Give Pizza Night a twist and try our Pizza Bread Bowl recipe.! The golden brown pizza bowls overflow with your favorite pizza toppings and gooey melted cheese, making it the ultimate comfort food indulgence. Whether you’re having a low-key night in or entertaining guests, our Pizza Bread Bowl will surely be a hit and keep everyone coming back for more.
Why I Love This Recipe
It combines pizza’s comforting flavors with freshly baked bread’s satisfying texture. The Pizza Bread Bowl offers a fun twist on traditional pizza, allowing for endless customization with your favorite toppings.
It’s versatile enough for a cozy night at home or a casual gathering with friends, always delivering a burst of cheesy goodness in every bite.
Plus, the golden-brown crust of the bread bowl adds an extra layer of crunch and flavor that keeps you coming back for more. It’s simple, delicious, and guaranteed to satisfy any pizza craving!
Pizza Bowl Ingredients
- Sub rolls or boules (See recipe tips below.)
- Ground beef
- Ground Italian sausage
- Pizza sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Black pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Onion
- Pepperoni
- Ricotta cheese
- Shredded Italian cheese (or mozzarella)
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Recipe Tips!
- Choose the right bread: Opt for a sturdy bread like Italian or sourdough loaf that can hold up well to the toppings and baking process. I LOVE using round bread boules (à la Panera) but I can hardly ever find them! So, most of the time, I use par-baked crusty sub rolls.
- Hollow out the bread: Remove the interior of the bread loaf, leaving a thick enough layer to hold the toppings without becoming soggy. When using subs, instead of completely hollowing out the bread, I find that gently pressing down on the surface works wonders.
- Keep an eye on the baking time: Since oven temperatures can vary, keep a close watch on the bread bowl while baking to prevent it from burning. Tenting with aluminum foil halfway through can help prevent excessive browning.
- Let it rest: Allow the Pizza Bread Bowl to cool slightly before serving. This allows the cheese to set and makes it easier to handle.
- The recipe makes enough to fill 6-10 pizza bread bowls, depending on the size of the bread bowls you’re using and the amount of filling it takes to stuff them. If you’re using round boules, it will use more of the filling than sub rolls. (I usually make 6 of them using 6-inch sub rolls and typically have leftover sauce, which I save for my next pasta night.)
How to Make a Pizza Bread Bowl
Step 1: Bake bread according to package directions. Set aside.
Step 2: Add pizza sauce, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and 1¼ cups of the Italian cheese to a medium saucepan; warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts and mixture is smooth and heated through.
Step 3: Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown ground hamburger, Italian sausage, and pepperoni. When nearly done, drain off excess grease, if any. Add peppers and onions; cook for 3-5 minutes until onions and peppers have reached desired consistency.
Step 4: Reserve ½ cup of the sauce mixture. Add remaining heated pizza sauce mixture into meat and veggies and stir to combine.
Step 5: Cut off each loaf’s top with a sharp knife. Lightly press the center of the bread down to form bowls or remove some of the bread fluff. Place each bread bowl on a prepared baking sheet.
Step 6: Spoon meat/cheese sauce mixture into bread bowls.
Step 7: Sprinkle the reserved Italian cheese over the meat sauce, then drizzle the reserved sauce on top.
Step 7: Bake for 5-8 minutes or until cheese on top has thoroughly melted. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Pizza Bread Bowl
Ingredients
- 6 mini french baguettes or mini hard sub rolls
- 4 oz ground beef
- 4 oz ground Italian sausage
- 28 oz pizza sauce divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- ½ small onion chopped
- 3 oz pepperoni
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheese Italian blend divided
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Bake bread according to package directions. Set aside.
- Add pizza sauce, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and 1¼ cups of the Italian cheese to a medium saucepan; warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts and mixture is smooth and heated through.
- Meanwhile, in large skillet, brown ground hamburger, Italian sausage and pepperoni. When nearly done, drain off excess grease, if any. Add peppers and onions; cook for 3-5 minutes until onions and peppers have reached desired consistency.
- Reserve ½ cup of the sauce mixture. Add remaining heated pizza sauce mixture into meat and veggies and stir to combine.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with aluminum foil.
- With sharp knife, cut the top off of each loaf. Lightly press center of bread down to form bowls or remove some of the bread fluff. Place each bread bowl on prepared baking sheet.
- Spoon meat/cheese sauce mixture into bread bowls. Sprinkle remaining Italian cheese over meat sauce, then drizzle reserved sauce on top. Bake for 5-8 minutes or until cheese on top has thoroughly melted.
Notes
Nutrition
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