This garlic cheese bread recipe pairs crispy, toasty bread with loads of melted mozzarella and Parmesan for the ultimate pasta night side dish.
It’s so easy to make and absolutely impossible to resist!
When you’re making homemade garlic bread and you want to take it to the next level, cheese is always the answer.
Sometimes I add a little sprinkle of Parmesan to my classic garlic bread recipe, but when I want to really get my kids running to the table, I add freshly grated mozzarella for some extra ooey-gooey goodness. (If you love a dramatic cheese pull, this is definitely the recipe for you.)
I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make this the absolute best garlic cheese bread you’ll ever have. Want to know more? Keep reading!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
The cheese pulls – Seriously. This is the cheesiest garlic cheese bread, with 3 cups of grated mozzarella on top, and that’s not including the Parmesan!
Easy – You only need 5 minutes of prep time to put this together and the results are so much better than store-bought cheesy bread.
Kid-approved – Your kids are going to love this recipe. In fact, they’re probably going to ask for seconds.
You could really make a meal out of this garlic cheese bread alone, or maybe pair it with my Classic Greek Salad or Amazing Italian Salad to work some veggies into your dinner.
It’s also great for sopping up any extra sauce when you make Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta and Penne alla Vodka!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Soft french bread – Note that we don’t want to use a baguette here. You want the kind of French bread with a soft, chewy crust and tender middle.
- Olive oil mayonnaise – One of my secrets for taking this garlic cheese bread to the next level. (Not a mayo fan? You can skip it.)
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, both work here. Learn how to soften butter quickly.
- Garlic – I love the flavor of fresh garlic in this recipe, rather than using garlic powder. Learn how to peel and mince garlic here.
- Parsley – You’ll need some for the garlic butter and some for the garnish.
- Mozzarella – Mozzarella is a great melter; if you opt for another cheese, make sure it’s one that melts smoothly.
- Parmesan – Parmesan doesn’t melt nearly as well as mozzarella, but it brings a lot more flavor to the table, so don’t skip it!
Tools to Use
- A sheet pan to catch any cheese melting off the top of the bread
- A cheese grater or box grater to shred the cheese
- A rubber spatula or offset spatula for spreading the butter and mayo
How to Make
An overview, visit the printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Prep – Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Assemble – Cut bread in half lengthwise and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Spread the mayonnaise (if you’re using it) evenly over the cut sides of the bread.
- Combine – Mix the butter with the garlic and parsley in a small bowl and spread onto bread.
- Bake – Bake the garlic bread for 10 minutes, then take it out of the oven and turn on the broiler.
- Add cheese – Top the garlic bread with the mozzarella and Parmesan. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Serve – Let the garlic cheese bread cool slightly, then garnish with the parsley and cut the bread into 1-1/2” slices.
Tips
- If you don’t have fresh garlic or don’t want to bother with the peeling and mincing, you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead.
- Shred your own mozzarella if you have the time. Bags of pre-shredded mozzarella contain an anti-caking agent that affects how it melts. For the smoothest, creamiest melt, take the time to shred your own. It’s so worth it.
- Let the butter soften for at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe. Not only will this make it easier to incorporate the garlic and parsley, it will also be easier to spread onto the bread without tearing it.
- Keep a close eye on the bread as it broils. It can go from golden brown to burnt super quickly! Turn on your oven light and as soon as you see the cheese has melted and started to brown, take it out of the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most popular choice for a good melting cheese is mozzarella; its mild flavor and creamy texture works especially well with garlic bread. Other good options for melting include provolone, fontina, Monterey Jack, and havarti. Mild cheddar also melts well, but avoid aged or sharp cheddars, which don’t melt as smoothly.
Some classic dishes to serve alongside garlic cheese bread include spaghetti, lasagna, and soup. It can also be enjoyed on its own as an appetizer or snack with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
Yes, cheesy garlic bread can be eaten cold. While it’s usually served hot out of the oven, it’s also tasty when enjoyed at room temperature or right from the refrigerator.
To avoid soggy garlic cheese bread, it’s important to pre-toast the bread first. That’s why this recipe is made in two steps—you bake the bread with the butter to toast it, then add the cheese and broil it.
Serving Suggestions
- Pasta Dinners
- Soups and Stews
- Salad
- Sauces for Dipping (San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Pomodoro Sauce, etc.)
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Because of the cheese topping, this garlic cheese bread should not sit out at room temperature for any longer than two hours while serving.
- Refrigerate – Unlike regular garlic bread, garlic cheese bread needs to be stored in the refrigerator. Wrap it tightly or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freeze – To freeze garlic cheese bread, place it in a freezer bag and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheat
- Reheat in a 350ºF oven; wrap the garlic bread in foil and bake it for about 15 minutes. If the bread was frozen, it will need about an extra 5 minutes in the oven.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350ºF for 5 about minutes.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Ingredients
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut bread lengthwise in half and place on baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the open face of bread.
- In a small bowl, combine butter, garlic and parsley. Spread evenly onto bread.
- Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and turn on broil setting.
- Top with mozzarella and parmesan. Broil 1-2 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly, garnish with fresh parsley and cut into 1 1⁄2” slices.
Julie’s Tips
- Fresh grated cheese is always best. It melts better yielding a creamier, cheesier consistency.
- If you don’t have fresh garlic or don’t want to bother with the peeling and mincing, you can use 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead.
- Let the butter soften for at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe.
- Keep a close eye on the bread as it broils. It can go from golden brown to burnt super quickly! Turn on your oven light and as soon as you see the cheese has melted and started to brown, take it out of the oven.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
