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Forget delivery and make this easy French bread pizza recipe with bold Italian-inspired flavors instead! It’s ultra cheesy, delicious, and is a creative way to enjoy pizza.
You may also enjoy my Tuscan Baked Gnocchi next.
This post is sponsored by our long-term partner DeLallo – thank you for supporting the brands that keep Salt & Lavender cooking! I only work with brands whose products I love. All opinions are my own.
Why you’ll love it
It’s so satisfying to transform a store-bought loaf of French bread into pizza! You get to enjoy it piping hot right out of the oven and can feel good knowing what goes into it. That’s why I use affordable, high-quality ingredients from DeLallo here.
We’ve got DeLallo’s pizzeria-style pizza sauce with vine-ripened tomatoes and herbs and spices, golden pepperoncini for a little tangy kick, and plump black olives. Pair with pepperoni, crusty bread, and melty mozzarella, and now we’re talking!
What you’ll need
- Bread – we’re using grocery store French bread
- Butter – to get the bread crisp yet buttery for the perfect crust
- DeLallo Pizza Sauce – the bright tomato flavor is outstanding in this jarred sauce. It’s my favorite that I’ve tried.
- Mozzarella – the best cheese for melting on pizza
- Pepperoni – it’s a classic savory topping!
- DeLallo Pepperoncini – these mild, tangy peppers come pre-sliced for extra convenience
- DeLallo Black Olives – I love the meaty texture of this beloved pantry staple
Helpful tips
- I recommend using day-old French bread for this one. It’s easier to slice since it’s firmer and crisps up nicely.
- Make sure to closely watch the pizza during the broiling step.
- DeLallo is a family-owned company from Pennsylvania that has been making authentic Italian products and gourmet goodies since 1950. If your local grocer doesn’t stock them, you can shop online since they ship nationwide right to your door!
How to make easy French bread pizza
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat the oven. Cut the loaf in half lengthwise. Place on a baking sheet, then spread the butter evenly. Bake for about 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and spread on the pizza sauce.
Top with the cheese, followed by the rest of the toppings. Bake for 12 minutes, then broil carefully until golden and hot and bubbly to your liking. Slice into desired portions, and enjoy.
What to serve with French bread pizza
- Love dips with your pizza? Try my zesty Homemade Ranch Dressing to dunk it in for a cooling effect.
- I’m thinking you’ll want to balance it out with a salad! Try spring mix with my Creamy Balsamic Dressing or this Honey Mustard Dressing to change it up.
Leftovers and storage
- To reheat French bread pizza, wrap loosely in foil (cheese side up) and warm in the oven at 350F until hot and melty. Broil to crisp it up again if you wish. You could also warm it up in a toaster oven if you only have a couple of pieces left.
- Leftovers will last a few days in the fridge, but eat it as soon as possible, ideally the next day, to avoid it going stale.
- I don’t recommend freezing leftovers. The texture will change after thawing.
If you made this delicious French bread pizza, please leave a star rating and review below! I’d love to hear from you. You can also find me on Instagram.
Easy French Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) loaf French bread
- 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick) softened
- 1 cup DeLallo Pizza Sauce
- 3 cups mozzarella shredded
- 2-3 ounces pepperoni see note
- 1/4 cup DeLallo Sliced Mild Pepperoncini
- 1/3 cup DeLallo Sliced Black Olives
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
- Cut the bread in half horizontally (do this as evenly as possible), place it on a baking sheet, and spread the butter over the cut side of each half.
- Bake for 5-6 minutes, then take it out of the oven.
- Spread each half with the pizza sauce, and then top with the cheese and then the toppings (pepperoni, pepperoncini peppers, and olives).
- Bake for 12 minutes and then broil for a couple minutes until hot and bubbly (watch it carefully so it doesn't burn).
- Slice into desired size pieces, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Top pizza as desired/to taste – this is a very flexible recipe and you can add more/less of an ingredient than suggested.
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Another easy and delicious recipe! I did as you suggested and used day-old bread- worked great. I loved the toppings, and I think I’ll experiment with other classic pizza toppings too. Thanks!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, Beth! 😀 Thanks for your review!