Super Stuffed French Bread Pizza Rustica

Transform your pizza night with this indulgent **Super Stuffed French Bread Pizza Rustica**, a hearty and flavor-packed twist on traditional Italian comfort food. This recipe takes a rustic French bread loaf and loads it with layers of creamy ricotta, spicy Italian sausage, sautéed garlic, and fresh spinach, all nestled beneath a blanket of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Enhanced with roasted red peppers, marinara sauce, and aromatic Italian herbs, every bite bursts with rich, savory goodness. Perfectly baked to golden, bubbly perfection and finished with a sprinkle of fresh basil, this quick 20-minute-prep dish is ideal for sharing at family dinners or casual gatherings. Whether you're a pizza lover or looking for a satisfying meal, this recipe delivers bold flavors and a delightful twist on a classic favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 62/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large French bread loaf
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 3 cloves, minced Garlic
• 0.5 pounds Italian sausage
• 1 cup Marinara sauce
• 2 cups, shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cups, grated Parmesan cheese
• 0.75 cups Ricotta cheese
• 2 cups, fresh and chopped Spinach
• 0.5 cups, diced Roasted red peppers
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoons Red pepper flakes
• 0.25 cups, chopped Fresh basil
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 teaspoons Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Slice the French bread loaf horizontally in half and hollow out some of the interior bread to create a shell for the filling. Set the bread shells aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 5

Add the Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 6

Stir in the marinara sauce, chopped spinach, roasted red peppers, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts slightly.

Step 7

Remove the skillet from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.

Step 8

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, half of the grated Parmesan, and half of the chopped fresh basil. Stir until well-mixed.

Step 9

Spread a thin layer of the ricotta mixture on the bottom of each bread shell.

Step 10

Fill the bread shells evenly with the sausage mixture, pressing gently to pack the filling.

Step 11

Top each bread half with the remaining shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan.

Step 12

Place the stuffed bread halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 13

Switch to the broil setting on the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the top is golden and lightly crisp.

Step 14

Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Step 15

Garnish with the remaining fresh basil, slice into portions, and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1542.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3582.9

Total Fat 173.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 64.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 15.7g
Cholesterol 372.8mg	0%
Sodium 7292.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 330.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 20.9g	0%
Total Sugars 21.5g
Protein 169.6g	0%

Vitamin D 126.9IU	0%
Calcium 2266.7mg	0%
Iron 28.2mg	0%
Potassium 2176.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.8%

Protein: 19.0%

Carbs: 37.2%