There is something deeply satisfying about a meal that requires no dough rolling but still delivers the warmth and crunch of a homemade pizza. This recipe takes a simple loaf of French bread and transforms it into a substantial supper.
The secret here lies in the preparation of the toppings. Rather than throwing raw vegetables on top, we sauté the mushrooms in the rendered fat from the sweet Italian sausage. This infuses them with savory garlic and oregano notes before they ever hit the oven. The bread is toasted twice, once to firm up the crust, and again to crisp the interior, ensuring that every bite remains crunchy under the weight of the rich marinara and melted cheese.
The Recipe
Yields: 6 Servings | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 lb mushrooms, sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano, crumbled
- 1 loaf French bread (approx. 1 lb), cut in half lengthwise
- Olive oil (for brushing)
- 1 (15-ounce) container marinara sauce
- 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Cook the Sausage Cook the sausage in a heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a fork to break the meat apart into bite-sized crumbles as it cooks. Continue until it is browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate.
2. Sauté the Mushrooms Pour off most of the fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons behind for flavor. Add the sliced mushrooms, minced garlic, and crumbled oregano to the pan. Sauté until the mushrooms are tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. This step concentrates the mushroom flavor and prevents the bread from getting soggy.
3. Toast the Bread Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the bread halves, cut side down, on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes until the rounded sides are lightly toasted. Flip the bread over, brush the cut sides generously with olive oil, and return to the oven (cut side up) for another 5 minutes until the surface is golden.
4. Assemble Spread half of the marinara sauce evenly over each bread half. Layer the sautéed mushrooms and the cooked sausage over the sauce.
5. Bake and Serve Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses generously over the top of both halves. Bake until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and browned in spots, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into thick slices to serve.
If you’ve found value in these recipes and wish to help keep this little corner of the internet quiet and ad-free, please consider Buying Me a Coffee. Your support keeps the hearth warm and allows me to continue sharing these rustic traditions without the distraction of ads.
Hearty Sausage & Mushroom French Bread Pizza
This hearty meal transforms a simple loaf of French bread into a savory masterpiece. The bread is toasted with olive oil before being layered with marinara, sweet Italian sausage, and mushrooms sautéed in garlic and oregano, ensuring every bite is crisp and flavorful.
Ingredients
Instructions
Cook the Sausage
-
Cook the sausage in a heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a fork to break the meat apart into bite-sized crumbles as it cooks. Continue until it is browned and cooked through, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate.
Sauté the Mushrooms
-
Pour off most of the fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons behind for flavor. Add the sliced mushrooms, minced garlic, and crumbled oregano to the pan. Sauté until the mushrooms are tender and the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. This step concentrates the mushroom flavor and prevents the bread from getting soggy.
Toast the Bread
-
Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the bread halves, cut side down, on a large baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes until the rounded sides are lightly toasted. Flip the bread over, brush the cut sides generously with olive oil, and return to the oven (cut side up) for another 5 minutes until the surface is golden.
Assemble
-
Spread half of the marinara sauce evenly over each bread half. Layer the sautéed mushrooms and the cooked sausage over the sauce.
Bake and Serve
-
Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses generously over the top of both halves. Bake until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and browned in spots, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into thick slices to serve.
