So you’re craving pizza but don’t want to mess with making dough from scratch or waiting for delivery? Meet your new best friend: Meat Lovers Pizza Bread. This is basically garlic bread that went to the gym, got jacked, and decided to become a full meal. We’re talking a crusty Italian loaf loaded with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, and enough cheese to make you question your life choices (in the best way). It’s got all the pizza flavors you’re craving but in a form that’s somehow even more satisfying to eat. My teenage son and his friends demolished an entire loaf in about 4 minutes flat, and honestly? I wasn’t even mad. This is the kind of food that brings people together and makes you the hero of game night.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
All the pizza flavors without the dough drama.
Uses store-bought bread, so it’s ready in 30 minutes.
Perfect for feeding a crowd or just yourself (no judgment).
Customizable with whatever meats you’ve got on hand.
Way cheaper than ordering pizza for the whole family.
Leftovers make the best late-night snack.
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Base:
- 1 large Italian bread loaf (or French bread, whatever)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, but recommended)
For the Meat Situation:
- 4 oz pepperoni, sliced
- 4 oz cooked Italian sausage, crumbled
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
- 3 oz deli ham, diced
- 2 oz salami, diced (optional, but why not?)
For the Sauce & Cheese:
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (or marinara if that’s what you have)
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
For the Finishing Touches:
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Fresh basil leaves (if you’re feeling fancy)
- Crushed red pepper flakes for serving
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Prep Your Battlefield Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut your bread loaf in half lengthwise — you want two long, boat-like pieces. If your bread is super crusty, you might want to hollow out some of the inside to make room for all the good stuff.
Step 2: Make That Garlic Butter In a small bowl, mix softened butter with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. This is going to be the foundation of flavor, so don’t skimp on the garlic. Spread this mixture evenly over the cut sides of both bread halves.
Step 3: Sauce It Up Spread pizza sauce over the garlic butter. You don’t need to go crazy here — just enough to coat the surface. Too much sauce will make everything soggy, and nobody wants sad, soggy pizza bread.
Step 4: Meat Mountain Time Now for the fun part. Layer on all your meats: pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, and salami if you’re using it. Don’t be shy — this is called “meat lovers” for a reason. Press the meats down slightly so they stick to the sauce.
Step 5: Cheese Blanket Sprinkle both types of cheese evenly over the meat. The mozzarella will give you those perfect cheese pulls, while the cheddar adds extra flavor. Top with parmesan and a sprinkle of oregano and garlic powder.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden Pop those bad boys in the oven for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown and the edges of the bread are crispy. Keep an eye on them — every oven is different, and you don’t want burnt cheese (unless you’re into that).
Step 7: Rest and Slice Let the pizza bread cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing. I know it’s torture, but this prevents the cheese from sliding off in one sad sheet. Cut into thick slices and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a simple green salad to balance out all that meaty goodness.
Perfect alongside soup — tomato soup and pizza bread is a match made in heaven.
Cut into smaller pieces for the ultimate party appetizer.
Pair with cold beer or red wine for the full experience.
Switch It Up
Veggie Lovers: Replace the meat with peppers, mushrooms, olives, and red onions.
Spicy Version: Add jalapeños, hot Italian sausage, and a drizzle of hot honey.
Breakfast Style: Use breakfast sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs with cheddar.
Hawaiian Twist: Ham, pineapple, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
Supreme Style: Add mushrooms, bell peppers, and black olives to the meat mix.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can prep the whole thing and wrap it in foil up to 24 hours ahead — just bake when ready.
Cook all your meats ahead of time and store them in the fridge.
The garlic butter can be made days in advance and kept covered.
Freeze assembled (but unbaked) pizza bread for up to 3 months.
Storage and Reheating
Leftovers keep for 3-4 days in the fridge wrapped in foil.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes to crisp up the bottom.
Don’t microwave unless you want sad, soggy bread.
You can freeze leftover slices and toast them straight from frozen.
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use different types of bread? A: Absolutely! Ciabatta, sourdough, or even thick sliced regular bread works. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.
Q: What if I don’t have pizza sauce? A: Marinara, pasta sauce, or even a thin layer of pesto works great. In a pinch, ketchup mixed with Italian seasoning isn’t terrible.
Q: Can I make this vegetarian? A: Of course! Load it up with mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and maybe some plant-based sausage.
Q: My cheese is browning too fast. Help! A: Cover loosely with foil and reduce the temperature to 400°F. Every oven runs differently.
Q: Can I use pre-shredded cheese? A: You can, but freshly grated melts better and tastes way better. It’s worth the extra 2 minutes of grating.
Q: How do I know when it’s done? A: The cheese should be golden and bubbly, and the edges of the bread should be crispy. If you can lift a corner and the bottom is golden, you’re good to go.
Print
Meat Lovers Pizza Bread
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
So you’re craving pizza but don’t want to mess with making dough from scratch or waiting for delivery? Meet your new best friend: Meat Lovers Pizza Bread. This is basically garlic bread that went to the gym, got jacked, and decided to become a full meal. We’re talking a crusty Italian loaf loaded with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, and enough cheese to make you question your life choices (in the best way). It’s got all the pizza flavors you’re craving but in a form that’s somehow even more satisfying to eat. My teenage son and his friends demolished an entire loaf in about 4 minutes flat, and honestly? I wasn’t even mad. This is the kind of food that brings people together and makes you the hero of game night.
Ingredients
For the Base:
- 1 large Italian bread loaf (or French bread, whatever)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, but recommended)
For the Meat Situation:
- 4 oz pepperoni, sliced
- 4 oz cooked Italian sausage, crumbled
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
- 3 oz deli ham, diced
- 2 oz salami, diced (optional, but why not?)
For the Sauce & Cheese:
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce (or marinara if that’s what you have)
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
For the Finishing Touches:
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Fresh basil leaves (if you’re feeling fancy)
- Crushed red pepper flakes for serving
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Battlefield Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut your bread loaf in half lengthwise — you want two long, boat-like pieces. If your bread is super crusty, you might want to hollow out some of the inside to make room for all the good stuff.
Step 2: Make That Garlic Butter In a small bowl, mix softened butter with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. This is going to be the foundation of flavor, so don’t skimp on the garlic. Spread this mixture evenly over the cut sides of both bread halves.
Step 3: Sauce It Up Spread pizza sauce over the garlic butter. You don’t need to go crazy here — just enough to coat the surface. Too much sauce will make everything soggy, and nobody wants sad, soggy pizza bread.
Step 4: Meat Mountain Time Now for the fun part. Layer on all your meats: pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham, and salami if you’re using it. Don’t be shy — this is called “meat lovers” for a reason. Press the meats down slightly so they stick to the sauce.
Step 5: Cheese Blanket Sprinkle both types of cheese evenly over the meat. The mozzarella will give you those perfect cheese pulls, while the cheddar adds extra flavor. Top with parmesan and a sprinkle of oregano and garlic powder.
Step 6: Bake Until Golden Pop those bad boys in the oven for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown and the edges of the bread are crispy. Keep an eye on them — every oven is different, and you don’t want burnt cheese (unless you’re into that).
Step 7: Rest and Slice Let the pizza bread cool for 2-3 minutes before slicing. I know it’s torture, but this prevents the cheese from sliding off in one sad sheet. Cut into thick slices and serve immediately.
Notes
Serve with a simple green salad to balance out all that meaty goodness.
Perfect alongside soup — tomato soup and pizza bread is a match made in heaven.
Cut into smaller pieces for the ultimate party appetizer.
Pair with cold beer or red wine for the full experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~420 kcal
- Carbohydrates: ~29g
- Protein: ~24g