Baked Caprese French Bread Pizza
by Jodi Danen, RD
Friday night pizza night made easy with these simple Caprese French Bread Pizzas! Crunchy French bread topped with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes and baked to perfection.
A classic Caprese salad is made of fresh tomatoes, mozarella and basil, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper – I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
For a non-traditional, but oh-so-tasty Caprese salad, try this one made with avocados!
Turn those same ingredients onto a delicious and easy French bread pizza for your next family movie night.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. I love to swap out the olive oil and use pesto as a base. Adding a drizzle of balsamic glaze is also a must!
Commonly asked questions for our Baked Caprese French Bread Pizza
Q: What are the main ingredients in a Caprese French Bread Pizza?
A: The main ingredients are French bread, olive oil, garlic powder, fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves. Balsamic glaze is an optional topping.
Q: How do you prepare the French bread for these pizzas?
A: Cut the French bread loaf into fourths, then slice each fourth in half lengthwise to make 8 even pieces. Brush the bread with olive oil and season with garlic powder.
Q: What temperature do you bake Caprese French Bread Pizzas at?
A: Preheat the oven to 375°F and bake the assembled pizzas for 6-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
Q: What toppings go on a Caprese French Bread Pizza?
A: Top the seasoned French bread with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes before baking. After baking, top with chopped fresh basil leaves.
Q: Is balsamic glaze a required ingredient?
A: No, balsamic glaze is an optional topping drizzled over the pizzas after baking if desired.
Q: Are Caprese French Bread Pizzas a quick and easy meal option?
A: Yes, with just a few simple ingredients and less than 20 minutes total time, these make a fast and easy pizza night option.
Q: What are the health benefits of this recipe?
A: Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and folate, fresh mozzarella provides calcium and protein, basil is rich in vitamin K, iron, and antioxidants like vitamin A, and the olive oil contains healthy monounsaturated fats. So this recipe allows you to enjoy the fresh flavors of a Caprese salad in convenient pizza form while providing some valuable nutrients as well.
Let’s make this pizza, shall we?
Baked Caprese French Bread Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 4 to matoes sliced
- 8 basil leaves chopped
- 2 Tbsp. balsamic glaze optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cut French bread into fourths, then slice each fourth in half lengthwise to make 8 even pieces.
- Place bread on baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and season with garlic powder. Top with cheese and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bake 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bread is toasted.
- Remove from the oven and top with chopped basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, if desired.
