PBS

Simple French Bread Pizzas

I love pizza. I love making my pizza dough from scratch. I love the scent of it while it rises and then emerges from the oven all golden brown and bubbly. Homemade pizza cannot be matched.

However, sometimes (!!) you just don’t have time to make pizza from scratch. I know…I know! What has the world come to? And in those instances, when you’re in your jammies at 7pm, are all out of active dry yeast and have the Downton season finale paused, it’s a splendid time to make French bread pizza.

To make French bread pizza you need, duh, French bread. These would be great to serve a crowd {they’d be perfect for a kids sleepover} because all you need is to grab a few loaves at the grocery store and you’re set. Bam.

As toppings go, I’m a purist. Buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil for me, forever and always. If you want to junk your pizza up with a trillion toppings, be my guest!

Sooooooo, it’s Friday! Pizza night! Serve with a salad and a glass of red wine and you’re set. 🙂

Grab the recipe over at PBS Food, lovelies, and enjoy. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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  • Live Love Yum
    March 8, 2013 at 4:01 am

    Downton Abby…I really need to get on that series!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    March 8, 2013 at 4:26 am

    A perfect Friday night meal! I love the tomato + basil combo, and this sounds so perfect. I hope you have a great weekend Jenna!

  • Dana
    March 8, 2013 at 4:43 am

    This looks amazing! Yum!

  • erin @hooleywithaz
    March 8, 2013 at 4:56 am

    hahaha, you described my dinner dilemma every single night my husband is out of town! this is a great shortcut, i do love me some french bread pizzas. have you seen the individual sized french breads from trader joe’s? ah.maz.ing.

  • Averie @ Averie Cooks
    March 8, 2013 at 4:57 am

    For everything you just described, I came up with a 1 hour whole wheat yeasted bread dough recipe that saves me if I get into a dinner jam. Or am tempted to eat peanut butter cookies for dinner (again) 🙂

    Your pizza looks PERFECT!

  • Molly @ RDexposed
    March 8, 2013 at 5:11 am

    This is every 8 year olds first self-made dinner! Maybe an English muffin rather than French bread. Way to make it an acceptable adult version.

  • Amy Walters, aDESIGNdock
    March 8, 2013 at 5:32 am

    Mmm….the perfect Friday fare!

  • Bev @ Bev Cooks
    March 8, 2013 at 6:02 am

    We do this all the tiiiiieeeemmmmmme and I love it!

  • Padma
    March 8, 2013 at 6:02 am

    haha, I do this all the time. Except, lately I’ve become even lazier, and use sliced tomatoes and add cheese on top. I guess it becomes a caprese pizza? Super delicious.

  • Malkire
    March 8, 2013 at 6:14 am

    When I was little my mom use to make these pizzas of us as a “late night snack” over the weekend. I has almost forgotten about this simple, delicious meal. Thank you so much from reminding me and adding your own take!

  • Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
    March 8, 2013 at 6:36 am

    I do this on Ezekiel english muffins or whole wheat bagels, when I’m feeling lazy (I even eat them for breakfast…woops) 🙂

  • Heather
    March 8, 2013 at 7:06 am

    Sunday dinner is planned!

  • joelle (on a pink typewriter)
    March 8, 2013 at 7:09 am

    YUM! When I was little, my mom used to always buy the Stouffer’s French bread pizzas, and I adoooooooooooored them.

  • Hilary
    March 8, 2013 at 7:14 am

    How did you feel about Downton’s season finale?! Sigh.

    • jenna
      March 8, 2013 at 11:16 am

      I was NOT happy about the season finale!! Not at all. I mean, really…what the heck?

      • Joyce
        March 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm

        Wasn’t that the worst episode ever?!?! So so sad. And now we wait forever for next season! Ugh.

        Yummy dinner though 🙂

  • Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
    March 8, 2013 at 7:22 am

    We make these all the time at my house – so delicious!

  • Emily @ Life on Food
    March 8, 2013 at 8:07 am

    My husband things we are missing out on something epic for our generation since we haven’t seen Downton Abbey. Guess we have to get on that?!? Pizza looks fabulous!

  • Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
    March 8, 2013 at 8:16 am

    Simple, yet so yummy. That sounds like a perfect comfy night to me! Have a good weekend. 🙂

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action
    March 8, 2013 at 8:18 am

    So simple! I definitely am adding this of things to make when I’m feeling tired and lazy.

  • Rachel Cooks
    March 8, 2013 at 8:33 am

    These are one of my favorite things ever. This looks like a fantastic version of them!

  • Laurie {SimplyScratch}
    March 8, 2013 at 8:47 am

    I love homemade French breads! So easy and always a winner… love that you use fresh mozz… it’s the shizz!

