Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza

Frozen garlic bread pizza is one of those ridiculously easy dinners that makes you wonder why you haven’t been making it all along. Start with a loaf of frozen garlic bread, pile on your favorite pizza toppings, and in about 20 minutes you’ve got crispy, cheesy homemade pizza without making a bit of dough.

I made mine with sun-dried tomato pesto, mozzarella, pepperoni, peppers, and onions, and it was so good! The buttery garlic bread gets crispy around the edges while staying soft in the middle, and all that garlic flavor makes an amazing shortcut pizza crust.

This is perfect for busy weeknights, Friday pizza night, or one of those evenings when you need to turn whatever you have in the freezer into dinner. I used sun-dried tomato pesto because I had it on hand, but regular pizza sauce works just as well. And once you’ve got the garlic bread, you can use just about any pizza toppings your family likes.

Why You’ll Love This Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza

• Dinner is ready in about 20 minutes. There’s no pizza dough to make, rise, roll, or even think about.
• The garlic bread makes an amazing crust. It’s buttery and garlicky with crispy edges and a soft center underneath all that melted cheese.
• You only need a handful of ingredients. Keep frozen garlic bread, mozzarella, and pepperoni on hand and you’re already most of the way to dinner.
• Everyone can make their own. Set out different toppings and let everyone build their pizza exactly how they like it.
• It’s easy to change up. Use pizza sauce, sun-dried tomato pesto, or even Alfredo sauce, then add whatever meat, vegetables, and cheese you have in the fridge.
• It’s perfect for busy nights. Serve it with a simple salad or some fresh vegetables and you’ve got an easy dinner without ordering takeout.

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of the best things about frozen garlic bread pizza is that you don’t need much to turn it into dinner. Here’s what I used and a few easy substitutions.

Frozen Garlic Bread

Use a loaf of frozen garlic bread straight from the freezer. There’s no need to thaw it first.

Giving the garlic bread a short head start in the oven before adding the toppings helps crisp the surface so the sauce doesn’t immediately soak into the bread. You still get that soft, buttery center, but the edges get nice and crispy.

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto or Pizza Sauce

I used Rao’s Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, and I loved the extra flavor it added. It’s rich, savory, and a little more interesting than traditional pizza sauce.

Regular pizza sauce works perfectly too, so use whichever you have on hand.

Whichever you choose, don’t go crazy with it. A light layer is plenty. Too much sauce can make the garlic bread soggy.

Mozzarella Cheese

Shredded mozzarella gives you that classic melty pizza cheese. I used regular grocery-store shredded mozzarella, so there’s no need to buy anything fancy for this recipe.

I like adding most of the cheese underneath the toppings and then sprinkling a little more over everything before baking.

Pepperoni

Pepperoni keeps this pizza easy and gives it plenty of flavor without having to cook another ingredient first.

You can use regular, thin-sliced, or mini pepperoni.

Bell Pepper

Thinly sliced bell pepper adds a little sweetness and crunch. Slice it fairly thin so it has time to soften while the pizza finishes baking.

Any color bell pepper will work.

Red Onion

Thinly sliced red onion adds a mild sweetness that works really well with the salty pepperoni and savory sun-dried tomato pesto. As it bakes, the onion softens and becomes a little sweeter without needing to sauté it first.
Slice the red onion fairly thin so it has enough time to soften during the short baking time.
You can substitute another type of onion if that’s what you have, but I especially like the flavor of red onion on this pizza.

Optional Finishing Touches

A sprinkle of grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, or fresh basil is an easy way to finish the pizzas after baking.

And if your family likes different toppings, use this recipe as a starting point. Frozen garlic bread is basically a blank pizza canvas, only this canvas already has butter and garlic involved, which is never a bad place to start.

How to Make Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza

This recipe comes together quickly, but giving the frozen garlic bread a few minutes in the oven before adding the toppings makes a big difference. It helps keep the bread crisp underneath all that sauce and cheese.

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Place the frozen garlic bread on a baking sheet straight from the freezer. There’s no need to thaw it first.

