Ciabatta Pizza - An Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe!

This ciabatta pizza is one of my favorite homemade pizza recipes. It's such an easy pizza recipe that takes no longer than 30 minutes to make. 

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You’ll love this ciabatta pizza.

No dough is needed! If making pizza dough intimidates you, all you need for this recipe is a loaf of ciabatta bread and you get the thickest, fluffiest most delicious pizza. 

It's quick. You can make this ciabatta bread pizza in under 30 minutes, it's such a quick and easy weeknight dinner or appetizer recipe for game days. 

It's customizable. Pick your favorite toppings to really customize this to your and your family's liking. 

You might also like: Trader Joe's Birria Pizza

You might also like: Carne Asada Quesadillas

What is ciabatta bread good for?

Ciabatta bread is a rustic Italian white bread. It's made from wheat flour, water, olive oil, salt and yeast. It's crispy on the outside and so soft and chewy on the inside. 

Ciabatta means "slipper" in Italian, and the shape of the ciabatta loaf is long, broad, and flat-ish in shape. However, in stores, you'll see ciabatta rolls, loaves, and different variations of this Italian bread. 

Ingredients

Ciabatta Bread. You'll be able to find ciabatta bread in almost any grocery store. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they have a great ciabatta bread selection. 

Pizza Sauce. You can use pizza sauce, tomato sauce, or whatever your favorite Italian sauce is. 

Mozzarella Cheese. I use shredded mozzarella cheese, but you can also use fresh mozzarella slices, or any Italian cheese blend you like or can find. 

Mini Pepperonis. This is what I opted to top my pizza with, but I have some other topping ideas below!

Garlic. Always, always, always sprinkle some granulated garlic on top of your homemade pizza before you bake it!

Red Pepper Flakes. I like to add a bit of spice to my finished pizza, so I'll sprinkle on some red pepper flakes. 

Fresh Basil. Like garlic, this is a necessity when you're making homemade pizza. Dice up some fresh basil and sprinkle it on your pizza when you're ready to eat. It's so flavorful and adds the perfect finishing touch.

How to make ciabatta pizza

1. Preheat your oven to 425F.
2. While your oven is preheating, slice your ciabatta loaf in half.
3. Place your ciabatta halves on a baking sheet and allow to bake in the preheated oven, with nothing on them, at 425F for 3 minutes. This will give you the best results when it comes to a crispy, yet fluffy crust.  
4. Spread your marinara sauce over the halves of the ciabatta.
5. Top with your mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.
6. Sprinkle garlic powder on top.
7. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
8. Top with fresh basil and enjoy!

Ciabatta pizza toppings ideas

If you are looking for some variations to this ciabatta pizza recipe, here are a few ideas!

• Parmesan Cheese
• Red Peppers
• Tomato Slices
• Italian Sausage
• Black Olives
• Giardiniera
• Fresh Parsley
• Dried Oregano

Substitutions and Variations

If you're looking to get really fun with your toppings, here are some different variations of ciabatta bread pizza you can make.

BBQ Chicken Pizza:​ Spread your favorite BBQ sauce over the ciabatta halves, and top with cooked shredded chicken, red onions, mozzarella cheese, and garlic powder. 

Buffalo Chicken Pizza:​ Spread your favorite buffalo sauce over the ciabatta halves, and top with cooked shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and bleu cheese. 

Breakfast Pizza: ​Spread breakfast gravy over the ciabatta halves, and top with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon, and/or sausage. 

Storage

You'll want to store any leftovers in an airtight container. 

What to serve with ciabatta pizza

If you're looking for quick and easy recipes to serve with homemade ciabatta pizza, here are a few!

• Pesto Tortellini Salad
• Brussels Sprouts
• LaScala Chopped Salad Recipe

FAQ

Do I need a pizza stone?

Nope! All you need is a baking or cookie sheet for this recipe. 

What is the difference between ciabatta and focaccia?

​Ciabatta is like a french bread-style loaf whereas focaccia is baked as a flatbread. 

Is ciabatta Spanish or Italian?

It is Italian!

Should ciabatta be refrigerated? 

No! Leave it in an airtight container at room temp. Your bread should be good for 2-3 days. 

Amazon home finds

If you don't already have these kitchen basics, you'll want a bread knife and a non-stick baking tray.

If you want to make this pizza, and any other homemade pizzas, easy to cut, invest in this inexpensive 14" pizza cutter. 

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Want more pizza recipes?

• Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
• Strawberry Nutella Pizza
• Burrata Pizza
• French Bread Pizza in the Air Fryer