Homemade Pizza Bread
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyDive into the world of delectable appetizers with this Homemade Pizza Bread! A blend of all your favorite toppings is kneaded right into the dough. Perfect for parties or a cozy movie night in. This Homemade Pizza Bread recipe has quickly become my go-to appetizer. Its versatility and rich pizza flavor make it a party favorite.
I’ve always believed that some of the best moments are shared around food. Whether it’s a cozy dinner with loved ones or a lively gathering with friends, there’s something incredibly special about coming together over a meal. And speaking of meals, I’ve got a little secret weapon up my sleeve that I’ve been absolutely smitten with lately. Drumroll, please… It’s my Homemade Pizza Bread!
If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect hors doeuvre that’s equal parts scrumptious and show-stopping, then boy, do I have something special for you. Let’s dive into the magic of this Homemade Pizza Bread, shall we?
Now, I know everyone has their favorite pizza bread recipe. My dad’s wife has a recipe that is fantastic! This one is a little different as all the ingredients are actually incorporated into the dough.
The resulting bread is really, really sensational. There is flavor in every single nibble in this delicious recipe. A layer of cheese inside and a side of marinara sauce bring it all together.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One of the standout features of this pizza bread is how adaptable it is. Whether you’re a pepperoni purist, a veggie virtuoso, or somewhere in between, you can tailor the toppings to your heart’s content. So, no more battling over the perfect pizza toppings, because with this bread, everyone’s a winner!
- Picture this: you’ve got a house full of guests, the air is filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread, and you’re the hero serving up slices of pizza heaven. This pizza bread is bound to have folks coming back for seconds (or thirds!).
- If you’ve ever felt a tad nervous about diving into the world of homemade bread, this is the perfect recipe to start with. The step-by-step process is a breeze, and watching that dough transform into a golden loaf of cheesy goodness is nothing short of magic.
If you like this pizza bread, be sure to check out my Pepperoni Bread, this Pizza Trail Mix, and this Ultimate Sausage Pizza Dip!
So, are you ready to roll up those sleeves and make this amazing Pizza Bread recipe? Let’s get baking!
Ingredients
The best part about this easy bread is that you can add all of your favorite pizza toppings right into the bread dough.
Here are the ingredients I used:
- pepperoni
- sun-dried tomatoes
- green onions
- black olives
- red pepper
- green pepper
- roasted garlic
- parmesan cheese
It’s like a supreme pizza. (Don’t be nervous though if any of these ingredients “scare” you. As I mentioned above you can completely customize these ingredients.)
For this recipe, you’ll also need:
- yeast
- warm water
- all-purpose flour
- kosher salt
- sugar
- shredded mozzarella
- olive oil
- mariner sauce
How to Make
Now that you’ve gathered all of your ingredients, you’re ready to make this Pizza Bread! I’ll walk you through the easy steps below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Add in flour, salt, and sugar. Mix using a spoon just until it comes together. (There’s no need for a big stand mixer here.)
- Add in the toppings and Parmesan and combine well. The dough will be tacky. Dust with a bit more flour if it feels too tacky. Let rise for about 1 hour, then put in the refrigerator to continue rising for another hour.
- Take the dough out of the refrigerator. Flour your countertop, then roll out the dough into a rectangle about 11×18”.
- Sprinkle mozzarella over top. Then, fold into thirds to yield a 11 x 6 loaf. Seal sides so cheese is not exposed. Let your loaf rest while you preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Bake the bread, either on a pizza stone or baking sheet, for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown.
- About halfway through I added a piece of aluminum foil to the top of my loaf to prevent it from getting too dark. About 3 minutes before taking it out, lightly brush the top with olive oil and let it finish baking. Let rest on a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing.
How to Serve
Serving this Homemade Pizza Bread is all about keeping things casual and delightful. Here’s how I love to do it:
- Slicing: Once your bread has slightly cooled on a wire rack, slice it into thick or thin pieces, depending on your preference. Remember, the thicker the slice, the more rustic and hearty the experience.
- Dips: While this bread is a star on its own, offering a couple of dips can elevate the experience. Think classic marinara sauce, a garlic aioli, or even a zesty pesto.
- Pairings: Complement your bread with some Italian-inspired sides. A fresh Caprese salad, antipasto skewers, or a glass of homemade sangria can do wonders. I like to eat it with something like this shaved Brussels sprouts salad (hey, gotta be healthy).
- Presentation: Lay your slices on a wooden board or a charming platter. Sprinkle some fresh basil or rosemary for a pop of color and added aroma.
Serve immediately and watch the magic unfold as your guests fall in love with every bite!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some questions people often ask about homemade pizza bread. If you don’t see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.
What kind of dip can I serve with this bread?
Since this is a pizza bread, I suggest serving it with your favorite marinara sauce. I bet some extra cheesy alfredo sauce would be divine with it too.
How long does pizza bread last?
If you store it in an airtight bag or container, it will stay fresh for about 3-5 days. I suggest keeping it in the refrigerator so that it lasts longer.
Can you freeze pizza bread?
Yes, pizza bread is very freezer-friendly. Wrap the entire loaf nice and tight with plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe food storage bag or container. The pizza bread will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How do you make it spicier?
If you want the pizza bread to have a bit of a kick, I suggest adding some chopped jalapenos to the dough. You can also sprinkle some hot sauce or add some red pepper flakes to the dough. Make it as spicy as you like. That’s the fun part about baking!