2. Give the Garlic Bread a Head Start

Bake the frozen garlic bread for about 4–5 minutes.

You’re not trying to completely bake it at this point. You just want the surface to begin warming and crisping before adding the sauce and toppings.

This little extra step helps prevent the middle of your pizza from getting soggy.

3. Add the Sauce

Remove the garlic bread from the oven and spread a light layer of sun-dried tomato pesto over the top.

I used Rao’s Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, but regular pizza sauce works just as well.

Don’t use too much. You want enough for plenty of flavor without soaking the bread.

4. Add the Cheese and Toppings

Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the sauce, then add the pepperoni, thinly sliced bell peppers, and thinly sliced red onion.

Keeping the peppers and red onion thinly sliced allows them to soften during the short baking time while still keeping a little texture.

5. Bake Until Hot and Bubbly

Return the pizzas to the 425°F oven and bake for another 8–12 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly and the edges of the garlic bread are golden and crispy.

If you’d like a little more browning on the cheese, broil the pizzas for 1–2 minutes at the end. Keep a close eye on them because garlic bread can go from golden to too dark pretty quickly under the broiler.

6. Slice and Serve

Let the pizzas sit for about 2–3 minutes before slicing. This gives the cheese a chance to settle and makes them much easier to cut.

Finish with grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, or fresh basil if you’d like.

Then slice them up and serve while they’re hot, crispy, and gloriously cheesy.

Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza Topping Ideas

Once you have the frozen garlic bread, you can take these pizzas in just about any direction you want. Use the same basic baking method and change the sauce, cheese, and toppings to make your own combination.

Just remember to keep the toppings fairly light so the garlic bread stays crispy.

Pepperoni, Peppers, and Red Onion

This is the combination I used and it’s definitely one I’ll make again.

Spread the garlic bread with sun-dried tomato pesto or pizza sauce, then add mozzarella, pepperoni, thinly sliced bell peppers, and thinly sliced red onion.

The red onion adds a little sweetness that works especially well with the salty pepperoni.

Meat Lovers

Use pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, crumbled bacon, and diced ham.

Since all of the meats are fairly rich, you don’t need a huge amount of each one.

Sausage and Banana Pepper

Top with pizza sauce, mozzarella, cooked Italian sausage, and sliced banana peppers.

The tangy banana peppers are especially good with the rich sausage and buttery garlic bread.

Chicken Bacon Ranch

Skip the pizza sauce and spread a very thin layer of ranch dressing over the partially baked garlic bread.

Top with mozzarella, cooked shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, and thinly sliced red onion. Add a little extra ranch after baking if you’d like.

Buffalo Chicken

Toss cooked shredded chicken with a little Buffalo sauce and add it to the garlic bread with mozzarella and a small amount of cheddar.

After baking, finish with ranch or blue cheese dressing and sliced green onions.

BBQ Chicken

Use a thin layer of your favorite barbecue sauce instead of pizza sauce.

Add mozzarella, cooked chicken, red onion, and a little cheddar or smoked Gouda. Finish with an extra drizzle of barbecue sauce after baking.

Hot Honey Pepperoni

Keep this one simple with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and plenty of pepperoni.

Once the pizza comes out of the oven, drizzle a little hot honey over the top. The sweet heat is so good with the salty pepperoni and garlic bread.

White Garlic Bread Pizza

Frozen garlic bread is already a great starting point for white pizza.

Skip the red sauce and add small spoonfuls of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and a little spinach. Finish with cracked black pepper and red pepper flakes.

Supreme

Use pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, thinly sliced bell peppers and onions, mushrooms, and black olives.

With this many toppings, use a little of each rather than piling them too high so the garlic bread can still crisp.

Make It Your Own

You really don’t need exact toppings to make frozen garlic bread pizza. Use whatever your family likes or whatever needs to be used up in the refrigerator.

Just make sure any raw meat is fully cooked before adding it to the pizza, keep watery vegetables to a minimum, and don’t overload the bread with sauce or toppings.

