This easy pizza toast recipe is the ultimate quick lunch or light dinner. Add your favourite toppings and plenty of cheese for a tasty meal.
Who doesn't love pizza?
Sometimes you want all the flavour of pizza without actually having to make homemade pizza dough from scratch. That's where this recipe comes in. It is just the ideal easy recipe to make for lunch when you're craving something comforting and cheesy.
Whether you keep it simple with slices of mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes or try it with all your favourite pizza toppings (pepperoni is a great addition!) these pizza toasts are guaranteed to turn out so good every time!
I love to make these for a work from home lunch or quick snack and pretty much always have the ingredients on hand. They're even a great way to use up leftover ingredients - you can get creative with so many different options.
If you need a little extra on the side then this recipe pairs so well with this tomato and cucumber salad.
Ingredients
Crusty Bread: I love to use sourdough bread for this recipe but whatever you go for try and make sure it's a crusty loaf to help avoid the toasts going soggy
Olive Oil
Garlic
Pizza Sauce: You can buy pizza sauce at the supermarket - I like the Mutti brand but go for your favourite! You could also use homemade if you prefer, try out this homemade pizza sauce recipe
Mozzarella: I use a fresh ball of mozzarella sliced or torn on top of the toasts but you could also use shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer
Cherry Tomatoes: These add a little burst of freshness and an extra boost of tomato flavour but if you don't have any the toasts will still be delicious
Basil: Again, this just adds a lovely hint of herby freshness. If you don't have basil then parsley would also be tasty
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Toast the slice of bread for a minute then place on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and rub with the peeled garlic clove. Spread the bread with pizza sauce.
Top the toasted bread slices with mozzarella.
Slice the cherry tomatoes and scatter over the top of the cheese.
Place the toasts under the grill (broiler) and cook until the cheese has melted and is golden brown and crispy in spots. Top with fresh basil before serving.
Substitutions
- If you don't have bread to hand there are plenty of other options. Try a bagel or English muffins as an alternative.
- Don't have pizza sauce? Try a simple marinara sauce instead.
- The type of cheese can also be substituted - if you don't have mozzarella a different mild cheese will work, try cheddar or gouda.
- Make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free bread.
Variations
- Spicy - If I'm in the mood for something spicy I love to add a sprinkle of chilli flakes or a drizzle of chilli oil to these toasts.
- Toppings - Of course you can really make this recipe your own with the toppings! Add extra veggies like bell pepper, mushrooms or spinach leaves or try some extra protein like shredded chicken or ham.
If you're in the mood for something a bit fancier try out this truffle mushroom pizza recipe!
Equipment
I cook these pizza toasts on a baking sheet under the grill. You could also try using a toaster oven or even an air fryer.
Storage
Leftovers of these toasts can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Top tip
I recommend toasting the bread for a minute before adding the toppings because putting the sauce directly on the bread can make the toast soggy.
FAQ
This is a pretty healthy snack or light lunch! Try using a whole-grain or rye bread and adding extra veggies to the toppings to up the healthiness.
As written this recipe isn't vegan but you can switch the mozzarella for a vegan cheese.
Although you can keep leftovers of these toasts in the fridge to eat at a later date, I do think they're better fresh from the oven. They're so quick and easy make that I'd recommend keeping the ingredients on hand and throwing together whenever the pizza craving hits!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Easy Pizza Toasts
Ingredients
- 2 thick slices Crusty Bread
- Olive Oil
- 1 clove Garlic peeled
- 6 tablespoon Pizza Sauce
- 125 g Mozzarella sliced
- 4 Cherry Tomatoes sliced
- Fresh Basil Leaves to serve, optional
Instructions
- Heat the grill (broiler) to medium. Lightly toast the bread in a toaster or under the grill.
- Put the lightly toasted bread on a baking sheet. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil then rub with the peeled garlic clove.
- Spread each slice of toast with 3 tablespoon pizza sauce. Split the slices of mozzarella between the two slice of bread and then add the sliced cherry tomatoes.
- Place the pizza toasts under the grill and cook until the cheese melts. Keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. Serve topped with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!
Karen says
Wonderfully yummy quick meal for football gatherings