Colorado Pizza Bread
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound ground Italian sausage
1 Cup chopped onion
1 Cup peppers
1 (6 Ounce bag) sliced pepperoni
1 Teaspoon onion powder
1 Teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon black pepper
1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese
1 (2 ounce can) black olives
1 Package refrigerated pizza dough
1 cup creamy mozzarella cheese
1 cup Colby Jack or cheddar cheese
2 Tablespoons melted butter
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan
DIRECTIONS
🔥 Preheat oven to 400 degrees
In a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir Italian sausage until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease.
Reduce heat to medium, add onions, bell pepper, and pepperoni to the skillet and cook until onion and bell pepper begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add cream cheese and stir constantly until well combined. Stir in black olives and remove from heat.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Unroll pizza dough onto the baking sheet. Press and stretch dough into a rectangle.
Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 of the Colby Jack cheese down the middle of the pizza dough lengthwise, followed by meat mixture.
Top meat mixture with remaining mozzarella.
Make 2-inch cuts into the dough from both long edges toward the meat mixture in the center, about 1 inch apart. Starting at the top, stretch each strip across in a crisscross pattern to form a loaf.
Brush the loaf with melted butter.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top begins to turn golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes let it cool down and Munch!
One of the best parts about making Colorado Pizza Bread is how versatile and comforting it is as a meal or snack. Using Italian sausage gives the bread a rich, savory flavor, while cream cheese adds a creamy texture that perfectly balances the spices and meatiness. I like to experiment with the types of peppers I add; bell peppers are traditional, but jalapeños or banana peppers can give a nice spicy kick if you enjoy heat. When preparing this dish, don't rush the cooking of the sausage and vegetables — letting them brown properly and soften enhances the flavor, making the filling deeply savory. The cream cheese melts into a smooth sauce that binds the meat and veggies together with the cheese, creating a delicious filling that complements the soft pizza dough. Using refrigerated pizza dough is a real time saver and works great for this bread loaf style, but you can also try homemade dough if you prefer. The technique of slicing the dough edges and crisscrossing over the filling not only looks attractive but also locks in all the tasty ingredients as it bakes. Brushing melted butter over the top and sprinkling Parmesan cheese before baking adds a golden, crispy finish that makes every bite satisfying. This recipe is fantastic for family dinners, game day snacks, or casual gatherings. It pairs wonderfully with a fresh side salad or a light dipping sauce like marinara or ranch. Plus, leftovers reheat well, making it an easy option for next-day meals. I highly recommend trying this Colorado Pizza Bread as a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-make comfort food.
