Pioneer Woman’s Charming French Bread Pizza Recipe Made Simple

French bread pizza unleashes a flavor explosion that turns mundane meals into culinary adventures.

Crusty bread serves as your delectable foundation for an epic taste journey.

Layers of robust ingredients transform a simple slice into a gourmet experience.

Melted cheese cascades over vibrant toppings, creating a sensory symphony that dances across your palate.

Each bite promises a perfect balance of crunch and richness that elevates casual dining.

This recipe breaks free from traditional pizza constraints, offering a delightful twist on a classic favorite.

Impress everyone at the table with this irresistible crowd-pleaser.

How to Serve Slices of French Bread Pizza

• Elevate with Side Salad: Pair these saucy bread pizzas with a crisp mixed green salad dressed in light vinaigrette for refreshing contrast.
• Create Family Feast: Serve alongside garlic roasted vegetables or crispy potato wedges to transform this simple meal into a hearty dinner spread.
• Perfect Game Day Snack: Cut pizza bread into smaller bite-sized pieces for easy finger food during sports watching or casual gatherings with friends.
• Wine and Dine Pairing: Complement the rich sausage and caramelized onions with a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Zinfandel for enhanced flavor experience.

Reheating French Bread Pizza with Care

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Chop onions, slice bread, and cook sausage in advance to streamline meal preparation and save time during busy weeknights.
• Refrigeration Rules: Store leftover pizza bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping ingredients separate to maintain optimal texture and prevent sogginess.
• Freezer-Friendly Hack: Wrap unbaked pizzas tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, preserving them for up to 1 month – perfect for quick future meals or unexpected guests.
• Reheating Perfection: Revive cold pizza bread by placing slices in a preheated oven at 375°F for 5-7 minutes, restoring crispy edges and melty cheese with minimal effort.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 600 kcal

Servings: 5

French Bread Pizza Ingredient Guide

• French Bread, Deli Rolls: Select fresh, crusty bread with a soft interior for the perfect pizza foundation.

• Marinara Sauce, Pesto Sauce: Choose vibrant, robust sauces that complement each other's flavors.
• Mozzarella Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Opt for high-quality, freshly grated cheeses for maximum melting and flavor.

• Italian Sausage: Pick lean, well-seasoned sausage with a rich, meaty texture.
• Butter: Select unsalted butter for controlled seasoning.
• Onions: Choose sweet yellow or white onions for deep caramelization.

• Pepperoni, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms: Select fresh, crisp vegetables and high-quality pepperoni for extra flavor and texture.

Pizza Equipment for French Bread Version

• Oven: Used for baking pizzas to golden perfection.
• Large baking sheet: Holds bread halves during preparation and baking.
• Skillet: Perfect for caramelizing onions and cooking sausage.
• Wooden spoon: Helps break sausage into small pieces while cooking.
• Chef's knife: Slices bread and prepares ingredients.
• Cutting board: Safe surface for ingredient preparation.
• Measuring spoons: Helps measure butter and sauces accurately.
• Spatula: Transfers caramelized onions and assists with serving.

How to Build and Bake French Bread Pizza

• Fire Up The Oven Activate your oven to a toasty 425°F, creating the perfect warm environment for transforming bread into mouthwatering pizza goodness.
• Split And Prepare Bread Slice your chosen bread down the middle lengthwise, positioning the cut sides facing upward on a spacious baking sheet, ready to become crispy pizza bases.
• Create Flavor Foundations Drizzle marinara or pesto across each bread half, generously sprinkle mozzarella and optional parmesan to build a delectable cheesy canvas.
• Craft Caramelized Onions Melt butter in a skillet, gently coax sliced onions into a golden, sweet transformation over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, developing rich, deep flavors.
• Transform Sausage In the same skillet, break sausage into bite-sized pieces, cooking thoroughly until no trace of pink remains, creating savory, crumbly meat perfect for topping.
• Compose Pizza Masterpieces Layer your cooked sausage and caramelized onions across the cheesy bread, inviting optional extras like pepperoni, bell peppers, or mushrooms to join the flavor party.
• Bake To Perfection Position pizzas on the lowest oven rack for 8-10 minutes, then shift to the top rack for an additional 2-3 minutes, waiting for cheese to bubble and edges to turn irresistibly golden.
• Serve Immediately Rescue your sizzling creations from the oven and dive right in while they're piping hot and gloriously crisp.

Topping Suggestions for the Pizza

Experiment with different sauce combinations like mixing marinara and pesto or using alfredo for a creamy twist.

Replace Italian sausage with ground beef, shredded chicken, or plant-based crumbles to suit dietary preferences and create exciting flavor variations.

Skip the meat and load up on roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and artichokes for a hearty meatless version that doesn’t compromise on taste.

Prepare caramelized onions and cooked sausage a day ahead, storing them separately in airtight containers to speed up pizza assembly and reduce day-of cooking stress.

Cheesy Pioneer Woman French Bread Pizza Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Quick french bread pizza combines crispy bread with melted cheese and savory toppings. Simple ingredients create a delightful meal you can customize with your favorite pizza-style fillings.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 lbs (907 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 6 deli rolls or French bread, sliced lengthwise
• ½ lb sausage (Italian preferred)
• ½ cup (120 ml) marinara sauce or pesto
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
• Pepperoni slices
• Canadian bacon slices
• Goat cheese
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• Pineapple chunks
• Sliced Roma tomatoes
• Sliced black olives
• Sliced bell peppers
• Pepperoncini
• Jalapeño slices
• Sliced red onion
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for sprinkling)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Position oven rack in lower third and preheat to 425°F, ensuring optimal cooking environment for french bread pizza.
2. Bread Foundation: Slice deli rolls or french bread horizontally, creating flat surfaces perfect for layering toppings and maximizing crispy potential.
3. Sauce Layer: Apply marinara or pesto across bread halves, covering entire surface to guarantee balanced flavor in every bite.
4. Cheese Base: Uniformly distribute shredded mozzarella, creating a molten foundation that will bind all subsequent ingredients.
5. Flavor Development: Caramelize onions in butter over medium heat until golden and translucent, approximately 8-10 minutes, then set aside. In same skillet, brown sausage until completely cooked, breaking into small crumbles.
6. Topping Arrangement: Strategically place caramelized onions and cooked sausage across cheese-covered bread, considering even distribution for consistent taste profile.
7. Optional Enhancement: Integrate additional ingredients like peppers, mushrooms, or herbs to elevate overall flavor complexity and visual appeal.
8. Baking Process: Transfer prepared pizzas to baking sheet, initially cooking on lower rack for 8-10 minutes, then shifting to top rack for final 2-3 minutes until cheese bubbles and turns golden-brown.
9. Serving: Remove from oven, allow brief cooling, slice diagonally, and serve immediately while maintaining maximum crispness and temperature.

Notes

• Bread Selection Matters: Choose fresh, sturdy French bread or deli rolls with a crisp exterior and soft interior for the best pizza base texture.
• Sauce Spreading Technique: Use the back of a spoon to create an even, thin layer of marinara or pesto, preventing soggy bread and ensuring consistent flavor.
• Cheese Coverage Strategy: Shred mozzarella fresh for superior melting and more even distribution compared to pre-shredded varieties.
• Temperature Layering Trick: Starting on the lower oven rack and finishing on the top rack ensures a perfectly crisp bottom and golden-brown cheese top.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 1200 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg