Skillet Pizza Bread

Golden/crisp baguette, chewy bread middle, cheesy top, warm marinara bottom. Like a deconstructed pizza, make with crusty bread, savory sauce and gooey cheese. It rarely gets easier, and I'm certain, it doesn't get more delicious.

Some of my best recipes evolve on a whim. This is one of those dishes. I wanted a quick side dish for a baked chicken dish... we had potatoes the night before and rice seemed meh at the moment. I had a baguette, sauce and cheese and BAM, this dish was in and out of the oven in 10 minutes flat. And, it knocked our socks off.

What I especially love about this dish is the way the bread soaks up the sauce on the bottom, stays crisp on the outside, holds its chew in the middle, and becomes part of the cheese pull on top. You can also use any ingredient you have on hand to personalize it; including your favorite sauce and cheese.

I used my cast iron skillet for this dish. You can use any ovenproof skillet or a small casserole dish.

Skillet Pizza Bread

1 cup marinara sauce of choice
1 small baguette, cut crosswise into 1-inch thick slices
Olive oil for drizzling over bread
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Chopped fresh basil or parsley for serving

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pour the marinara into the bottom of a shallow baking dish or oven-proof skillet. Arrange the bread slices in the sauce. Drizzle olive oil over the bread and then top with the cheese.
Bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Top with basil or parsley and serve warm.
Serves 4