WHAT’S FOR DINNER?
Pizza Toast
Rated 0 out of 5
COOK TIME
15 min
TOTAL TIME
20 min
SERVINGS
6-8 servings
Crispy garlic toast gets piled high with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings for an easy meal that tastes delicious while being so fun to make. This simple recipe for Pizza Toast is kid-approved, super customizable, and one of those back-pocket dinners you’ll make over and over.
Listen, I love making homemade meals as much as the next person, but there are some days when I just need dinner to happen super quickly. Those are the nights this pizza on toast completely saves me. It’s cheesy, crispy, easy, and my husband and daughter love it. Honestly, if dinner is ready in under 20 minutes and nobody complains, I’m calling that a win for sure.
Also, I’m a big believer that semi-homemade meals deserve just as much love as the more complicated stuff. I mean, sometimes frozen garlic toast is exactly what you need to save the day. It does most of the work for you, leaving you with the fun part, adding pizza sauce, piling on the cheese, and loading it up with your favorite toppings.
This recipe always comes in clutch on weeknights, lazy weekends, quick lunches, after-school snacks, or those evenings when you’re staring into the freezer hoping it magically has a dinner plan. Let everyone make their own with different toppings and everyone is happy. My daughter has loved these for years, so they’ve definitely earned a permanent spot in our dinner rotation.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Frozen Garlic Toast – THIS is the shortcut that makes this recipe so quick and easy while giving you a buttery, crispy base that holds up well under the sauce and toppings. Texas toast-style garlic bread works well because it’s thick enough to stay crisp on the outside while remaining soft in the middle. You can buy name brand or whatever kind you enjoy.
Pizza Sauce – Thicker pizza sauce adds classic pizza flavor without any extra prep, and a few spoonfuls on each slice is all you need.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – Melts beautifully into that cheesy layer and gives the pizza toast its stretchy cheese pull. Freshly shredded cheese melts a little smoother, but pre-shredded works perfectly for keeping this meal fast and convenient if you don’t have the time.
Pepperoni – Adds a savory, slightly spicy flavor that crisps around the edges as it bakes.Swap it for cooked sausage, ham, bacon, veggies, or any of your family’s favorite pizza toppings to make each batch your own.
How To Bake Pizza Toast
Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven according to the package directions on the frozen garlic toast. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat it with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Bake the garlic toast: Arrange the frozen garlic toast slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each piece. Bake until there are about 2 minutes remaining on the package cooking time so the bread has a chance to crisp up before adding the toppings. This will help it from becoming soggy.
Add the pizza toppings: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spoon a layer of pizza sauce over each slice, spreading it almost to the edges. Top with a generous handful of shredded mozzarella cheese, then finish with pepperoni or your favorite pizza toppings.
Finish baking: Return the pizza toast to the oven and bake for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. If you’re adding lots of toppings, it may need an extra minute for everything to heat through.
Cool and serve: Let the pizza toast rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving so the melted cheese has a chance to set slightly. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Bake the garlic toast before adding the toppings. That short head start keeps the bread crisp instead of softening under the sauce and melted cheese, giving you a texture that’s much closer to pizza than garlic bread.
Use pizza sauce instead of marinara whenever possible. Pizza sauce is thicker and contains less moisture, so it won’t soak into the bread while the cheese melts.
Shred mozzarella from a block if you have a few extra minutes. Freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly because it doesn’t contain the anti-caking agents found in most pre-shredded kinds.
Keep the sauce layer light. A thin, even coating gives you plenty of flavor while allowing the garlic toast to stay crisp around the edges instead of becoming soggy in the center.
Leave a little space between each slice on the baking sheet. Better air circulation helps the edges crisp up instead of steaming where the pieces touch.
Watch the pizza toast closely during the last few minutes. Garlic bread can go from perfectly golden to overly browned pretty quickly once it’s topped and back in the oven.
