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