Garlic Bread Pizza with Pepperoni and Vegetables Recipe
Garlic Bread Pizza is a deliciously crispy and cheesy appetizer or snack made by topping toasted garlic buttered French bread with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and classic pizza toppings like pepperoni, bell peppers, olives, and mushrooms. It’s baked to perfection with a golden crust and bubbly melted cheese, combining the flavors of garlic bread and pizza in one easy-to-make dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Garlic Butter
- 1/4 cup butter (softened)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 clove garlic (pressed, or 1 tsp garlic paste)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 ounces pepperoni (sliced)
- 1/4 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F (200˚C) to prepare for toasting and baking the bread and pizza toppings.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, fresh parsley, dried basil, dried thyme, kosher salt, pressed garlic, and red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly until well combined and set aside.
- Prepare Bread: Slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise. Evenly spread the prepared garlic butter mixture over each cut side of the bread halves to coat them well.
- Toast Bread: Place the buttered bread halves on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 5-8 minutes, or until the tops are toasty and the edges turn golden brown, forming a crispy garlic bread base.
- Add Toppings: Remove the toasted bread from the oven. Spread an even layer of marinara sauce on each half, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously on top. Distribute the pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers, black olives, and sliced mushrooms evenly over the cheese.
- Bake Pizza: Return the topped bread halves to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly and the toppings are heated through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and cut each half of the bread into 5 pieces. Serve immediately to enjoy warm, crispy, and cheesy garlic bread pizza slices.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the pizza for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Feel free to substitute or add any pizza toppings of your choice such as onions, jalapeños, or fresh tomatoes.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes or add a drizzle of hot sauce after baking.
- To make preparation quicker, use pre-minced garlic or garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
- This recipe is best served fresh but leftovers can be reheated in the oven to retain crispness, not in a microwave.
Keywords: Garlic bread pizza, cheesy garlic bread, easy pizza recipe, appetizer, quick garlic bread
