Valentina Ablaev
Homemade garlic cheesy bread is the side dish of your dreams. A crispy French bread loaf topped with a rich, buttery garlic spread and plenty of melty cheese, then baked until golden and irresistible. Every bite is packed with flavor, making this garlic cheesy bread the perfect appetizer, snack, or side dish that everyone will keep coming back for.
What is Garlic Cheesy Bread?
This homemade cheesy garlic bread starts with a French loaf topped with garlic butter and plenty of melted cheese. This is the kind of bread that you won’t be able to have just one bite of, and is sure to become a family favorite. The best part is that while the bread is baking, your kitchen will smell heavenly!
Easiest Bread Recipe
Though we love making bread from scratch, you don’t always have the time! This cheesy garlic bread makes it seem like you’ve spent hours putting together a meal from scratch, without all the actual effort!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Worthy of a crowd. This garlic cheesy bread recipe makes a large enough batch for a crowd and is sure to be a fan favorite!
- Easy cooking. Homemade garlic bread is so easy to make; it comes together with little to no effort and bakes to perfection.
- Flavorful. Each bite brings a medley of garlic, butter, and cheeses. It truly doesn’t get better than that!
Ingredients for Garlic Cheesy Bread
- French bread – A store-bought French loaf makes it so easy to make cheesy garlic bread from scratch!
- Butter – You can’t have garlic bread without butter! Using softened butter makes the garlic butter super easy to spread over the bread.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are a must for making cheesy garlic bread; you can’t swap it for garlic powder!
- Seasoning – A combination of italian seasoning and salt is all you need to bring out the perfect flavor.
- Cheese – We use a mix of mozzarella cheese and mexican blend for a mouthwatering combination.
- Herbs – While optional, fresh parsley adds great flavor and presentation to the cheesy bread.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Best Cheese for Garlic Cheesy Bread
Make garlic cheesy bread with whatever cheeses you have on hand; you simply can’t go wrong with a blend of delicious cheeses!
Mozzarella makes for a great cheese pull, Monterey Jack adds an extra creaminess, and cheddar brings a sharp flavor.
Expert Tips:
- Pick the right bread. When making garlic bread, a French loaf or italian bread is best.
- Don’t skimp on the cheese and butter. I never said this was a healthy treat, and this isn’t the time for toning down the butter and cheese!
- Shred cheese. Though you can use pre-shredded cheese, freshly shredded cheese melts so much better – it’s worth the extra effort.
- Serve warm. Garlic cheesy bread must be served fresh out of the oven. The melty cheese is a must-have in every bite.
How to Make Garlic Cheesy Bread
- Mix the garlic butter. In a bowl, combine the softened butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt until well blended.
2. Prepare the bread. Slice the loaf in half lengthwise and place the bread halves on a baking sheet.
3. Spread the butter. Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over both halves of the bread.
4. Top with cheese. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the buttered bread.
Bake. Bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serving Suggestions
- Italian night: You can’t have pasta night without a serving of bread! Serve the bread alongside a creamy chicken alfredo or a classic chicken parmesan.
- Casserole: Serve cheesy bread with your favorite oven-baked casserole for a perfect, hearty meal! A cheesy baked ziti or a creamy chicken and rice casserole make for the perfect comfort meal.
- Soup: You can’t beat a soup-and-cheesy bread combo! Serve the bread with a bowl of creamy tomato soup or a lighter chicken noodle soup. Bonus points if you dip the bread into that rich broth!
Store & Reheat
- How to store leftover bread? Store leftover cheesy garlic bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Warm up leftover garlic cheesy bread. Warm in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 3–5 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can soften the bread.
- Can garlic cheesy bread be frozen? Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until warmed through. You can also freeze it before baking and cook directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
More Cheesy Recipes
If you enjoyed this garlic cheesy bread recipe, be sure to try our other favorite cheesy recipes; here are some of our favorites:
Grains and Pasta- Grains and Pasta
- Entree
- Chicken
- Hot Sandwiches
- Appetizer
If you tried this garlic cheesy bread recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Garlic Cheesy Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded mexican blend cheese grated
- 2 Tbsp fresh herbs to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare bread. Slice the bread in half lengthwise.
- Make the compound butter. Combine the softened butter, garlic, italian seasoning, and salt. Stir until smooth.
- Spread butter. Add half of the butter mixture to one side and repeat with the other side.
- Add cheese. Distribute the cheese over the butter mixture.
- Cook. Bake at 375°F for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
Notes
- Choose a sturdy loaf. French or Italian bread works best for garlic bread because it gets crispy on the outside while staying soft on the inside.
- Be generous with the toppings. The buttery garlic spread and melted cheese are what make this bread so irresistible, so don’t hold back.
- Freshly shredded cheese. Use freshly shredded cheese for the best result. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.
- Enjoy it fresh. Cheesy garlic bread is best served straight from the oven while the cheese is hot, melted, and perfectly gooey.
- Storage. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Warm in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 3–5 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted. For the best texture, skip the microwave.
- Freeze. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, or bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
