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Craving pizza but short on time? Enter Pizza Toast—your new favorite snack hack! This crispy, cheesy, and perfectly saucy treat delivers all the classic pizza flavors in just minutes. It’s quick, customizable, and so easy that you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner. Perfect for busy weeknights, after-school bites, or a midnight craving—pizza toast has your back when hunger strikes!
A pizza toast is an effortless recipe that blends the unique flavors of pizza with the simplicity of toast. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s ideal for a quick lunch, an after-school snack, an appetizer, or even a simple dinner at an evening gathering.
You will also love to try my other pizza recipes such as Balsamic Goat Cheese Kale and Mushroom Pizza, Quick Spicy Beef (Sujuk) Pizza, and Gyro Mediterranean Flatbread Pizza.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Baking
Skill Required: Easy, perfect for beginners
Signature Taste: Crispy toast with a savory, cheesy topping
Diet Info: Vegetarian, easily customizable for different diets
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy: Pizza toast is a fast and easy-to-make recipe. It can be ready within minutes, whether you’re in a hurry for breakfast or need a nice snack between meals.
Simple Ingredients: All you need are some bread slices, pasta sauce or tomato sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Customizable: The pizza toast recipe is wonderfully versatile. You can modify it to your tastes by adding your favorite toppings, like cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni, or even pineapple.
Kid-Friendly: There are no kids who do not enjoy pizza. They will enjoy not only eating but also making this pizza toast. Allow them to choose their favorite toppings and load them up. It’s also an awesome method to introduce new vegetables to kids.
Is this pizza toast recipe healthy?
There is no doubt that this pizza toast recipe is a healthier alternative to pizza. Due to the tiny serving size, it goes wonderfully with a side of greens, which would provide nutrients and make this a balanced meal in terms of nutrition.
Recipe Tip
You can bake your pizza on the grill or under the broiler, but you must be very careful not to burn the toast. A toaster oven can also be used, especially if you’re only preparing a small quantity for yourself.
Ingredients
Toast Bread: Opt for thick slices of bread for a sturdier base that can handle the toppings without becoming soggy. Sourdough or whole grain can add extra flavor and texture.
Pasta Sauce or Pizza Sauce: Use the best homemade pasta sauce recipe; it is simple to prepare, and you can freeze small amounts of it to have on hand when needed.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Use fresh mozzarella, as it is a great option for the best melt.
Mushrooms: To enhance their umami flavor and avoid excess moisture on the toast, sauté the mushrooms beforehand.
Black Olives: Use pitted black olives. Chop them finely for even distribution across the toast.
Dried Oregano: Oregano adds a distinctive, earthy flavor to the pizza.
(Scroll down for recipe details.)
How to Serve Pizza Toast
These pizza toasts are so delicious and irresistible when served hot and fresh, right out of the oven. For a fun presentation, cut the toast into triangle or square slices.
For garnish, sprinkle extra oregano or fresh basil on top to add a slight earthy flavor. Pair your pizza toast with a side of marinara sauce or ketchup for dipping.
Serve pizza toast with roasted mixed vegetables and chicken wings. It will be a satisfying lunch!
These pizza toasts go also well with light salads or a bowl of hot soup for dinner. Pair it with refreshing cucumber salad, Houston’s kale salad copycat recipe, or ramen noodle chicken soup.
For an after-school snack, cut each toast into quarters and serve with fruit. Your kids will love it!
Recipe Tip
To avoid burning, keep an eye on the toast’s toppings as they bake. Take them out of the oven once the cheese has melted and the mozzarella has turned golden and crunchy.
Variations and Substitutions
Bread Options: Swap traditional toast bread for whole grain, sourdough, or gluten-free bread for a different texture. Make sure the slices aren’t too large so that the cheese covers the bread completely.
Sauce Choices: be creative by replacing pasta sauce with pesto, Alfredo sauce, or a drizzle of olive oil and garlic for a unique flavor.
Cheese Alternatives: Use cheddar or Parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella.
Toppings Variety: Feel free to experiment with various combinations and get creative! Add veggies like basil, bell peppers, or onions. You can also try pepperoni, sausage, chicken, or tofu for protein-packed options.
Vegan Pizza Toast: Substitute mozzarella with vegan cheese and use plant-based toppings like mushrooms, olives, and vegan sausages.
Spicy Pizza Toast: For a spicy twist, use spicy pizza sauce instead of regular sauce. You can also add jalapeños to toppings.
Tips and Tricks
Pizza Sauce: If you don’t want to prepare your own sauce, buy the best pizza sauce you can find at the supermarket. However, the difference in quality is noticeable. The fresh sauce is always the best.
Crispy Bread: For an extra crispy base, lightly toast the bread in the oven before adding the sauce and toppings. This prevents sogginess.
Cheese Melting: For the ultimate, gooey cheese, broil the pizza toast for the final 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye to avoid burning!
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: Allow pizza toast leftovers to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat pizza toast in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes or until the bread crisps up again and the cheese melts. It is better to avoid reheating pizza toast in the microwave because it can make the bread soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re in a hurry, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time to cook them during your lunch break. Make sure that the cheese is melted and the vegetables are freshly cooked when you’re ready to eat.
In contrast to pasta sauce, pizza sauce is made from uncooked tomato sauce. Pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce will have a richer and deeper flavor because the sugars in tomatoes concentrate while cooking.
You have to broil it for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking to give it a nice crisp finish.
Yes! You can use any bread like whole wheat, sourdough, or gluten-free. This depends on your preference or dietary needs.
Absolutely! You can use a toaster oven, air fryer, or a skillet on the stovetop.
Must-Try Recipes:
- Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe
- Chipotle Rice Bake
- Mediterranean Hummus Bowl
- Easy Shrimp Stir Fry
- Baked Blackened Salmon
- Creamy Brown Lentil Dahl (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
Pizza Toast
Equipment
- baking sheet
- spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 4 toast bread
- 2 tablespoons pasta sauce
- 1 tablespoon mushrooms
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 10 black olives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F
- Place the slices of bread on a baking sheet or an oven-safe dish. You can make as many pizza toasts as you'd like.
- Spread a generous amount of traditional pasta sauce or pizza sauce on each slice of bread. Use the back of a spoon to ensure even coverage.
- Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Add as much or as little cheese as you prefer.
- Add your toppings, then sprinkle a pinch of oregano seasoning over each pizza to enhance the flavor.
- Place the baking sheet or dish with the pizza toasts into the preheated oven.
- Bake the pizza toasts at 350°F for about 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the bread turn slightly golden.
- If you want your pizza to have a crispy, toasted top, you can switch your oven to broil mode after baking. Keep a close eye on them during broiling, as they can quickly go from nicely toasted to burnt.
- Once the pizzas are toasted to your liking, carefully remove them from the oven.
Notes
- Pizza Sauce: If you don’t want to bother preparing your own sauce, buy the best pizza sauce you can find at the supermarket. However, the difference in quality is noticeable. The fresh sauce is always the best.
- Crispy Bread: For an extra crispy base, lightly toast the bread in the oven before adding the sauce and toppings. This prevents sogginess.
- Cheese Melting: For the ultimate, gooey cheese, broil the pizza toast for the final 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye to avoid burning!
