Name: Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: ½ cup salted butter softened; 6 garlic cloves finely minced or pressed; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley; 1 pound French bread or Italian bread; ½ cup pizza sauce; 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese shredded; 15 pepperoni slices; 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese; Red pepper flakes optional; Chopped fresh parsley to garnish, optional

There's something utterly irresistible about crispy garlic bread meeting melty, gooey pizza toppings. This Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe combines the best of both worlds into one satisfying, easy-to-make dish that's perfect for weeknights or a fun weekend treat.

The image shows four slices of pepperoni pizza arranged on a wooden board, stacked slightly on top of each other in a vertical line. Each slice has a golden-brown crust with melted, stretchy white cheese covering the surface. Bright red pepperoni slices are placed evenly on top of the cheese, with small green herb sprinkles scattered across for garnish. The cheese is bubbling and toasted with some darker golden spots, and the crust edges look crispy. A small glass dish with red chili flakes is partly visible at the right side on the white marbled surface beneath the board. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

From the moment I bit into my first slice of this garlic bread pizza, I was hooked. It's quick, comforting, and brings that perfect combo of garlic butter richness with classic pizza toppings that everyone loves.

Simple Ingredients: Uses common pantry staples and a loaf of French bread for quick prep.
Quick to Make: Ready in about 25 minutes, including baking time — perfect for busy days.
Customizable: Easily swap toppings or add your favorites to suit what you have on hand.
Flavor Packed: The garlic butter base brings delicious depth, making every bite pop.

The image shows two pieces of bread topped with melted cheese that looks creamy and slightly browned on the edges. On top of the cheese, there are six round slices of pepperoni on each piece, sprinkled with red chili flakes and small bits of green herbs. The bread is placed on a wooden board with a clear glass of a light yellow drink on the right side and a small white bowl with red pepper flakes near a white cloth with black lines, all set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients for this Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe are pretty straightforward but carefully chosen to bring out that classic garlic bread meets pizza flavor. Picking the right bread and fresh mozzarella makes a huge difference in texture and taste.

Flat lay of minced garlic cloves, softened salted butter, chopped fresh parsley, a long loaf of French bread with a soft crust, vibrant red pizza sauce, shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced pepperoni, and grated Parmesan cheese, all beautifully arranged with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and fresh parsley leaves, placed on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Salted Butter: Softened for easy mixing; forms the rich, garlicky base you'll love.
Garlic Cloves: Freshly minced for real punch, nothing beats fresh garlic in this recipe.
Fresh Parsley: Adds brightness and a hint of color to the butter and final garnish.
French or Italian Bread: A bakery-style loaf with a soft crust works best — it soaks up the garlic butter but stays crisp when baked.
Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite brand or homemade for that classic tangy pizza bite.
Mozzarella Cheese: Low-moisture, freshly shredded melts beautifully and gets that gooey stretch everyone craves.
Pepperoni Slices: Classic topping that crisps up nicely under the broiler.
Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty kick and helps deepen the cheese flavor.
Red Pepper Flakes (optional): A sprinkle gives a nice subtle heat to balance the richness.
Chopped Parsley (optional garnish): Fresh and herbal, it lightens the richness at the end.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your taste. I love adding a bit of spinach for color or swapping out pepperoni for mushrooms when I want a veggie boost.

Vegetarian Variation: Skip the pepperoni and pile on sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, or olives instead—just as delicious.
Extra Cheesy: Mix mozzarella with provolone or even a little fontina for richer flavor.
Quick Dinner Hack: Use frozen garlic bread as a shortcut—skip the butter mix and jump to toppings for a super fast fix.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe

Step 1: Preparing the Garlic Butter

I start by softening the butter until it's easy to mix, then stir in plenty of freshly minced garlic and chopped parsley. The butter shouldn’t be melted; it’s all about that creamy spreadable texture. This little mix is what makes the bread sing!

Step 2: Getting the Bread Ready

Slice your French bread loaf in half lengthwise, just like you'd do for garlic bread. I like to make sure the crust is sturdy but not rock hard to keep the pizza from getting soggy. Spread that garlic butter evenly across both halves.

Step 3: First Bake for Garlic Flavor

Pop the buttered bread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, cut side up, and bake for about 5 minutes at 400°F. This melts the garlic butter into the bread and starts crisping the edges just right.

Step 4: Add Sauce and Toppings

Once out of the oven, spoon on the pizza sauce evenly, then sprinkle with mozzarella, pepperoni slices, and parmesan cheese. Don't be shy here—generous toppings make all the difference.

Step 5: Final Bake to Perfection

Back in the oven for 15-18 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and edges golden brown. This step is where the magic happens — watch closely so nothing burns but everything gets beautifully melty.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

When it's out of the oven, let it cool just a couple minutes, then sprinkle red pepper flakes and fresh parsley if you like a little heat and color. Slice into your perfect garlic bread pizzas and serve immediately.

Top Tip

Having made this recipe dozens of times, I’ve learned some tweaks that make all the difference to get that perfect balance between crisp and gooey.

Fresh Garlic is Key: Pre-minced garlic just doesn’t pack the same vibrant punch—press or mince fresh cloves.
Bread Selection: I once used a super crusty artisan loaf and ended up with a pizza that was hard to cut—stick to soft-crust French or Italian bread.
Even Cheese Layer: Distribute cheese evenly to avoid soggy spots and get the best cheese pull.
Watch Your Oven: 15-18 minutes is the sweet spot; too long can dry it out, too short leaves cheese under-melted.

How to Serve Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe

Garnishes

I adore a sprinkle of fresh parsley right before serving—it brightens the rich garlic and cheese flavors beautifully. Red pepper flakes add a lovely subtle heat but skip them if your crowd prefers mild.

Side Dishes

Because this Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe is pretty filling on its own, I like pairing it with a light mixed green salad or some roasted veggies for a well-rounded meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For casual parties, I’ve cut the garlic bread pizzas into bite-size squares and served them as finger food. It’s always a hit! You can also serve on a wooden board with various dipping sauces like ranch or spicy marinara.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers keep well wrapped tightly in the fridge for up to 2 days. I suggest reheating in the oven or toaster oven for best crispness instead of the microwave.

Freezing

I've frozen leftover garlic bread pizza by wrapping slices individually in foil, then placing them in freezer bags. They thaw and reheat well for a quick snack or meal later.

Reheating

To revive crispness and melty cheese, I reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes, keeping an eye so the crust doesn’t get too hard. This beats the microwave hands down!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other breads for Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe?

Absolutely! While a soft-crust French or Italian bread works best, you can experiment with ciabatta or even sourdough for different textures—just keep in mind how well the bread holds up to moisture and baking time.

How do I make Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe gluten-free?

To make this recipe gluten-free, simply use a gluten-free loaf that holds up well to baking. Also, double-check your pizza sauce and toppings to make sure they’re gluten-free too. Baking times might vary slightly depending on the bread.

Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

You can prepare the garlic butter and slice the bread a few hours ahead, then refrigerate both separately. Assemble the pizzas and bake right before serving to keep the bread fresh and toppings perfect.

What toppings work best on Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe?

Classic choices like pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, and olives are fantastic. Don’t be afraid to get creative—try cooked sausage, fresh basil, or even pineapple! Keep toppings moderate to avoid sogginess.

Final Thoughts

I’ve made this Garlic Bread Pizza Recipe countless times for family gatherings and casual dinners, and it never disappoints. It’s that reliable crowd-pleaser that’s easy enough for busy nights but special enough for sharing. Give this one a try—you’ll soon find it’s a go-to for delicious, no-fuss comfort food you can make anytime.