That’s what makes this such a handy dinner to keep in your back pocket. The frozen garlic bread gives you the crust, and everything else can change depending on what you have.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Garlic Bread Pizza

Frozen garlic bread pizza is definitely best when it’s fresh from the oven, but leftovers reheat really well if you use the right method.

How to Store Leftovers

Let the pizza cool completely, then transfer the slices to an airtight container or wrap them tightly.

Store leftover garlic bread pizza in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheating in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is one of my favorite ways to reheat leftover pizza because it brings back those crispy edges without drying everything out.

Place the pizza in the air fryer and heat at 350°F for about 3–5 minutes, or until the cheese is hot and the bread is crisp.

Keep an eye on it since air fryers can vary quite a bit.

Reheating in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F and place the pizza on a baking sheet.

Heat for about 5–8 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy around the edges.

Reheating in the Microwave

You can microwave leftover garlic bread pizza if you’re in a hurry, but the bread will be much softer.

Microwave individual pieces in short intervals until just heated through.

If you’ve got an extra few minutes, the oven or air fryer is definitely worth it for that crispy garlic bread crust.

Can You Freeze Leftover Garlic Bread Pizza?

Yes. Once the cooked pizza has cooled completely, wrap individual pieces tightly and place them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.

Freeze for up to 2 months.

For the best texture, reheat the frozen pizza in the oven or air fryer rather than thawing it in the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Make Pizza With Frozen Garlic Bread?

Yes! Frozen garlic bread makes a great shortcut pizza crust. It already has plenty of buttery garlic flavor, and giving it a quick pre-bake before adding the toppings helps it get crispy around the edges.

Add a light layer of pizza sauce or sun-dried tomato pesto, mozzarella, and your favorite pizza toppings, then bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Garlic Bread Before Making Pizza?

No. For this recipe, I recommend using the garlic bread straight from the freezer.

Thawing it first can make the bread softer and more likely to soak up the sauce. Baking it from frozen helps give you a sturdier, crispier base for your toppings.

How Do You Keep Garlic Bread Pizza From Getting Soggy?

The biggest trick is to pre-bake the frozen garlic bread for 4–5 minutes before adding the sauce and toppings.

It’s also important to use a light layer of sauce and avoid piling on too many toppings. Ingredients that release a lot of moisture can make the bread softer as it bakes.

Can I Use Frozen Garlic Toast Instead of a Loaf?

Absolutely. Individual pieces of frozen garlic toast work well and make great personal-sized pizzas.

The cooking time may be slightly different depending on the thickness of the toast, so keep an eye on it while baking and follow the package directions as a guide.

Can I Use Pizza Sauce Instead of Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto?

Yes. I used sun-dried tomato pesto because I love the extra flavor it gives the pizza, but regular pizza sauce works perfectly.

You could also experiment with Alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, ranch, or another favorite pizza sauce depending on the toppings you’re using.

Can I Make Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer?

Yes, as long as the garlic bread fits comfortably in your air fryer basket.

Give the frozen garlic bread a short head start in the air fryer, then add the sauce, cheese, and toppings and continue cooking until the bread is crisp and the cheese is melted.

Because air fryer temperatures and cooking times can vary quite a bit, start checking early to prevent the edges of the garlic bread from getting too dark.

What Cheese Is Best for Garlic Bread Pizza?

Mozzarella is my first choice because it melts beautifully and gives you that classic pizza flavor.

You can also mix in Parmesan, provolone, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or another good melting cheese. There’s no need to buy anything fancy. Regular shredded mozzarella works just fine.

What Should I Serve With Garlic Bread Pizza?

For an easy weeknight dinner, serve it with a simple green salad, Caesar salad, fresh vegetables and ranch, or roasted vegetables.

Or do what we sometimes do on busy nights and call the pizza dinner all by itself. No judgment here.

Helpful Tools for Making Frozen Garlic Bread Pizza

You don’t need any special equipment to make frozen garlic bread pizza, which is one more reason I love this recipe. A few basic kitchen tools are all you need.