Pizza Toast Upgraded Layers (Print Version)

Thick sourdough with garlicky tomato, melted cheeses, and assorted toppings broiled golden.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bread

01 - 2 thick slices sourdough or country-style bread

→ Tomato Sauce

02 - 1/2 cup good-quality marinara sauce
03 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

→ Cheese

05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/4 cup shredded provolone cheese
07 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

→ Toppings (optional)

08 - 8–10 slices pepperoni or salami (omit for vegetarian)
09 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
11 - 1/4 bell pepper, thinly sliced
12 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

→ Seasoning

13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
15 - Red pepper flakes, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Set oven broiler to high and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
02 - Combine marinara sauce, minced garlic, and olive oil in a small bowl.
03 - Lightly toast sourdough slices in a toaster or under the broiler until golden.
04 - Spread a generous layer of the garlicky tomato sauce over each toasted bread slice.
05 - Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and provolone cheeses evenly over the sauce.
06 - Distribute optional toppings such as pepperoni, red onion, black olives, and bell pepper over the cheese.
07 - Cover toppings with the remaining mozzarella, provolone, and all the grated Parmesan cheese.
08 - Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper evenly over the assembled bread.
09 - Broil for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbling, and golden brown.
10 - Remove from oven, garnish with fresh basil and a pinch of red pepper flakes, and serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It's ready in 20 minutes total, which means weeknight dinner or midnight snack energy without the guilt.
  • Three types of cheese create layers of flavor that somehow taste fancy even though you're standing in your kitchen in socks.
  • The broiler does the heavy lifting, so all you're really doing is assembling and watching.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the bread—raw bread underneath all that cheese stays doughy instead of becoming part of the whole experience.
  • Broiler heat is intense and fast, so set a timer or hover nearby; the difference between perfect and burnt is about 90 seconds.
03 -
  • Make the garlicky sauce ahead and store it in the fridge so you can throw this together even faster on weeknights.
  • If your broiler runs hot, tent the toast loosely with foil for the first minute to prevent the cheese from browning before it fully melts.
Go Back