Italian Sausage Bread Pizza

Prep 25 min
Total 35 min
Servings 8

Enjoy this cheesy sausage bread pizza– a tasty Italian dinner. To speed up your prep, use 2 cups thawed Make-Ahead Seasoned Ground Beef and Sausage in place of the sausage and onions in the recipe. Add garlic to the beef mixture and sauce and simmer 5 minutes.

By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Updated January 24, 2014

Ingredients

1

lb bulk mild or spicy Italian pork sausage
2

tablespoons olive oil
1

onion, halved, thinly sliced
2

cloves garlic, finely chopped
1

cup pizza sauce or tomato pasta sauce
1 1/2

teaspoons dried oregano leaves
1/4

teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4

teaspoon salt
1

loaf French bread (about 14 inches long)
2/3

cup ricotta cheese
2

cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
1/4

cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps

1

Heat oven to 425°F. Lightly spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2

In 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Push sausage to edges of skillet; add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add onion and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened. Remove from heat; stir in pizza sauce, oregano, pepper flakes and salt.
3

With serrated knife, cut bread in half lengthwise; scoop out center of each bread half, leaving 1/2-inch border (discard removed bread or reserve for making bread crumbs). Place bread halves on cookie sheet. Spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta cheese down center of each; top evenly with sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle loaves with remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
4

Bake 6 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Cut into slices. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.