Why is my French bread pizza soggy?

If your pizza turned out soggy, it's possible that your bread was too soft. The liquid from the sauce can wick down into the bread and give it a soggy, spongy texture. This can also happen if you use a watery pasta sauce instead of a thicker pizza sauce. To prevent this, consider toasting the bread halves in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350 F to dry it out a little bit before adding the sauce and toppings.

Can you use spaghetti sauce for pizza?

Absolutely! Although it's not exactly traditional, marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce are great substitutes in a pinch. You can also make homemade pizza sauce with just a few pantry staples, so you might be able to make the sauce yourself!

How do you make French bread pizza more flavorful?

If your last batch of French bread pizza was lackluster, this most likely happened due to either a lack of seasoning or biting through a big, dry piece of bread. French bread is pretty thick, and if you don't add something to soak into the bread, it can become a little dry. That's why this homemade French bread pizza recipe calls for adding a layer of garlic butter. As it bakes, those flavors melt into the bread to make sure every bite is full of flavor They actually end up tasting like garlic bread pizzas! You can also try adding a little sprinkle of salt on top to make sure the flavors of your toppings really pop.

French Bread Pizza

Name: French Bread Pizza
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (15 ounce) loaf French bread; ¼ cup butter, softened; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 clove garlic, finely chopped; 1 ½ cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce; ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded; ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated; pizza toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, olives, etc.); fresh basil (optional, for serving)

Description

This quick and easy French Bread Pizza is a game-changer for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. It’s loaded with a delicious garlic butter flavor, customizable toppings, and the perfect balance of crispy crust and gooey cheese. Best of all, it’s ready in just 20 minutes! Dinner doesn’t get much easier or more satisfying than this.

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) loaf French bread
¼ cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 ½ cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
pizza toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, olives, etc.)
fresh basil (optional, for serving)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a large half sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Slice the French bread in half, lengthwise. Place the bread, cut side up, on the lined baking sheet.
In a small mixing bowl, add butter, olive oil, and garlic, and stir to combine until smooth. Spread the garlic mixture evenly over the halved bread. Top with pizza sauce. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top.
Add mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese on top.
Add your favorite pizza toppings such as pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, and/or olives.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Turn on the broiler and broil on HI for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese becomes golden brown and the edges of the bread become crispy.
Sprinkle with basil (if using), slice and serve.

Notes

How to store: Store leftover pizza in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

How to reheat: To warm your leftovers, it's best to bake them in the oven or air fryer to remelt the cheese and warm the bread all the way through. Try baking the slices at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.

How to freeze: You can actually freeze French bread pizza at home to make later! You'll want to fully assemble the pizzas, then freeze them for several hours on a baking tray until they are solid. Wrap each one in foil or plastic wrap, then tuck the frozen French bread pizzas into a freezer-safe bag. You can bake the frozen pizzas directly in the oven, but you might want to bump the heat up to 400 or 425 degrees F to cut through the chill.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American