Crispy, crunchy and gooey. THAT is French bread pizza. This is one of the easiest meals to make and there are so many different ways to top it. Simple cheese and pepperoni is great, but I decided to step it up a notch and create one a little more “gourmet”.
Basil pesto adds flavor to all kinds to dishes – pasta, roasted veggies, soups…you name it. But using it in place of pizza sauce adds a fresh herb and garlic flavor that creates a wonderful freshness. I topped my pizza with Italian turkey sausage and sweet sundried tomatoes. After we claimed to be full, Josh and I both went back for an extra bite 🙂
This meal cost me $13.55 and took 20 minutes to make (woo!).
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Combine pesto ingredients in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
3. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook sausage over medium-high heat until brown, 5-7 minutes. Add crushed red pepper and sundried tomatoes and cook 1 minute longer.
4. Cut French bread loaf in half lengthwise and lay on a baking sheet lined with silpat or coated with cooking spray.
5. Top each bread half with pesto, then the sausage mixture. Finish with cheese.
6. Bake pizza for 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.
French Bread Pizza with Italian Sausage, Pesto and Tomatoes
Serves 4
All you need:
Pesto
10 fresh basil leaves
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
8 oz. Italian turkey sausage
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 (8 oz.) French bread loaf
1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
All you do:
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Combine pesto ingredients in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
3. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook sausage over medium-high heat until brown, 5-7 minutes. Add crushed red pepper and sundried tomatoes and cook 1 minute longer.
4. Cut French bread loaf in half lengthwise and lay on a baking sheet lined with silpat or coated with cooking spray.
5. Top each bread half with pesto, then the sausage mixture. Finish with cheese.
6. Bake pizza for 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.