Experience the ultimate comfort food made in your own kitchen with this incredible French Bread Pizza. Made entirely from scratch, this homemade pizza recipe is not only easy but also offers a taste that rivals any pizzeria! Perfect for the whole family, it’s a simple recipe to meal prep for later.

A slice of French bread with tomato and basil on it.

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Why you’ll love making this French Bread Pizza recipe

There’s nothing quite like a recipe that promises minimal hassle and maximum flavor. This fresh pizza bread is easy to whip up, even on your busiest days.
Crafting gourmet-like dishes doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. With French bread pizza, you can add your favorite toppings without breaking the bank. Win-win!
Speaking of getting creative, this is one of our favorite parts of making any pizza! Whether you’re Team Veggie Pepperoni, or you sway more towards the BBQ side of things, or perhaps you’re the kind that loves a good mix of bell peppers with a hint of caramelized onions – this recipe’s got your back.
Whether it’s a movie night, a casual get-together, or just some quality family time, this dish is perfect for sharing. Slice it up and watch it vanish in minutes!
Got a friend who’s vegan? The beauty of making pizza at home is that you can easily swap ingredients to cater to various dietary requirements. Dairy-free cheese or even vegan pepperoni work perfectly as pizza toppings on French Bread Pizza, and you can use dairy-free butter for the garlic butter and vegan mayo to dip!
Do you have some veggies that are about to go bad? Throw them onto your French bread pizza! It’s an easy way to reduce waste without much effort.

Ingredients you’ll need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

The ingredients for a French bread pizza are laid out on a table.

How to make Perfect French Bread Pizza with step-by-step instructions

A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

You can either make French bread pizza from scratch or you can use store-bought ingredients – it’s your choice!

For the French Bread – optional, use store-bought if you prefer

The easiest way to make cheesy French bread pizza is to use leftover bread that you’ve bought from the grocery store, it makes a quick and easy meal, but we know some of you love to cook from scratch, so here’s the recipe for making French bread yourself.

But if you want to make your own French bread pizza from scratch, here’s how to do it.

Start with a mixture of warm water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Give it some time until it froths up, signaling that the yeast is active and ready.

Now, with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour, salt, olive oil, and your yeast mixture. Mix at a medium speed. As it blends, gradually add in 2½ – 3 more cups of flour. You’ll see the magic happen as a soft ball of dough forms.

A bowl of flour and a bowl of yeast water on a table. — Stir yeast and sugar into a bowl of warm water.

A bowl of flour with a mixer on top of it. — Combine flour, salt, olive oil, and yeast mixture.

Gently coat your dough ball with olive oil. Place it in a large mixing bowl, covering it with a towel or greased kitchen wrap. Let it rise and double in size for about 60 – 90 minutes. It’s worth the wait, promise!

A bowl of dough on a table next to a bowl of water. — *Mix until soft dough forms*.

A white bowl with a dough in it. — Leave until it has risen to double its size.

Prep your large baking sheet with parchment paper. After the pizza dough has risen, it’s shaping time! Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, split it in two, and one at a time, roll each into a rectangle (around 14-16 inches long).

Ensure there aren’t any air bubbles. Once shaped, pinch to seal and smooth the seam and place your dough seam-side down on the baking sheet.

Uncooked French bread on a table next to a knife. — Roll each into a rectangle.

A stick of homemade French bread on a baking sheet. — Bake for approximately 22 minutes.

Make diagonal slashes on the top of each loaf using a very sharp knife. Cover them with a kitchen towel or greased kitchen wrap and wait again (yes, more waiting, but it’s so worth it) until they’ve doubled in size, roughly another hour.

Preheat your oven to 400°F/205°C. Make sure the oven rack is in the middle. Bake your bread until it turns a lovely golden brown shade on top. This takes about 16 -22 minutes.

Tip: You’ll know it’s done when you tap the bottom of the loaf, and it sounds hollow.

As soon as it’s out, brush the tops with some melted butter if desired for that extra touch of butteriness.

For the Garlic Butter

Combine butter, fresh garlic, parsley, and salt in a small bowl. Stir them together until they are well combined.

For the Homemade French Bread Pizza

Next time you have leftover store-bought French bread, turn it into an easy dinner for busy weeknights by making pizza!

Preheat oven to 450°F/230°C.

Slice the crusty French bread in half lengthwise, then crossways.

Slather the garlic butter on and place them on a baking sheet with the cut side facing up. Bake until lightly browned (5 minutes should do the trick).

