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    Home » Recipes » Pizza

    French Bread Pizza

    By Dannii · Published 24th March 2018 · Updated 21st April 2022 · 51 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · This site uses cookies · Post contains 1506 words. · About 8 minutes to read this article.

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    French Bread Vegetable Pizzas title picture
    French bread pizzas on a serving board with a text title overlay.

    For those moments when a pizza craving hits and you want something quick and easy, without having to call out for one to be delivered, we give you French Bread Pizzas. Stacked with healthier toppings and a crunchy crust, these are ready in almost an instant.

    French bread pizzas on a serving board with grated cheese scattered around.

    One thing everyone around the world has in common is a love of pizza. You can visit any major city and you will see a pizza restaurant or someone selling slices at the side of the street. The reason is, there is so much that you can do with a humble slice of pizza and its toppings.

    We have gone all out with the vegetables in this one, and it's so easy to adapt too. Whilst we love making homemade pizza dough, when a pizza craving hits and we want something quick, we make these French Bread Pizzas. Just cut open a French stick, add a tomato sauce and load with vegetables and cheese.

    If you are looking for some other pizza alternative recipes, then why not try our Tortilla Pizza, Pizza Bagels or Easy Pizza Toast.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients needed
    • Step by step
    • Why should you try it?
    • Variations
    • Healthy swap
    • What to serve with French Bread Pizza
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More pizza recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Ingredients needed

    • French stick - Cut in half and then down the middle so you have 4 pieces. This is your pizza base.
    • Vegetables - These are the main toppings. We used courgette, mushrooms and red bell pepper.
    • Cheese - We used a mature cheddar as the strong flavour means you don't need as much.
    • Tomato puree (paste) - This is the pizza sauce.
    • Oregano and black pepper - For an authentic Italian taste.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    A french baguette, red pepper, mushrooms, courgette, cheese and tomato puree on a wooden surface.

    Step by step

    One: Slice the French stick in to 4 pieces.

    A French Bread stick cut into four long pieces.

    Two: Add 2 tablespoon of tomato puree to each piece of French stick.

    Four pieces of sliced French Bread spread with tomato paste.

    Three: Top with the vegetables and cheese and then a sprinkle of oregano and black pepper.

    Four pieces of sliced French Bread topped wit htomato paste and sliced vegetable.

    Four: Put under the grill for 10 minutes.

    Four pieces of French Bread Pizza.

    Why should you try it?

    • Quick - This is ready in just 10 minutes and perfect for when the pizza cravings hit.
    • Great to get kids involved with making - These are really easy for kids to make, and what kid doesn't like pizza.
    • Low in calories - There are only 175 calories per pizza, making it a great low calorie pizza option.
    • Good way to use up French bread - If you have some French bread leftover from another recipe, this is a good way to use it up.

    Variations

    The great thing about these French Bread Pizzas is that they are so easy to adapt. Although there are lots of different topping options, you want to make sure that you don't overload the pizzas, as it will make them very difficult to pick up and eat. Too many toppings also means that the pizza won't cook evenly and the toppings will be undercooked and the base will be burnt. So, go easy on the toppings! Here are some of our favourite variations:

    Pizza sauce - We used some tomato puree, however you could make our Easy Pizza Sauce if you wanted something a little more special. If you want even more flavour, then use a good quality BBQ sauce for the pizza sauce. You could even use Pesto as the base.

    Meat - We kept this vegetarian, but if you wanted to add meat then there are lots of options. You could use chopped ham, leftover shredded chicken, cooked sausage, pepperoni, bacon, chorizo or prawns.

    Vegetables - There are so many ways that you can give a vegetable boost to these tortilla pizzas. We added some slices of cherry tomato for colour, but you could also add sweetcorn, chopped spinach, diced mushrooms, grated courgette (zucchini), sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red pepper, olives, artichokes, or onions. You could also add pineapple, but it's not a vegetable and it also causes a lot of arguments when it comes to pizza!

    Cheese - We have used a mature cheddar and mozzarella, but other cheese that works well includes Stilton, feta, Parmesan or Swiss.

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    Healthy swap

    To make these lower in calories and more vitamin packed, simply scoop out the bready insides so there is a deeper hole. Not only do you have less bread and carbs, but you have more space to add vegetable toppings. Let's face it, pizza is all about the toppings anyway, for us at least.

    Sliced French bread topped with vegetables and cheese.

    What to serve with French Bread Pizza

    Pizza and any kind of potato goes well. Why not try our Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Skin On Fries, Hasselback Potatoes, Parmesan Truffle Fries or Homemade Garlic Crisps?

    If you are looking for some vegetable side dishes, then we have got you covered too. Try our Cheesy Cauliflower Nuggets, Broccoli Slaw, Garlic Spring Greens and Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli.

    If salads are more your thing, we have a Cucumber and Radish Salad, Chopped Blue Cheese Salad or Little Gem Salad.

    Storage

    These French Bread Pizzas are best eaten immediately. However, if you do have leftovers then they can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for 2 days. You can then either reheat them in the oven or an air fryer for 5 minutes.

    Vegetable pizzas on a serving board.

    FAQs

    Is French bread pizza good for kids?

    Kids will absolutely love these pizzas! Not only will they like not having to wait very long for them to be ready, but they can have fun making them too.
    Get the bread ready and slice up all the toppings, and then you can let them build their own pizza. That way, everyone gets a flavour topping that they want.

