Pizza Toast - 5 Topping Ideas for a Quick and Easy Meal

Are you craving pizza in a hurry? Enter our easy Pizza Toast recipe, your shortcut to gooey, cheesy, pizza goodness in no time! The ultimate comfort food with all the familiar pizza flavours.

Whether you fancy a simple Margherita or a gourmet masterpiece, pizza toast effortlessly caters to your every mood and moment.

It is ideal for a quick lunch during work-from-home days or a satisfying snack when the kids burst in from school.

Opt for your preferred bread but we highly endorse thick slices of sourdough bread for a delicious crunch and robust flavour. Toasted sourdough adds a little bit of something special. It also makes a sturdy pizza slice that you can easily eat with your hands.

Explore our five tempting topping ideas below but consider them as a starting point. Add your favourite toppings to make it uniquely yours. Goes great with sweet potato, coconut and chilli soup.

The best bread to use

Choosing the perfect bread for your pizza toast is entirely your choice - and there are plenty of options!

Whether you go for the convenience of shop-sliced loaves (sandwich bread), the heartiness of cob or the wholesome goodness of wholegrain and rye, it's your call. An English muffin works too.

Our personal favourite is sourdough, sliced thickly from a cob-shaped loaf. Toasted sourdough brings a unique flavour that takes your pizza toast up a notch.

One thing we would add is to opt for a slightly thicker slice of bread than what you would normally use for a sandwich. This ensures a sturdy pizza toastie, making it easy to handle without any flopping.

Toasting the bread

When using the oven's grill to toast your pizzas, the bread will toast on one side only, the top side. If you enjoy a softer pizza slice, this option is perfect for you.

We prefer our bread toasted on both sides. To achieve this, begin by dry toasting the bread in a hot frying pan, toasting just one side. Once that's done, place the toppings on the untoasted side and let it crisp up under the oven's broiler (grill).

Take it up a notch by pan-toasting your bread in a touch of olive oil. For an extra burst of flavour, rub a raw, peeled garlic clove over the toasted side.

The Pizza Sauce

You have options: Grab a can or jar of ready-made pizza or marinara sauce, or go the extra mile with a homemade pizza sauce.

For a quick homemade tomato sauce:

1. To a blender, add a can of chopped tomatoes with half the can's weight in tomato paste.

2. Add your favourite Italian herbs, about three tablespoons total, like oregano or herb de Provence.

3. Toss in a teaspoon of garlic powder (or freshly chopped garlic) and a teaspoon of sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Give it a quick whirl in the blender and voilà!

If you're out of these ingredients, no worries. Just spread some thick, concentrated tomato paste on the bread for a tasty alternative.

The Cheese

Mozzarella is our go-to but feel free to switch it up! Grated cheddar or any of your preferred cheeses will work just as well.

Margherita Pizza Toast

Treat yourself to the classic allure of Margherita Pizza Toast - Simple, timeless and adorned with the freshness of basil and the gooey goodness of mozzarella. An iconic favourite!

1. Preheat the grill of your oven and prepare a baking sheet with baking paper or aluminium foil.

2. Optional: Pan-toast one side of the bread over high heat. Adding olive oil to the pan is optional.

3. Spread a tablespoon (or more, depending on the slice size) of the pizza sauce onto the untoasted side of the bread.

4. Top with torn pieces of mozzarella cheese. Add as much as you like.

5. Season to taste.

6. Arrange the pizza slices on the baking sheet and let them cook under the grill until the cheese melts and the edges of the toast crisp up (about 2-3 minutes). Keep a close eye on it.

7. Top the pizza toast with fresh basil leaves and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

Pepperoni Pizza Toast

Pepperoni Pizza Toast is a classic, universally loved option with optional olives and your choice of grated cheddar or mozzarella. It's a particular favourite among kids, though you may want to skip the olives for their sake.

Mini pepperoni slices work well for small slices of bread. Alternatively, just slice or tear the pepperoni pieces a little smaller.

1. Preheat the grill of your oven and prepare a baking sheet with baking paper or aluminium foil.

2. Optional: Pan-toast one side of the bread over high heat. Adding olive oil to the pan is optional.

3. Spread a tablespoon (or more, depending on the slice size) of the pizza sauce onto the untoasted side of the bread.

4. Add a few slices of pepperoni on top of the pizza sauce.

5. Top with grated cheddar or mozzarella cheese. Add as much as you like.

6. Optional: Scatter with a few pieces of thinly sliced black olives.

7. Season to taste.

8. Arrange the pizza slices on the baking sheet and let them cook under the grill until the cheese melts and the edges of the toast crisp up (about 2-3 minutes). Keep a close eye on it.

