Pizza Toast

Pizza Toast is an incredibly easy and delicious cheesy, saucy, melty shortcut pizza creation that comes together in minutes and is loved by the whole family. Make it for a tasty afternoon snack, quick lunch, or no-fuss dinner with your favorite toppings.

One of my favorite things about cooking is how creative you can get with different flavors and ingredients. That’s how this Pizza Toast came to be! Our family is pizza-crazy, meaning we love it in all shapes, forms and varieties, and one day the craving hit when all we had was a loaf of crusty bread, so we decided to turn it into a cheesy, saucy pizza-inspired creation. This Pizza Toast is so simple to make with all the flavors of pizza night in the fraction of the time…no dough required, so it’s the perfect afternoon snack, weeknight dinner or party appetizer.

Thick, crispy toasted bread gets topped with sauce, melty cheese, and your favorite toppings for the ultimate handheld pizza creation. Our family loves to make Pizza Toasts together, too — they’re perfect for all ages, come together fast, and they’re fun to build exactly how you’d like, with whatever you like. Now any day or night, can be pizza (toast) night!

If you like this recipe, try some of our other pizza-inspired favorites. We love serving these Pull Apart Pepperoni Pizza Rolls for parties and this rich and melty Cheesy Pizza Dip is always a fan favorite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in About 10 Minutes: Pizza toast comes together fast! Get all the flavors from delicious pizza without any dough or rising time needed.
• Great Use for Leftover Bread: This is a fun, new way to transform an old loaf of bread. Plus, you can use up any ingredients you’ve got for creative pizza toppings.
• Easy To Customize: Just like regular pizza, you can make pizza toast however you’d like with whatever toppings you’d like based on kids preferences or if you’re feeding a crowd. Everyone can build their own!
• Versatile: Enjoy these for almost any meal — they’re great as a quick lunch, snack, or after-school treat.

Ingredients

• Texas Toast: Thick and sturdy, this is the perfect vessel to stand up to hearty pizza toppings. Any thick cut bread will do.
• Pizza Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought variety.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Gooey and melty, shred your own for the best texture.
• Pepperoni Slices: We like the mini cups for these toasts.
• Italian Seasoning: For that classic pizza flavor.
• Garlic Powder: For even more signature pizza seasoning.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a little kick.
• Basil & Parmesan: The perfect fresh and flavorful finishing touches.

How To Make Pizza Toast

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Lightly toast the bread for 2–3 minutes.

3. Spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce over each slice.

4. Top evenly with mozzarella cheese.

5. Add the pepperoni, then sprinkle with the Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

6. Bake for 6–8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7. Broil for 1–2 minutes for a golden, bubbly top, if desired.
8. Garnish with fresh basil or Parmesan and serve immediately.

Watch How to Make It

Expert Tips

• Toast Bread Lightly: Do this before adding the toppings so the bread stays crisp instead of getting soggy.
• Use a Thin Layer of Sauce: Don’t over-do it, too much sauce can make the bread too soft.
• Keep Toppings Light: And be sure to evenly spread them so the cheese melts evenly, too.
• Broil For The Last Minute: This will give the toast that extra golden, bubbly cheese moment. Just be sure to watch closely so it doesn’t burn!

Variations & Substitutions

Here are some variations our family loves:

• Make it a Build-Your-Own Bar: This is a great set-up for kids to make their own pizza toasts using bowls filled with different toppings.
• Use a Different Bread: Try garlic bread or naan as the “toast” instead of sandwich bread for a different, delicious base.
• Try a White Pizza Version: Using ricotta cheese, fresh garlic, and mozzarella instead of red sauce.
• Add a Finishing Flavor: Add a drizzle of hot honey or ranch after baking for even more flavor.

Storage

These pizza toasts are best enjoyed warm and fresh, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven to re-crisp. We recommend avoiding the microwave, as it’ll make the bread soft.

FAQs

More Italian-Inspired Recipes

• Sheet Pan Lasagna
• Nonno’s Famous Italian Meatballs
• 3-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo
• Crockpot Italian Sausage and Peppers