Oh, you know those nights when dinner needs to happen about five minutes ago, and your kids are already circling the kitchen like tiny vultures? Been there! That’s when you need something that screams fun but whispers ‘easy’ in the prep—and believe me, I’ve found the champion. I am so excited to share my secret weapon: the Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza. Seriously, this thing is done before you can even decide what movie to stream.
I first whipped this up when my little cousin Kam was visiting—hence the ‘Kams’ name now!—and we needed a treat faster than ordering takeout. He was absolutely thrilled with the spooky, bubbly cheese edges. What makes it a real winner is that it uses regular French bread, meaning zero dough massaging required. Trust me, this recipe is going to save your weeknights when hunger strikes fast!
Why You Will Love This Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
When a recipe is this fast, it has to deliver flavor, and this pizza seriously knocks it out of the park. Forget messy dough balls! Here’s why I keep this recipe tucked right at the front of my rotation:
- It’s ludicrously fast—we are talking under 15 minutes of actual cooking time.
- Clean up is a dream; usually just a cutting board and a baking sheet!
- The crust gets perfectly crisp around the edges while staying soft underneath the toppings.
- It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Everyone loves a French bread pizza, even picky eaters.
If you need more quick dinner ideas that skip the fuss, you should definitely check out my Big Mac Pizza link for another weeknight win!
Essential Ingredients for Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
You only need pantry staples for this quick fix, which is why I love it so much. These ingredients transform a simple loaf of bread into something truly special. Pay attention to how you handle the bread, though; the prep makes all the difference!
You’ll need:
- One whole loaf of French bread, sliced lengthwise totally in half—picture two long boats ready for cargo!
- One cup of good pizza sauce. Don’t skimp here; this is your flavor base.
- Two full cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. I use low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella if I can find it.
- About half a cup of sliced pepperoni. Make sure they’re thin enough to curl slightly when they bake.
- One tablespoon of olive oil for brushing.
- Just a tiny dash—a quarter teaspoon—of garlic powder to sprinkle on the oil.
If you want to see another way to use bread brilliantly, my recipe for Garbage Bread is another excellent option for utilizing leftovers in a new way!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Okay, listen up, because the real magic happens in the timing here. This whole process moves super fast once you get rolling. And before you even dream about spreading sauce, you need that oven hot and ready to go! If you want a crust that shouts ‘crispy’ instead of just sighing ‘soft,’ you absolutely must pay attention to my little trick later on—it’s a game-changer for keeping that center from getting soggy.
Prepping the French Bread Base for Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
First things first, get your oven fired up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. We need it roaring! Next, take your loaf and slice it right down the middle lengthwise. Now, flip those halves cut-side up. Brush the cut surface with that tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle on your garlic powder. That little bit of oil keeps the bread from soaking up all the sauce too quickly.
Assembling and Baking Your Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
This is where the fun starts! Spread that pizza sauce evenly across both oiled bread halves. Don’t overload it, or it gets soupy! Next, heap on your mozzarella cheese—remember, two cups gets you that nice melted blanket. Arrange your pepperoni slices artfully on top. Pop these beauties into the hot oven for 10 to 12 minutes. You know they are done when that cheese is totally bubbly, maybe even starting to brown a little, and those bread edges are turning golden brown!
If you’re looking for a recipe where the oven handling is slightly different, perhaps exploring the air fryer route, you should peek at my Texas Toast Air Fryer Pizza instructions!
Tips for the Best Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Listen, even though this recipe is simple, a few tiny tricks will take it from ‘good’ to ‘can we eat this every night?’ The original recipe notes hold some gold nuggets that I always follow without fail.
For an extra crispy crust, which I highly recommend because nobody likes a floppy pizza base, you really should toast the bread halves for about three minutes before you even think about adding sauce. This steams off just enough moisture!
Also, while the recipe calls for pepperoni, don’t be afraid to experiment! If you are going for maximum flavor payoff, try alternating between just pepperoni and slices of good quality sliced mushrooms. If you want to make your own sauce instead of buying it, my recipe for Easy Homemade Pizza Tomato Sauce is unbeatable.
My personal tip for cheese melting? Sprinkle about half the mozzarella down first, then the pepperoni, and then the rest of the cheese on top. This helps the pepperoni stay nestled instead of sliding off into a greasy puddle!