Use the broiler for the final minute if your toppings are piled high. A quick blast of high heat melts the cheese faster and adds a few browned spots without overcooking the toast underneath. Just keep the oven door closed and don’t wander away because it happens FAST.
Let the pizza toast rest for a couple of minutes before serving. The cheese sets slightly as it cools, making it much easier to pick up without everything sliding right off the bread.
Bake directly on a light-colored baking sheet if you like extra crispy bottoms. Dark pans tend to brown the bread faster, while lighter pans give you a little more control over the final texture.
Ways To Customize
This is my favorite part about this meal! Set out a few toppings, let everyone build their own, and pop everything back in the oven. It’s a fun and a simple way to use up whatever you already have in the fridge.
Protein: Pepperoni, ham, cooked Italian sausage, cooked breakfast sausage, ground beef, grilled chicken, shredded chicken, bacon, meatballs, turkey pepperoni, cooked ground turkey, salami, prosciutto, chorizo, grilled steak, pulled pork, shredded BBQ chicken
Cheese: Fresh mozzarella, provolone, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, fontina, gouda, smoked gouda, asiago, muenster, Havarti, ricotta, burrata, pepper jack, mozzarella-provolone blend, Italian cheese blend, dairy-free mozzarella
Veggies: Mushrooms, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, orange bell peppers, red onion, spinach, baby spinach, black olives, green olives, banana peppers, jalapeños, cherry tomatoes, diced tomatoes, zucchini, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, broccoli, fresh basil, sliced garlic, arugula
Other Toppings: Crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, fresh basil, fresh parsley, grated Parmesan, hot honey, ranch dressing, garlic butter, pesto, balsamic glaze, chili crisp, red pepper relish, sun-dried tomatoes, pineapple, pickled onions, everything bagel seasoning, sesame seeds, truffle oil
Storing & Freezing
Storing: These are best enjoyed immediately, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing isn’t recommended because the garlic toast loses its crisp texture after thawing, and the sauce and cheese can release extra moisture when thawed.
Reheating: Reheat pizza toast in a 350F oven, toaster oven, or air fryer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the garlic toast is heated through. These methods bring back the crispy edges much better than a microwave, which tends to make the bread soft and chewy.
FAQ
Can I assemble pizza toast ahead of time?
It’s best not to assemble it too far in advance because the sauce will slowly soak into the garlic toast as it sits. If you’re feeding a bunch of people, prep all of the toppings ahead of time and assemble each piece just before the final bake.
Can you make pizza toast in the air fryer?
Yes! Cook the frozen garlic toast in the air fryer according to the package directions, stopping about 2 minutes before it’s done. Add the pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings, then air fry for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on it during the last minute since air fryers can brown the cheese quickly. If the toast does not have air fryer instructions reduce the cooking temp about 25 degrees to make up for the circulating heat as it will cook faster.
What type of frozen garlic bread works best?
Texas toast-style garlic bread is the best choice because it’s thick enough to support the toppings without becoming floppy. Thin frozen garlic bread or garlic breadsticks don’t have the same structure and can become soggy much faster.
Can I bake pizza toast directly from frozen, or does the garlic bread need to bake first?
Bake the garlic toast first according to the package directions, stopping about 2 minutes before it’s finished. That initial bake crisps the bread and melts the garlic butter into the toast, creating a sturdier base that won’t soften as quickly once the sauce and cheese are added.
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Pizza Toast
Pizza Toast is an easy and quick meal you can throw together on those busy nights. So good and kid approved!
Ingredients
1 package of Frozen Garlic Toast (we like the Texas Toast)
Pizza Sauce
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Pepperoni (or topping of choice)
Instructions
- Place the frozen toast on a baking sheet prepared with nonstick spray or a Silpat mat.
- Bake toast according to the package instructions. Remove the toast when the timer says 2 minutes left.
- Spoon a dollop of pizza sauce over the bread, then a layer of shredded cheese and the pepperoni.
- Place back in the oven for 2-4 minutes until your toppings get nice and melty.
- Remove and let cool a few minutes before enjoying!
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