A person slicing bread on a baking sheet. — Slather garlic butter onto the French bread.

Four slices of pizza with tomato sauce on a baking sheet. — Spread pizza sauce evenly over the bread and sprinkle pizza seasoning.

Four slices of pizza on a baking sheet. — Scatter shredded mozzarella cheese.

Next, it’s topping time! Remove your toasted bread from the oven and spread pizza sauce; sprinkle some Italian bread-inspired pizza seasoning, red pepper flakes, delectable Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese (you can use fresh mozzarella if you prefer), and fresh tomato slices.

A tray of pizza with tomatoes and cheese on it. — Add slices of tomatoes and your favorite toppings.

Four slices of French bread pizza with tomatoes and cheese on a baking sheet. — Cook until the cheese has melted and bubbles, approx. 10 – 15 minutes.

Pop it back in the oven until the cheese melts and bubbles, roughly 10 – 15 minutes.

Top with optional fresh basil, serve immediately, with mayonnaise to dip, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

Perfect Crust: Always pre-bake the bread before adding the toppings. This ensures it stays crispy and doesn’t get soggy from the sauce. Brushing the garlic butter mixture onto the crust edges adds a flavorful bite. It’s definitely key to a perfect crust in our books!
Don’t skimp on the cheese! The combination of mozzarella cheese and parmesan gives a melty, stretchy, and slightly salty finish. If you enjoy other cheeses on pizza, feel free to experiment. Ever tried a mix of cheddar with feta? Or how about some blue cheese for a bold touch?
Change up the sauce: While pizza sauce is the classic choice (and our homemade pizza sauce is incredible!), don’t limit yourself. Marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, pesto, or even a tangy BBQ sauce can elevate your French Bread Pizza game.
Add your favorite pizza toppings: Classics like vegetarian pepperoni slices and bell peppers are always winners. Game-changers can also be caramelized onions, pineapple chunks, sliced black olives, and fresh parsley. The sky is the limit!
Meal Prep: This French Bread Pizza recipe is perfect for meal prep! Make the French bread, garlic butter, and mayonnaise ahead of time and prepare the toppings (i.e. slicing bell peppers). When you’re ready to eat, top the French Bread and bake it in the oven. Super easy!

A person is taking a slice of pizza made with French bread from a wooden cutting board.

How to Store Leftover Pizza

To store any leftovers, wrap your slices in aluminum foil or place them in airtight containers. They’ll keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat French Bread Pizza, preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C. Place the pizza directly on the oven rack for about 10 minutes or until hot and crispy.

If you’re in a hurry, using an air fryer is a great trick to get that crust perfectly crispy again in just a few minutes. For all of our tips and tricks, check out How to Reheat Pizza in an Air Fryer.

You can also freeze French Bread Pizza if you’re planning to store them longer. Simply lay the slices on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer them to freezer bags. Label with the date, and they can be stored for up to 3 months!

Four slices of French bread pizza with tomatoes and basil on a cutting board.

What to Serve with French Bread Pizza

Keep it light and balance out the richness of the delicious pizza with a refreshing salad. Some of our favorites include Caprese Salad, Waldorf Salad, Grape Salad, or Pizza Salad for double the pizza!

If you’re in the mood for a carb-fest (and who isn’t sometimes?), Air Fryer Frozen Fries, Loaded Buffalo Fries, or Air Fryer Peri Peri Fries can be a great side. If you’re a fan of sweet potatoes, check out our Sweet Potato Fries and our Sweet Potato Wedges are second to none.

We think a variety of dips is essential for pizza night. Marinara sauce, ranch, Garlic Aioli, Maple Ketchup, Sweet Chili Sauce, or a spicy BBQ sauce for dipping those crusty ends? Yes, please!

Nothing beats the combo of pizza and a cold drink. Whether it’s a strawberry daiquiri mocktail, margarita, or cosmopolitan, it complements the pizza flavors beautifully.

Four slices of bread with tomato sauce and herbs on a cutting board.

More pizza recipes for you to try

A slice of French bread with tomatoes and cheese on it.

Print Pin Recipe

5 from 49 votes

Best Homemade French Bread Pizza (Easy Recipe)

Made entirely from scratch, this homemade French Bread Pizza recipe is not only easy but also offers a taste that rivals any pizzeria! Perfect for the whole family, it’s a simple recipe to meal prep for later.

Servings

Calories692

Course: Main course

Cuisine: French, Italian

Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste