This quick and easy Bread Pizza recipe features sliced sandwich bread and a few of your favorite pizza toppings nestled with bubbly melted cheese. It's a colorful and creative lunch or snack in the Oven or Air Fryer that truly satisfies that pizza craving.
Shortcut Pizza At Home
If you are one to crave pizza at a moment's notice, this is the recipe for you!
Crispy, crusty, melty and delicious, this bread pizza recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes. This is one of our favorite things to eat for lunch or an afternoon snack, but it makes a wonderful savory breakfast or packed school lunch too! 🙂
What is Bread Pizza or Pizza Toast?
Bread Pizza, also called Pizza Toast, is just as the name suggests - thin slices of sandwich bread topped with pizza sauce, cheese, pizzeria-style toppings and baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Personalized Pizza For Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner - 5 Flavors!
That's right! Not only can this pizza toast be enjoyed at any time of day, but I love to make this recipe at a moment's notice because:
- The 'crust' options are endless- use your favorite kind of bread base!
- Homemade means you can pick-and-choose your own pizza toppings - the recipe today features 5 flavor adventures!
- Pizza toast is ready in 20 minutes - faster than any pizza delivery.
- It's excellent for meal prep and school lunches.
- All it takes is one swap for a low-carb pizza toast option!
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
Bread pizza toast includes the usual essentials like bread, tomato sauce and cheese, but it's the toppings that really get the party started!
- Bread: Once the school year starts, I always have a loaf of whole grain sandwich bread in my kitchen. I love the healthy boost from whole grains, but you can honestly use any style of bread you have hanging around in your kitchen. Bread, naan, pita, halved bagels, halved sandwich rolls, English muffins, thick sourdough loaf slices, or halved French bread all work wonderfully.
- Sauce: Pizza sauce is an uncooked tomato sauce that actually results in a better-tasting pizza. I use about 1 cup total (2 Tablespoons per slice of bread), but you can adjust the quantity to your liking. Jars of pizza sauce are easily available in most supermarkets or online. A homemade pasta sauce or pesto sauce are both great alternatives. Even store-bought marinara sauce works!
- Cheese: Shredded mozzarella is standard, but any melting cheese can be sprinkled on top. Some of our other favorites include Feta, Parmesan and Pecorino. Feel free to mix them all together for an incredibly cheesy Four Cheese option!
Bread Pizza Toppings
The beauty of homemade pizza comes with the endless amount of topping choices. These are the top 5 flavor combinations my family and I enjoy. Once you have a knack for making pizza toast at home, use any combination of your favorite toppings.
- Veggie Supreme: 2 Tablespoons each chopped red onions, bell peppers, crimini mushrooms, zucchini + 1 Tablespoon sliced cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives (featured in this recipe)
- Jalapeno Pineapple: ¼ cup each pickled jalapenos + pineapple chunks
- Margarita: ½ cup 1-inch diced fresh mozzarella + 10-12 fresh basil leaves
- Sausage & Peppers: ¼-inch half-moon cooked sausage slices + 2 Tablespoons each red onions and bell peppers
- Spinach, Corn & Mushrooms: ¼ cup baby spinach chopped + 2 Tablespoons sliced mushrooms + 3 Tablespoons corn kernels
Cooking Tip: I use about ½ cup assorted veggies for 8 slices (1 Tablespoon per slice) for a standard sandwich bread slice. This quantity can vary depending on your preference or size of the bread. Keep this in mind, as too many toppings can make the pizza bread soggy.
Step By Step Instructions
The steps to make an easy pizza bread recipe are so simple. The first step of toasting the bread is completely optional, but I do recommend it if you like your toast extra crispy. If you prefer a soft-in-the-center type of toast or if using the air fryer, skip this step and start assembling.
Optional: Toast Bread
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet that can fit 8 slices of bread. Lightly drizzle olive oil on bread and flip the slices. Toast in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove promptly. This step is optional and required only if you like 'extra' crisp pizza. Skip this step if using an air fryer.
1. Assemble Pizza Toast
- Lightly drizzle or brush avocado oil (or olive oil) on one side of the bread. Flip the bread to assemble pizza toppings. If using an oven, preheat to 400°F while you prepare the bread and chop the vegetables (Pic 1).
- Depending on the size of the bread, spread about 2 tablespoons of sauce per slice (Pic 2).
- Spread about 3 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella (or your favorite kind) evenly on the slice. Add more or less per taste (Pic 3).
- Top with chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and olives (or whatever your choice of toppings). Spread the veggies around evenly without overcrowding the pizza toast. Sprinkle salt, pepper, red pepper flakes or the seasoning of your choice (Pic 4).
2. Oven Instructions
- Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F for 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Switch the oven mode from 'Bake' to 'Broil'. Place the baking sheet on the top shelf and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese forms light golden bubbles.
3. Air Fryer Instructions
- Place two bread pizza slices at a time and cook at 325°F or 330°F for 7-8 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and turns light golden brown on top. Repeat with other slices.
4. Serving Instructions
- Remove promptly and rest for 5 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise or diagonally and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions - Pack a School Lunch for the Kids
My girls devour these pizza toasts in no time and I know it is one of their favorites, so I like to pack them up for their school lunch any chance I get.
Bake and broil the morning of and wrap each toast separately in parchment paper (as opposed to plastic bags, which trap in too much moisture). This will keep the breads crisp until lunch time.
Meal Prep the Veggies & Toppings
This pizza toast works well for meal prep too. Simply prep any combo of veggies, toppings and cheese and store each component in separate containers in the fridge to 3-4 days.
On the day that pizza craving strikes, assemble, bake and broil just before you are going to serve.
Variations to Try - Low-Carb, Vegan & Microwave
When I make these pizza bread slices for my hubby and I, we definitely enjoy the low-carb alternative. To make it low-carb, vegan or in the microwave, simply:
- Low-Carb: Use keto bread easily available in the frozen section of large supermarkets
- Vegan: Make it using vegan cheese
- Microwave: Short on time? Assemble and bake one-at-a-time in the microwave for 1 minute, or just until the cheese is melted. You won't get the toasted base, but it will still be a delicious quick meal.
Recipe Tips & Notes:
- Use any bread you have on hand. Feel free to use naan, pita, halved bagels, halved sandwich rolls, English muffins, sliced sourdough bread, halved French bread or baguette, etc.
- Pizza or pasta sauce will do. Pizza sauce gives best flavor in this recipe. But you can use marinara sauce, too. Jarred or homemade both work great. Pesto sauce is another great option.
- Adjust the topping quantity to your liking. We are using about ½ cup assorted chopped veggies for topping (1 Tablespoon per slice). This quantity can vary depending on your preference or size of the bread. When switching the veggies of your choice, keep the total quantity in mind, otherwise, the bread pizza will be soggy versus crisp.
- Pack it up for school lunches. It's a kid-friendly recipe that's crisp, colorful and sneaks in a few more veggies. I always make sure to wrap it individually in parchment paper and pack it in my girls' lunch bags.
- An excellent recipe for meal prep. Simply chop and process the toppings 3-4 days ahead of making. Assemble just before meal or snack time.
- Make it low-carb friendly. Use keto bread to make low-carb bread pizza. You can find keto breads in most supermarkets and big stores like Costco or Whole Foods.
- The total time will increase if using an air fryer. You'll have to make 2 pizza toasts at a time, depending on the capacity of your air fryer.
Bread Pizza FAQ
In the traditional pizza sense, the doughy layer of the pizza is the 'crust' and the outer, cripy layer is actually called the 'cornicione.' Fun pizza trivia you can use to impress all your friends!
Pizza is usually made with a flattened base of leavened wheat dough. We take a little help from the grocery store in our pizza toast recipe today!
Pizza sauce is an uncooked tomato sauce, while pasta sauce is cooked. The sugars in tomatoes gets concentrated while cooking, which is why pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce will have a sweeter and deeper flavor.
Yes. Ketchup is sweeter than pizza sauce, so use half the quantity mentioned for pizza sauce. To enhance the flavor, sprinkle some dried basil or oregano and garlic powder on ketchup.
More Pizza Inspired Dishes From My Kitchen
- Paneer Naan Pizza: A fusion of flavorful pizza toppings with Indian flatbread that's generously topped with yogurt-marinated paneer and fresh veggies.
- Keema Naan Pizza: Naan bread that's brushed with garlic-infused olive oil, topped with shredded mozzarella cheese and finished with Indian spiced ground meat.
Popular 'Kid-Friendly' 30-Minute Meals
- Bean Burrito: This Chipotle-style Bean Burrito recipe is a Mexican-inspired vegetarian meal that can easily be wrapped in a tortilla or built into a bowl.
- Uttapam Waffles: Tenderly soft savory waffles made with Idli-Dosa Batter with a crispy golden-brown crust.
- Chicken Fajita Pasta: A satisfying and colorful dish of bell peppers, onions, penne, chicken, salsa, homemade taco seasoning and a blend of Mexican cheeses!
- Basil Pesto Tortellini: This pasta dish cooks in just a few minutes in the Instant Pot or on the Stovetop using homemade or store-ready pesto sauce.
- Chicken Lo Mein: An easy dump & start one-pot meal for a popular Chinese takeout.