More Appetizers You’ll Love
- Really Good Jalapeño Dip
- Out-of-this-World Corn Dip
- Italian Sub Sandwich Rolls
- Farm-to-Table Inspired Crostini
- Everything Bagel Cheeseball
Other than chopping all of the ingredients, this Homemade Pizza Bread is easy peasy. I highly recommend it – even to you newbie bread makers. It’s a perfect loaf to test your skills.
Plus, your friends and family (It’s OK if it’s just for you – I don’t judge.) will love it. I’ll hope you’ll give it a try. If you do, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.
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Homemade Pizza Bread
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
- 2 ½ cups favorite toppings, diced (I used pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, black olives, red pepper, green pepper, and roasted garlic.)
- ½ cup Parmesan
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 jar of marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a large bowl. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Add in flour, salt, and sugar. Mix using a spoon just until it comes together. (There’s no need for a big stand mixer here.)
- Add in the toppings and Parmesan and combine well. The dough will be tacky. Dust with a bit more flour if it feels too tacky. Let rise for about 1 hour, then put in the refrigerator to continue rising for another hour.
- Take the dough out of the refrigerator. Flour your countertop, then roll out the dough into a rectangle about 11×18”.
- Sprinkle mozzarella over top. Then, fold into thirds to yield a 11 x 6 loaf. Seal sides so cheese is not exposed. Let your loaf rest while you preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Bake the bread, either on a pizza stone or baking sheet, for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden brown.
- About halfway through I added a piece of aluminum foil to the top of my loaf to prevent it from getting too dark. About 3 minutes before taking it out, lightly brush the top with olive oil and let it finish baking. Let rest on a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing.
I made this 2 days ago, and I might have to make it again today….it’s that good! Super easy too…I had some onions and peppers in the freezer, and I thawed those, so I didn’t even have to chop anything! Delicious!
I absolutely loathe how all these cooking recipes feature a damned novel before getting to the recipe. NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR LIFE STORY JUST GIVE US THE RECIPE. The amount of scrolling I have to do just to get tp the ingredient list is just obnoxious. This isn’t your blog.
I absolutely loathe comments like this. For a single recipe I spend hours and hours developing the recipe, making it, photographing it, writing the post, and using social media to share it so you can find it. It might take you 10 seconds (if that) to scroll to the recipe. And if you don’t want to scroll most posts have a “jump to recipe” button which takes a second to click. I provided hundreds of recipes for FREE! Totally FREE! I ask for nothing in return and you can’t even offer kindness.
Michael
Michael – I’m glad you pointed out the Jump to Recipe option. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
This is a funny question but if I was to use only pepperoni for the toppings, would you still recommend using 2.5 cups of it or would it be best to scale back to keep a better ratio of pepperoni to bread?
That’s really up to you. If you want a lot of pepperoni, go for it! My only concern would be that it may get a bit oily because of all the oil in pepperoni. Something to keep in mind.
xo Michael
Made this last night and as “Ina Garten” would say. . it was Fabulous. Will definitely make it again. . thank you for a great recipe !
Can you please explain the folding technique I’m fuzzy on the fold like an envelope “
agree, that is a lil confusing….am I folding all four edges towards the middle – top, bottom then the two sides?
Making this tomorrow! Can’t wait to try!
can you make these as “muffins” or something smaller?
I haven’t tried that. If you do, please let me know how they turn out.
xo Michael
Can’t wait to try this recipe! Love your blog!!
The hydration level of this bread is really high. I converted to gms/ml and I see ~80% water without considering moisture if any from the topping ingredients. Is this dough supposed to be very sticky?
I’m not understanding the directions “fold long side line an envelope “
I love this recipe, its full of flavor makes a great snack !
This looks really good! I’m giving some thought to making stuffed breadsticks with this by dividing it into small sections after rising and wrapping it around sticks of string cheese. I’m figuring that these would be the bomb with pizza sauce, and maybe some garlic alfredo for dipping.
What kind of yeast should I use instant or active yeast.
Generally speaking, active dry yeast needs to be dissolved in water before using, while instant yeast can be mixed right into dry ingredients. In this case you would use active dry yeast. Hope that helps!
xo Michael
Can you freeze these completely made but before baking or do you need to freeze the dough and then make the rolls after thawing it?
I did not freeze mine, so I’m not sure. You’d have to test it.
xo Michael
Hallo. Kurze frage da steht 450 Grad ?? Ist das richtig so. Oder sind 250 Grad gemeint beim normalen Backofen ?höher geht ja nicht einzustellen.
Gruß Sandra Hellmann
Recipe is in Fahrenheit! 450°F = ~230°C
As I was wandering aimlessly through Pintrest looking at of all things Christmas decorations, PIZZA BREAD jumped out at me and I had to forget about Christmas!! I can’t wait til tomorrow when I can head to the grocery store to pick up some of our favorite pizza toppings to make this bread. Fortunately pizza is a four seasons food that most everyone loves!!
Made this last night and as “Ina Garten” would say. . it was Fabulous. Will definitely make it again. . thank you for a great recipe !
I was wondering if anyone has tried freezing this dough OR how long I could refrigerate before baking???
This bread is great. We added Italian seasoning and garlic to the dough.
So good! Everyone went crazy for this pizza bread recipe. I’ll be making it again. Thank you!!
Hi MICHAEL…its so cool..i make it..thank you so much. This is my second comment ..