BBQ Chicken Pizza Toast

BBQ Chicken Pizza Toast is definitely one of our top picks! Ideal for using up leftover, cooked chicken. The addition of barbeque sauce brings a delicious smoky depth to every bite.

1. Preheat the grill of your oven and prepare a baking tray with baking paper or aluminium foil.

2. Optional: Pan-toast one side of the bread over high heat. Adding olive oil to the pan is optional.

3. Spread a tablespoon (or more, depending on the slice size) of the pizza sauce onto the untoasted side of the bread.

4. In a bowl, combine sliced or cubed cooked chicken with a generous dollop of BBQ sauce. Mix it well to ensure every piece is coated in the sauce.

5. Arrange the chicken pieces on top of the pizza sauce.

6. Add a few thinly sliced strips of red bell pepper.

7. Top with torn pieces of mozzarella cheese. Add as much as you like.

8. Season to taste.

9. Arrange the pizza slices on the baking sheet and let them cook under the grill until the cheese melts and the edges of the toast crisp up (about 2-3 minutes). Keep a close eye on it.

10. Top the pizza toast with fresh basil leaves and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

Parma Ham and Rocket (Arugula) Pizza Toast

For a fancier touch, try our Parma Ham and Rocket (Arugula) pizza toast. It's a sophisticated blend of savoury ham and peppery rocket.

Add the delicate Parma ham after cooking. It's too thin to endure the high heat from the grill.

1. Preheat the grill of your oven and prepare a baking sheet with baking paper or aluminium foil.

2. Optional: Pan-toast one side of the bread over high heat. Adding olive oil to the pan is optional.

3. Spread a tablespoon (or more, depending on the slice size) of the pizza sauce onto the untoasted side of the bread.

4. Top with torn pieces of mozzarella cheese. Add as much as you like.

5. Season to taste.

6. Arrange the pizza slices on the baking sheet and let them cook under the grill until the cheese melts and the edges of the toast crisp up (about 2-3 minutes). Keep a close eye on it.

7. Top the pizza toast with thin slices of parma ham, a generous helping of rocket leaves and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

Aubergine (Eggplant) and Pesto Pizza Toast

Treat yourself to a meat-free, veggie version with Aubergine and Pesto Pizza Toast. Enjoy grilled aubergine slices and fragrant dollops of pesto for a burst of flavour that's both really simple but oh-so-delicious.

1. Preheat the grill of your oven and prepare a baking tray with baking paper or aluminium foil.

2. Optional: Pan-toast one side of the bread over high heat. Adding olive oil to the pan is optional.

3. Spread a tablespoon (or more, depending on the slice size) of the pizza sauce onto the untoasted side of the bread.

4. Slice the aubergine (eggplant) into thin, lengthwise slices.

5. Brush each slice with a bit of olive oil on both sides and grill in a hot pan until slightly softened but not soggy.

6. Arrange the grilled aubergine slices on top of the pizza sauce.

7. Add a few dollops of pesto on top of the aubergine.

8. Top with torn pieces of mozzarella cheese. Add as much as you like.

9. Season to taste.

10. Arrange the pizza slices on the baking sheet and let them cook under the grill until the cheese melts and the edges of the toast crisp up (about 2-3 minutes). Keep a close eye on it.

11. Top the pizza toast with fresh basil leaves and an optional drizzle of olive oil.

More Pizza Toast Ideas

• Sautéed mushrooms with garlic, thyme and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

• Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and a drizzle of olive oil or truffle oil.

• Sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and a balsamic glaze.

• Red or green peppers, red onions, cherry tomatoes and your favourite cheese blend.

• Spread a layer of pesto sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts for a burst of flavour.

• Artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, black olives and crumbled feta.

• Ham, pineapple and cheese.

• Shredded buffalo chicken, blue cheese crumbles and a drizzle of ranch dressing.

• Seasoned ground beef or black beans, corn, diced tomatoes and shredded cheddar.

• Fresh spinach leaves, crumbled feta and a touch of garlic.

• Crispy bacon bits, smoked Gouda and a hint of barbecue sauce.

• Slices of hard-boiled egg and avocado, topped with mozzarella cheese.

Storage

Pizza toast is best enjoyed fresh, but if you need to store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. Consume within 2-3 days. Reheat them in a toaster oven or oven for best results.

Remember that the texture may change upon reheating and toppings like fresh herbs or delicate greens are best added fresh.

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