Quick and Easy Garlic Pizza Toasts: A Family Delight That Never Fails to Impress
Say goodbye to traditional pizza dough and hello to a new twist on a classic dish – Garlic Toast Pizzas! This versatile recipe is perfect for those who love a quick and easy meal that's both kid-friendly and customizable.
A Pantry-Friendly Recipe
The ingredients required for Garlic Toast Pizzas are simple and can be found in most kitchens. You'll need garlic bread, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your choice of toppings. For a twist, you can also try olive oil, ricotta, garlic powder, spinach, or even barbecue sauce and shredded chicken.
Preparation and Cooking
Preparation involves preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C), lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, and arranging the garlic toast slices with space in between. Pre-toasting the garlic toast for 2 minutes before adding toppings helps achieve extra crispness.
Sauce, cheese, and toppings are added to each slice of garlic toast before baking. If you want to prevent your toppings from sliding off, consider adding a light layer of cheese under them.
Baking and Serving
Garlic toast pizzas can be baked at 375°F (190°C) for about 5-6 minutes in an air fryer, or for 8 minutes in an oven, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. A broiler finish for the last 30 seconds gives a bubbly, slightly charred appearance.
It's recommended to let the pizzas rest for 2 minutes after baking to allow the cheese to set. Wet toppings should be patted dry with a paper towel to prevent sogginess.
Variations and Customization
The beauty of Garlic Toast Pizzas lies in their versatility. You can customize them to your liking, whether it's a white pizza version with an olive oil base, ricotta, garlic powder, and spinach, or a BBQ-based version with barbecue sauce, shredded chicken, red onion, and cilantro. For a breakfast twist, try garlic toast, scrambled eggs, bacon bits, and cheddar cheese.
Nutritional Information
An estimated nutritional information for a basic garlic toast pizza (one mini pizza with cheese and pepperoni) is approximately 250 calories and 12g fat.
Improvise to Your Heart's Content
Don't be afraid to improvise with the recipe. Whether you're in the mood for a pesto-based version with basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic, or you want to use common German additions like garlic butter or herb butter, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, onions, bell peppers, and sometimes minced meat or fresh herbs like parsley, the possibilities are endless.
So, next time you're in a pizza craving but short on time, give Garlic Toast Pizzas a try. They can be made in 15 minutes from start to finish, making them a perfect solution for a quick and delicious meal!
