Homemade French Bread Pizza ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Ever tried homemade French Bread Pizza in the oven? This recipe is delicious, frugal, and SO easy!

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she will be sharing easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.

French Bread Pizza

This week’s dinner centers around homemade French Bread Pizza and adds easy vegetables and fruit to make it a full meal, ready in under 20 minutes (including cooking time!).

This is a super simple, cheap meal that was originally inspired by the cart of reduced bakery items in the back of my Walmart store! Pretty much every time I am at Walmart, the cart is there and full. I have been able to find loaves of French bread for anywhere from $0.50 – $0.79 every time I have looked for them. I would assume that most Walmarts have a similar cart. Even if yours doesn’t, the regular price for their French bread is very cheap and an easy alternative for pizza crust!

Two discounted sourdough loaves marked with a bright yellow sticker showing a reduced price of $0.69, down from $1.76.

Pizza is very versatile, so sometimes I add leftover meats or chopped veggies I have that need to be used up. I also mix up the cheeses depending on what I have on hand, or what is cheapest/on sale that week. I used Colby Jack for this post because it was on a markdown at my Aldi. I also like to add fresh herbs since I try to have those growing year-round at my house.

Multiple bags of Happy Farms shredded cheese blend, combining colby and monterey jack, within a store shelf box.

Homemade French Bread Pizza Dinner Menu:

French Bread Pizzas

Mixed Vegetables

Grapes

Easy to make homemade French bread pizza topped with melted cheese, herbs, and tomato sauce, served on a teal plate alongside mixed steamed vegetables and a small bunch of red grapes.

Ingredients for Dinner with Homemade French Bread Pizza:

2 loaves French Bread, reduced (Walmart) – $1.38

A couple of tablespoons of Olive Oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese (Aldi) – less than $1

1 jar Pasta Sauce (Aldi) – $1.39

4 cups Cheese (Aldi – $2.19 for 3 cups) – $2.92

2 bags Frozen Mixed Veggies (Aldi) – $1.90

1 1/2 lbs Red Grapes (Aldi) – $1.78

Total: $10 (Serves 6 or more!)

A flat lay of grocery items on a dark table, including two loaves of discounted sourdough bread, a jar of traditional pasta sauce, grated Parmesan cheese, a large bag of red grapes, two bags of frozen mixed vegetables, and three bags of shredded Colby Jack cheese for baking homemade French bread pizza in the oven.

How to Make Homemade French Bread Pizza in the Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Cut the loaves in half and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt (or seasonings of your choice).

Halved sourdough loaves placed on baking sheets with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of grated cheese -a recipe for pizza with french bread

3. Bake for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

4. Evenly divide the pasta sauce between the 4 halves. (Feel free to adjust the sauce amount based on your preferences – this is a generous amount).

5. Add the cheese and any other toppings of your choice.

6. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Two French bread pizza halves on a baking sheet, topped with tomato sauce, shredded Colby Jack cheese, grated Parmesan, and herbs, ready to be baked.

7. Bake another 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. (You can also broil this for the last minute or so, if you desire).

8. While the pizza is cooking, rinse your grapes and steam your veggies in the microwave, according to package instructions.

9. When your pizza is done cooking, sprinkle fresh basil on top, if you’d like.

Two trays of homemade French bread pizza topped with melted cheese, tomato sauce, and fresh chopped basil, arranged in a kitchen setting.

French Bread Pizza Recipe FAQ

How do I make French Bread Pizza not soggy?

By sprinkling the bread with olive oil and lightly toasting it before adding the pizza sauce, your bread will stay nice and crisp.

How long does it take to air fry French Bread Pizza?

Since the air fryer circulates the hot air more than an oven does, you’ll want to cut the temperature and the cooking time, compared to using an oven. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees and pre-toast the bread for only 4 minutes before applying the sauce and other toppings. Then cook the assembled pizza for another 8 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Homemade French bread pizza topped with melted cheese, herbs, and tomato sauce, served on a teal plate alongside mixed steamed vegetables and a small bunch of red grapes.

Homemade French Bread Pizza ($10 Dinner Idea)

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Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword easy dinner, family favorite, homemade, pizza, weeknight dinner

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Servings

Calories 696kcal

Author Brigette

Cost $10

Ingredients

2 Loaves French Bread Walmart (reduced) – $1.382 Tablespoons Olive Oil1 Jar of Pasta Sauce Aldi – $1.394 cups Cheese Aldi – $2.19 for 3 cups – $2.92Sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese Aldi – less than $1Sprinkle of Fresh Basil if desired2 bags Frozen Mixed Veggies Aldi – $1.901 1/2 lbs Red Grapes Aldi – $1.78