  • dixya @ food, pleasure, and health
    March 8, 2013 at 9:58 am

    I am all in for these pizza any time of the day 🙂 I dont like too many toppings on my pizza either, it ruins the whole experience. Have a great weekend

  • Moni Meals
    March 8, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Oh wow! I want and could eat this everyday. Childhood favorite!

    So on the Downton Wagon- addicted!!

  • Haley
    March 8, 2013 at 10:46 am

    Hey Jenna,

    What’s your favorite jarred pizza sauce?

    • jenna
      March 8, 2013 at 11:15 am

      You know, I really just love the generic Trader Joe’s one!

  • sara @ fitcupcaker
    March 8, 2013 at 11:02 am

    yum, i love making anything that has the word pizza in it. I made your turkey taco casserole last night. it was delicious!

  • Bridget
    March 8, 2013 at 11:35 am

    This sounds awesome! My fiance is on a bro-hiking trip, and this with that red wine you mentioned? Is just the girls night meal that me and my friends are going to have tomorrow. Thanks so much!
    Also, I just wanted to let you know, I bought your book some months back, and loved it! That flourless cake recipe too? Amazing.

    Bridgi
    yodgi.com

  • Emily@2:DESIGN:CENTS
    March 8, 2013 at 11:54 am

    YUM perfect for a chilly rainy day like today:)

  • I Wash You Dry
    March 8, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    I love french bread pizza! So easy and completely delicious. And I need to jump on the Downton Abby train, cause I am tired of being out of the loop!

  • Marcus
    March 8, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    I actually love a freshly made pizza. I think I have my bread machine cranking out more pizza dough than bread :). However, this sounds much more practical and a lot less messy. I will have to give it a try.

  • Caroline L.
    March 8, 2013 at 2:58 pm

    You’re always so chock full of great ideas 🙂 This looks divine!

  • The Mrs. @ Kitchen Doesn't Travel
    March 8, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    So simple. So beautiful. So delicious. Thanks for the idea!

  • Ann
    March 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Hey, these french bread pizzas look divine. And, I wanted to share that if your store now carries the green pack of Fleischmann’s Pizza Crust Yeast, its the greatest. I use it to make my pizza dough, top it, and cook it in like 20 minutes. Its utterly amazing!

  • Jane @ Not Plain So Jane
    March 8, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    This is great! I use a pita sometimes to make a similar pizza, but french bread looks better. Perfect dinner for a Friday night!

  • Art @ Fit at Fifty
    March 8, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Looks wonderfull.
    I love french bread pizza.
    Art

  • Blair at The Seasoned Mom.com
    March 8, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    These look gooood! We almost always have pizza on Friday nights, and a few weeks ago the kids and I made French bread pizzas too…but we junked ours up Hawaiian style by adding bacon and pineapple!

  • Gina
    March 8, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    I did something similar last week but with pita bread instead of French bread and it was great! Like the idea to use buffalo mozzarella, will try that next time.

  • Kim
    March 8, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    Thank you! We’ve been eating the frozen kind lately and can’t get enough of it. I was just thinking I need to make it from scratch… and here comes your recipe. You’re amazing!

  • Ed
    March 9, 2013 at 12:39 am

    Wow, my saliva is drooling right now after viewing your pictures. 🙂 I would love to create the pizza for my kids. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  • briana
    March 9, 2013 at 8:25 am

    Made these last night and had leftovers for breakfast this morning! LOVE. thanks, jenna!

  • Chrissy
    March 9, 2013 at 9:54 am

    So simple. Sometimes you just need simple in these busy lives!

  • Alley @ Alley's Recipe Book
    March 9, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    My husband used to eat the Stouffer’s french bread pizzas all the time before we got married! I showed him how to make it himself on english muffins… but now I use whole wheat naan bread to make quick pizzas. Might have to make some french bread pizza for him…

  • Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
    March 9, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    These look Ah-Maz-ing!! I love pizza and I love how simple this recipe is. Thanks for sharing :).

  • BeePieRuns
    March 11, 2013 at 11:06 am

    I just made two loaves of french bread this weekend and was trying to figure out what to do with the second loaf – tada! French Bread Pizza! Thanks!!

  • Cathy
    March 11, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    I too used to make this on a whole wheat muffin – will have to try it on French bread – sounds delicious!!

  • Saturday Small Talk | Balance and Blueberries
    March 16, 2013 at 7:05 am

    […] This is so easy and so delicious looking. French bread pizzas. […]

  • Manny"the health nut"
    March 17, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    I ALWAYS make my own dough too, have been for years but now only use 100% whole grain flour…have you tried doing it that way yet? It gives the whole pizza a little different taste, a little heavier but way more nutrition!
    Thanks for the share
    Manny

  • Petra
    November 29, 2013 at 5:53 am

    I used to love the french bread pizzas made by findus here in the UK so I will definitely be making these this weekend.

    Not sure if I am up to making french bread just yet but I will try it in the future. In the mean time I am just going to have fun trying different toppings.

    Thank for the article.

    Petra.