- Black bean Quesadillas: Crispy quesadillas filled with Tex-Mex spiced black beans, peppers, onion, corn and lots of cheese!
- Broccoli Cheddar Pasta: This family-friendly one-pot meal is everything a Broccoli Cheddar soup promises, and more.
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Bread Pizza Toast - 5 Flavors
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
Bread Pizza Essentials
- 8 slices whole grain sandwich bread or sourdough/white/any kind
- 4 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce (about 2 tablespoons per slice)
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or any kind), about 3 tablespoons per slice
- salt, pepper, red pepper flakes for seasoning add to taste (see more options in notes)
Toppings Flavor 1: Veggie Supreme
- 2 tablespoons chopped or thinly sliced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped or thinly sliced bell pepper chopped or thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced crimini mushroom stalks trimmed and halved (about 2 mushrooms)
- 2 tablespoons quartered and thinly sliced zucchini (about 1-inch zucchini)
- 1 tablespoon kalamata olives or black olives
Toppings Flavor 2: Jalapeno Pineapple
- ¼ cup pickled jalapeno mild or hot, alternatively use fresh jalapenos
- ¼ cup pineapple chunks fresh or canned
Toppings Flavor 3: Pizza Margarita
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella, cut in 1-inch pieces (skip the shredded cheese if picking this flavor)
- 10-12 fresh basil leaves hand-torn and added right after pizza is cooked
Toppings Flavor 4: Sausage & Peppers
- 1 cup cooked sausage, cut in ¼-inch half-moons (use your favorite kind - about 2 links)
- 2 tablespoons chopped or thinly sliced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped or thinly sliced bell peppers
Toppings Flavor 5: Spinach, Corn & Mushroom
- ¼ cup baby spinach roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced crimini or button mushrooms stalk trimmed and halved (about 2 mushrooms)
- 3 tablespoons corn kernels frozen or fresh
Instructions
Toast Bread (Optional)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet that can fit 8 slices of bread. Lightly drizzle olive oil on bread and flip the slices. Toast in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove promptly. This step is optional and required only if you like 'extra' crisp pizza. Skip this step if using an air fryer.
Assemble Pizza Toast
- Lightly drizzle or brush avocado oil (or olive oil) on one side of the bread. Flip the bread to assemble pizza toppings. If using an oven, preheat to 400°F while you prepare the bread and chop the vegetables.
- Depending on the size of the bread, spread about 2 tablespoons of sauce per slice.
- Spread about 3 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella (or your favorite kind) evenly on the slice. Add more or less per taste.
- Top with chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and olives (or whatever your choice of toppings). Spread the veggies around evenly without overcrowding the pizza toast. Sprinkle salt, pepper, red pepper flakes or the seasoning of your choice.
Oven Instructions
- Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F for 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Switch the oven mode from 'Bake' to 'Broil'. place the baking sheet on the top shelf and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese forms light golden bubbles.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Place two bread pizza slices at a time and cook at 325°F or 330°F for 7-8 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and turns light golden brown on top. Repeat with other slices.
Serving Instructions
- Remove promptly and rest for 5 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise or diagonally and enjoy!
Notes
- Use any bread you have on hand. Feel free to use naan, pita, halved bagels, halved sandwich rolls, English muffins, sliced sourdough bread, halved French bread or baguette, etc.
- Pizza or pasta sauce will do. Pizza sauce is a fresh and uncooked tomato sauce that gives that extra special tomato flavor. But you can use marinara sauce, too. Jarred or homemade both work great. Pesto sauce is another great option.
- Adjust the topping quantity to your liking. We are using about ½ cup assorted chopped veggies for topping (1 Tablespoon per slice). This quantity can vary depending on your preference or size of the bread. When switching the veggies of your choice, keep the total quantity in mind, otherwise, the bread pizza will be soggy versus crisp.
- Pack it up for school lunches. It's a kid-friendly recipe that's crisp, colorful and sneaks in a few more veggies. I always make sure to wrap it individually in parchment paper and pack it in my girls' lunch bags.
- An excellent recipe for meal prep. Simply chop and process the toppings 3-4 days ahead of making. Assemble just before meal or snack time.
- Make it low-carb friendly. Use keto bread to make low-carb bread pizza. You can find keto breads in most supermarkets and big stores like Costco or Whole Foods.
- The total time will increase if using an air fryer. You'll have to make 2-3 pizza toasts at a time, depending on the capacity of your air fryer.
AP says
Thank you for sharing this great winner recipe for the kids. Please do more of such easy to make and kid friendly school lunches recipes if you can.
Love all your content ☺️
Aneesha says
Hi AP, thank you! Sure, I'll work on some recipes for school lunches.Take care!