Cut the bread diagonally with a bread knife, making sure not to cut through the bottom of the loaf.
Cut the bread again diagonally, this time in the opposite direction. Make sure to not cut all the way through again. The second cut will give you the squares or rectangles that will be pulled out after baking.
Spoon the pizza sauce in the crevices of the cut bread, moving pieces to make sure you cover all the holes.
Next, stuff all the crevices with pepperoni slices and sliced onions.
Finally, place the cheese in the crevices of the bread, making sure to cover any open spots. You want all the crevices to be covered in cheese.
Optional glaze: melt the butter and mix in garlic powder and pour it over the top of the bread before baking.
Wrap bread in foil and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
Remove, allow to cool slightly and serve with pizza sauce.
Notes
Bread - You need a good crusty bread for this recipe. I love using a round sourdough loaf but a large ciabatta loaf would work as well.
Pizza sauce - You can use basic pizza sauce from a can, homemade pizza sauce, plain tomato sauce or even pasta sauce. You have a ton of options when it comes to the sauce for this bread.
Pepperoni - Use your favorite pepperoni here. I like to use the mini pepperoni sometimes, but any size will work. You can even use salami, if you’d like.
Mozzarella - Mozzarella cheese works best for this pizza bread but you can always substitute your favorite cheese here as well. Shredded or sliced mozzarella is fine. After making this so many times, I think the sliced mozzarella is a bit easier to stuff the bread with.
Other toppings - Feel free to add any of your favorite pizza toppings to this pull apart bread. Adding toppings will not change the bake time.
How to store leftovers - if you have any leftover pizza bread, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep for 2-3 days if stored properly.
How to freeze pepperoni pizza bread - follow the instructions on making this bread and allow to cool completely. Wrap the bread in parchment paper and place in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To re-heat - allow the bread to thaw in the fridge before baking in the oven for 10 minutes at 350F degrees or in a microwave.