Three Cheese French Bread Pizza Recipes

BREAKFAST FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Cut each piece of bread in half crosswise, then place cut-side-up on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with the olive oil and season with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Broil until lightly toasted and browned at the edges, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned and crispy, turning as needed, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain; discard any bacon fat in the skillet.
• Whisk the eggs, half the scallions, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a large bowl, then add to the warm skillet. Cook, stirring with a heatproof silicone spatula, until the eggs are just set and form large, soft curds, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Spread the spicy mayonnaise evenly on top of the toasted bread, then sprinkle with about half of the Cheddar. Place 2 pieces of bacon on each pizza. Dividing evenly, top with the scrambled eggs and then the remaining cheese. Return to the broiler and cook until all the cheese has melted, about 1 minute. Top each pizza with the remaining scallion and serve with a few dashes of hot sauce.

FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F with one rack positioned at the bottom of the oven and another at the top.
• Cook the sausage in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until some of the fat has rendered and the sausage is brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the pizza sauce, garlic and thyme to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat to let the flavors infuse while the sausage and onions cook.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and arrange the bread on top, cut-side up. Spread the tops evenly with the pizza sauce, then sprinkle with the mozzarella. Divide the sausage mixture among the bread pieces, then top off with the green and red bell peppers and Parmesan.
• Bake on the bottom rack of the oven until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and move the baking sheet to the top rack. Continue to bake until the cheese is bubbling and the peppers are browned in spots, about 7 minutes.
• Serve immediately with crushed red pepper flakes and granulated garlic on the side.

FRENCH BREAD PIZZAS

Steps:

• For the pizza base: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lay the rolls cut-side up on a large baking sheet. Top each half with marinara sauce (or pesto for the tomato basil pizzas), followed by the mozzarella. Then add your toppings of choice. See below for directions for assembling specific pizzas.
• Once the pizzas are assembled, put the baking sheet on the lowest rack for 8 to 10 minutes. Then turn up the heat to 425 degrees F and put the sheet on the highest rack until the cheese starts to bubble a bit and turns golden. Remove and serve immediately! Cut the pizzas in half right across the middle so there are mini French bread pizzas for everyone.
• Pizza Varieties:
• For the Canadian bacon and pineapple pizzas: Top with the Canadian bacon slices and pineapple and bake according to the directions above.
• For the Greek salad pizzas: Leave off the sauce and brush the sliced rolls with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with the mozzarella and bake according to the directions above.
• While the pizzas are baking, toss together the olives, feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Top the cooked pizzas with the chopped Greek salad.
• For the pepperoni and jalapeno pizzas: Top with the pepperoni and jalapeno slices and bake according to the directions above.
• For the tomato basil pizzas: Use pesto instead of the marinara sauce, and top with the tomato slices. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake according to the directions above. Top the cooked pizzas with basil leaves.
• For the hamburger pizzas: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper and saute until the beef is no longer pink. Top the rolls with the sauteed ground beef and bake according to the directions above.
• For the hamburger taco pizzas: Top with the Cheddar and ground beef and bake according to the directions above. Top the cooked pizzas with the chopped lettuce and tomatoes.

THREE-CHEESE FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are lightly browned, about 5 minutes; set aside.
• Combine 1/4 cup olive oil and the garlic in a small bowl. Put the bread cut-side up on a baking sheet and drizzle with the garlic oil; season with salt. Broil until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Spoon the ricotta on the bread, then top with the mushrooms and mozzarella. Broil until browned and bubbling, 2 to 5 minutes; transfer to a cutting board.
• Cut the bread into pieces. Sprinkle with the parsley, parmesan and red pepper flakes. Drizzle the tomatoes with the vinegar and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the pizza.

FOUR-CHEESE FRENCH BREAD PIZZA

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until starting to turn golden, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, a few splashes at a time to start, until evenly incorporated. Bring to a full boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened and the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. (It will continue to thicken as it cools.). Remove from heat, and whisk in Parmesan, pecorino, salt and pepper. Let cool.
• Prepare the pizza: Combine olive oil and garlic in a small pot over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the garlic starts to sizzle but doesn't brown, about 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the French bread cut side up on a baking sheet. Brush cut sides with garlic oil. Bake until edges are golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Toss together the cheeses in a medium bowl. Spread sauce over the two bread halves all the way to the edges and top with cheese.
• Return to the oven and bake until melted, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to broil. Broil until the cheese is bubbly and browned in spots (watch carefully!), 1 to 2 minutes more. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve topped with red-pepper flakes and oregano, if you like.