This homemade garlic cheesy bread comes together in just 30 minutes and is the perfect accompaniment to a delicious Italian meal... or really any meal at all!
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Why You'll Love This Cheesy Homemade Garlic Bread
This recipe was inspired by a trip to Philadelphia to visit my cousin, Andrea. She made the most incredible lasagna alongside some homemade garlic bread that was so delicious and so simple, I couldn't believe I'd never made my own. I tucked that idea away and eventually made my own version, inspired by hers.
I noticed our family had fallen into a bit of a pattern with the bread we serve alongside pasta, so I combined our favorite bread habits to figure out how to make cheesy garlic bread of my own. It takes mere minutes to throw together and packs a serious punch of flavor, with stretchy, stringy cheese that brings all the wow factor. Here's why this cheesy garlic bread recipe is a total winner:
- Quick and easy
- Cheesy and flavorful
- Great with any meal
- Customizable to taste
- Family favorite
Ingredient Information and Substitutions
- Italian bread- Holds all that buttery, cheesy topping. French bread works as a substitute.
- Salted butter- Adds richness and helps the seasonings stick to the bread. Unsalted butter works as a substitute, but add a pinch of extra salt.
- Garlic powder- Brings classic garlic bread flavor throughout. Fresh, finely minced garlic works too.
- Italian seasoning- Adds a blend of classic herby flavor to the butter mixture.
- Black pepper- Adds a touch of warmth. Crushed red pepper works as a substitute if you want a touch of heat instead.
- Shredded cheese- Melts into gooey, stretchy perfection on top. An Italian cheese blend or pizza cheese blend both work well here. Or just used regular mozzarella.
- Romano cheese- Adds a salty, sharp finish. Parmesan works as a substitute.
How To Make Cheesy Bread
Step 1- Preheat the oven and prepare the pan.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a pan with foil for easy cleanup.
Step 2- Cut and slice the bread.
Cut the bread through the middle lengthwise into two even pieces, and place them cut-side up on the pan. Slice each piece every couple of inches, cutting most of the way through but leaving the bottom intact.
Step 3- Add the butter mixture.
Mix the butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper until well combined, then spread it onto both pieces of bread.
Step 4- Bake.
Bake uncovered for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and switch from bake to broil.
Step 5- Add the cheese, broil, and serve.
Sprinkle both cheeses over the bread and broil, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes, until melted and bubbly. Serve right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Baking first cooks the bread and butter mixture through, while broiling at the end quickly melts and browns the cheese for that bubbly, golden finish.
A good bread knife makes for a much cleaner cut, so it's worth using if you have one, but any sharp knife will work in a pinch. Serrated is best.
Yes, feel free to alter the measurements to your taste, whether that means more cheese, extra garlic, or a spicier kick with crushed red pepper.
Tips For Making Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Let the bread cool for a minute or two after broiling before slicing further, since the cheese will be extremely hot.
- Use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded if possible, since it tends to melt more smoothly and ends up stretchier. But either option will work.
- If you like a stronger garlic flavor, let the butter mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes before spreading, so the garlic flavor has time to bloom.
- Don't slice all the way through the bottom of the bread, so it holds together while still pulling apart easily once baked.
- Watch closely while broiling, since the cheese can go from melted to burnt quickly.
- Scale the recipe up or down easily based on how many people you're feeding.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Mix the butter and seasoning blend up to a day in advance and store in the fridge.
- Leftovers and storage- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What To Serve With Cheesy Garlic Bread
I love pairing garlic bread that's cheesy with a classic Italian pasta dish, a simple side salad, and something sweet to round out the meal. Here are some of my favorite pairings:
- No Bake Lasagna Skillet
- Green Bean Salad Recipe
- Homemade Meatballs In Sauce
- Italian Rainbow Cookie Recipe
Other Italian Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Garlic Cheesy Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Italian bread
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper or crushed red pepper if you're feeling spicy!
- 2 cups shredded cheese my local store sells this as an Italian cheese mix or a pizza cheese mix.
- ¼ cup Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a pan with foil for easy clean up.
- Cut your bread through the middle, length-wise so that there are two even pieces (a top and a bottom) and lay them onto the pan so that the cut sides are facing up. Make slices every couple of inches going most of the way through but still leaving the bottom in tact so that it's easier to pull individual pieces once it's baked.
- Mix the butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and black pepper until well combined. Spread this onto both pieces of bread.
- Bake uncovered for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven. Switch your oven from bake to broil.
- Sprinkle the bread with the cheeses and place them back into the oven uncovered for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese and melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on the bread so that it doesn't burn! Serve right away.
Video
Notes
- Let the bread cool for a minute or two after broiling before slicing further, since the cheese will be extremely hot.
- Use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded if possible, since it tends to melt more smoothly and ends up stretchier. But either option will work.
- If you like a stronger garlic flavor, let the butter mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes before spreading, so the garlic flavor has time to bloom.
- Don't slice all the way through the bottom of the bread, so it holds together while still pulling apart easily once baked.
- Watch closely while broiling, since the cheese can go from melted to burnt quickly.
- Scale the recipe up or down easily based on how many people you're feeding.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Mix the butter and seasoning blend up to a day in advance and store in the fridge.
- Leftovers and storage- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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