Variations on the Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
It’s so fun to customize this French bread base! While pepperoni is classic, you can turn this into whatever pie you’re craving mid-week. I love adding thinly sliced onions right under the cheese layer; they get perfectly soft when baked.
If you want to skip the meat entirely, try a simple veggie combo. Mushrooms and green peppers are always welcome additions. For cheese, mixing in some grated Parmesan with your mozzarella adds a salty, sharp kick that really elevates the flavor profile. It’s amazing how much you can change it up!
If you want to see a completely different type of classic recipe, take a look at my Big Boy’s Fresh Strawberry Pie—it’s dessert heaven, but obviously, not great on French bread!
Serving Suggestions for Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Since this is such a lightning-fast dinner, you don’t want to stress a complicated side dish. A little freshness really cuts through the cheese and pepperoni beautifully. I usually just throw together a super simple side salad first while the oven is heating up—nothing fancy, just some mixed greens with a light vinaigrette dressing.
If you want something heartier but still easy, a small batch of my Classic Italian Pasta Salad works wonders for leftovers the next day. And honestly? A big glass of icy-cold soda or sparkling water is the perfect pairing. Keep the sides easy so you can get back to relaxing!
Storing and Reheating Your Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Okay, sometimes we make too much—or maybe we just want lunch ready for the next day! To store your leftovers, let the pizza cool completely first. Then, you absolutely must tuck it into an airtight container. Don’t just wrap it loosely in foil only; that traps steam and makes things floppy fast.
The microwave is the enemy of crispy crust, trust me! When you are ready to eat it again, the best way is in a toaster oven or a conventional oven set to about 350 degrees. Pop it in for about 5 to 7 minutes until that cheese melts back into bubbly perfection. That brings back the crunch beautifully!
Frequently Asked Questions About Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
I get so many questions after sharing this simple recipe because people are always trying to tweak it to fit their kitchens! Here are the ones I hear most often about making the Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza.
Can I make this pizza ahead of time and bake it later?
You totally can prep most of it, but I wouldn’t assemble it all the way through, assemble it. You can slice the bread and even brush it with the oil and garlic powder, storing that in a baggie in the fridge. But if you put the sauce and cheese on too early, the bread gets soggy sitting there. It’s really best made and baked right away!
What if I don’t have pepperoni? What’s a good substitute?
Honestly, almost anything works because the bread base is so sturdy! If you’re out of pepperoni, try using leftover cooked chicken tossed lightly in a little barbecue sauce, or grab some sliced mushrooms and thinly sliced black olives. You have a lot of leeway here, which is why this recipe is so forgiving.
Can I use a different type of bread instead of French bread?
You sure can! While French bread gives you that perfect sturdy, chewy crust we love, if you’re in a pinch, a sturdy Italian loaf or even thick-sliced Texas Toast will work just fine. The key is making sure the bread is reasonably thick so it holds up perfectly under the sauce and cheese!
If you’re looking for other speedy dinner ideas that use different carriers, you might want to check out my Easy Chicken Tostadas recipe for another fast fix!
Nutritional Estimates for Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
Now, I know we’re making this because it’s fast and fun, not because we’re counting the parsley specs, but it’s good to have a ballpark idea! Based on my measurements for four servings, here is a rough idea of what you’re looking at per slice.
Keep in mind, these numbers can swing wildly depending on if you use regular mozzarella or the fancy triple-cream kind, or how much pepperoni you pile on! Use this as a guide, not a strict science:
- Calories: Around 350
- Total Fat: About 18g
- Protein: Solid 18g contribution!
- Carbohydrates: Roughly 30g
- Sodium: This is the highest, around 750mg, mostly from the sauce and pepperoni, so keep that in mind!
Kams Spooky French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
- Total Time: 22 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A quick and easy recipe for making pepperoni pizza using French bread as the base.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice the French bread in half lengthwise.
- Brush the cut sides lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder.
- Spread the pizza sauce evenly over both halves of the bread.
- Top the sauce with mozzarella cheese.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices over the cheese.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the bread are lightly browned.
- Slice into serving pieces and serve hot.
Notes
- For a crispier crust, toast the bread halves for 3 minutes before adding toppings.
- You can add other toppings like mushrooms or green peppers if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 40
Keywords: French bread pizza, pepperoni pizza, quick pizza, easy dinner, Kams pizza