids top their own pizza with their favorite toppings keeps it super fun!

This recipe is #2 in my pizza series, where I’m sharing a new pizza recipe each month. I started with my Taco Pizza Recipe (there is history with this one!) using my simple Homemade Pizza Dough. Now that we have a delicious homemade sauce recipe too, pizza night just got elevated BIG TIME!

Three Parts to French Bread Pizza

1. Chewy French Bread – My momma’s homemade recipe, and is still one of the most popular recipes on the blog!
2. Pizza Sauce From Scratch – THE sauce you don’t want to miss. It really is worth the extra little bit of time to make it.
3. Toppings – Use any combo of ingredients for your toppings. I’ve got a bunch of ideas below!

How to make Chewy French Bread

See the bread blog post for ingredients and lots of tips and tricks!

1. In large standing mixer, combine the yeast, sugar, salt, and warm water. Be careful to use warm water, not hot. Mix and let sit for about 15 minutes to get the yeast working.
2. Gradually add 5-6 cups flour until you get just the right consistency. You want the dough to be soft but not too sticky.
3. Grease a large bowl with canola oil and add the dough. Punch the dough down into a nice smooth ball. Cover with a clean dishtowel and set it in a warm corner of your kitchen.
4. Let the dough rise until doubled in size. Punch down and smooth it out, and let it rise again.
5. Form into three medium oblong shapes. Place on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a towel and let rise again, about 20 minutes.
6. Cut slits on top of loaves with serrated-edge knife. Mix one egg and a splash of water, and brush this mixture on top of the loaves. Add a sprinkle of kosher salt.
7. Bake on 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until bottom is slightly brown and crunchy, and top is nice and golden brown. Remove and let cool on baking rack.

How to make Pizza Sauce From Scratch

See the pizza sauce blog post for the ingredient list and other tips and tricks.

1. Sauté veggies. In a sauce pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and diced onions. Sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Then add garlic and stir for 30 seconds or so.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings, and simmer for about 10 minutes or so.
3. Blend. You can choose to puree the sauce with an immersion blender (or regular blender) or leave it chunky style. That’s up to how you like your sauce!

How to make French Bread Pizza – 3 Ways!

1. Prep bread. Take the three loafs of bread and slice them in half length-wise. Lay them out on two large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Add sauce. Spread the pizza sauce on top of each halved bread. Spread as much or as little as you like.
3. Add toppings! See below for topping ideas. You can also make whatever kind of pizza you like best!

Margherita Pizza

Layer in this order, and bake at 400 degrees until nice and crunchy.

1. French Bread
2. Pizza Sauce
3. Roma Tomatoes
4. Fresh Mozzarella
5. Fresh Basil (top pizza AFTER baking)

Hawaiian Pizza

Layer in this order, and bake at 400 degrees until nice and crunchy.

1. French Bread
2. Pizza Sauce
3. Ham
4. Pineapple
5. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Pepperoni Pizza

Layer in this order, and bake at 400 degrees until nice and crunchy.

1. French Bread
2. Pizza Sauce
3. Pepperoni
4. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Making it Semi-Homemade

Using my homemade recipes to make this recipe is HIGHLY recommended. But if you don’t have time, you can definitely use the shortcuts below.

• Use store-bought bread.
• Use jarred pizza sauce.
• Toppings are the same.

Other Pizza Ideas

In addition to making the pizzas listed, you can try others (listed below).

• Meatball Pizza
• Spicy Sausage Pizza
• White Sauce Mushroom Pizza
• Pesto Tomato Pizza
• Supreme Pizza

Ice Cream Recipes

Let’s talk dessert! Along with a new pizza recipe every month, I’m sharing a new ice cream recipe. So far, we’ve got Mint Chip Ice Cream and Blueberry Ice Cream. Both are SO good! P.S. Search for even more ice cream recipes on the blog!