    How long do you cook French bread pizza for?

    This takes less than 10 minutes under the grill.

    Is French bread pizza gluten free?

    If you use a gluten free French stick and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

    Is French bread pizza vegan?

    You can make a vegan version of this my using a vegan cheese alternative.

    Where does French bread pizza come from?

    It is said that French bread pizza was invented at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in a food truck run by Bob Petrillose. Apparently he didn't like selling slices of pizza, so in 1960 he began making French bread pizzas and calling them PMP (Poor Man's Pizza).

    Can you cook French Bread Pizza in the air fryer?

    Yes, you can cook this in the air fryer. You can cook at 200°C for 5 minutes. Just use cheese and tomato toppings for this method though, otherwise it will be too heavy to get out of the air fryer.

    Can you make French Bread Pizza in advance?

    Yes, you can make these a couple of hours in advance and then keep them in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Get kids involved in making these by having the bread and toppings all prepared and letting them build their own pizza.
    • This is a great opportunity to use up leftovers, so use any vegetables and cheese that need using up. Chopped spinach would be a great addition to this.
    • Make these lower in calories by scooping out the bread insides and loading it with more vegetables.
    • For extra flavour, you can add a pinch of dried oregano on top of the cheese before the tortilla pizzas before they go into the oven, or you can sprinkle them with fresh chopped basil before serving.
    • Add some extra flavour to the pizza sauce by mixing in some BBQ sauce or hot sauce with the passata.
    • Like some spice on your pizza? Sprinkle over some red chilli flakes before serving.

    More pizza recipes

    • Christmas Tree Pizza
    • Greek Pizza
    • Healthier Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
    • Courgette (Zucchini) and Lemon Pizza

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    If you’ve tried this French Bread Pizza, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Don't forget to rate the recipe ↓

    Recipe

    Four slices of French Bread Pizza on a wooden serving board

    French Bread Pizzas

    For those moments when a pizza craving hits and you want something quick and easy, without having to call out for one to be delivered, we give you French Bread Pizza.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.94 from 29 votes
    Pin Print
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: French, Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Allergen:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 175kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 200 g Granary French bread stick cut in half then sliced down the middle
    • 0.5 Courgette halved lengthways then sliced
    • 4 Mushrooms sliced
    • 0.5 Red pepper diced
    • 40 g Mature cheddar cheese
    • 8 tablespoon Tomato puree
    • Oregano and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Slice the French bread into four quarters.
    • Spread 2 tablespoon of tomato puree on each piece of bread.
    • Top with the vegetables and cheese and sprinkle with black pepper and oregano.
    • Put under the grill for 10 minutes.

    Notes

    • Get kids involved in making these by having the bread and toppings all prepared and letting them build their own pizza.
    • This is a great opportunity to use up leftovers, so use any vegetables and cheese that need using up. Chopped spinach would be a great addition to this.
    • Make these lower in calories by scooping out the bread insides and loading it with more vegetables.
    • For extra flavour, you can add a pinch of dried oregano on top of the cheese before the tortilla pizzas before they go into the oven, or you can sprinkle them with fresh chopped basil before serving.
    • Add some extra flavour to the pizza sauce by mixing in some BBQ sauce or hot sauce with the passata.
    • Like some spice on your pizza? Sprinkle over some red chilli flakes before serving.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1pizza | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura H

      March 28, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      Mm these look super yummy!! Glad to see a low cal pizza option so I don't have to feel guilty hehe

      Reply
    2. Jessica Robinson

      March 25, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      These are the perfect healthy style pizza! Love French Bread pizza! Yours look so good!

      Reply
    3. Veena Azmanov

      March 25, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      Oh how do i love pizza! Your recipe looks very appetizing! I want to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! This is the perfect recipe for me. Thank you for this great recipe!

      Reply
    4. Noel Lizotte

      March 25, 2018 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      What a pretty set of pizzas! I've always made French Bread pizzas, but never used this topping combination. Will be trying out this spring.

      Reply
    5. Diana

      March 25, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      I will have to try and make these mini baguette pizzas using melty mozzarella, bet that the kids are gonna love them!

      Reply
    6. Teri Stephens

      March 25, 2018 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love these! French bread pizzas are the best, aren't they? Love the vegetable combination here, they look perfect.

      Reply
    7. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      March 25, 2018 at 12:05 pm

      These look so good - such a great idea to use french bread as the base. These look so colourful and amuch healthier alternative to shop bought pizza

      Reply
    8. Natalie

      March 24, 2018 at 6:29 pm

      5 stars
      These pizzas look so delicious and perfect for hosting! I can't wait to make these soon - it's also a really good idea for weekend brunch!

      Reply
    9. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

      November 07, 2016 at 11:55 am

      These are definitely still healthier than a shop-bought pizza! You were very restrained on the cheese and generous with the veggies :)

      Reply
    10. Annie B

      November 05, 2016 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      I am about to embark on my full training again, so I am limiting my treat in take. This could be a happy compromise!

      Reply
    11. Melanie Edjourian

      November 05, 2016 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      This looks great i love using veg on pizza it adds flavour and makes it healthier for you x

      Reply
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    Welcome! My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist, along with travel, home and family life and general happiness.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food and lifestyle blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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