Cheesy Garlic Bread

I'm a sucker for Italian food and bread, so this easy cheese garlic bread is a no-brainer. Munch on it before dinner, or pair it with a delicious soup or pasta. It's the perfect side dish for any meal.

Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe

Sometimes simplicity surprises me. Cooking is one of those things that can easily become overcomplicated and leave you thinking you need a million things to make a delicious homemade meal.

It's not true. This easy cheese garlic bread is so versatile, easy to make and delicious as an appetizer or side dish.

There's no downside to loading a large baguette with garlic butter and cheese! Thick strips of your favorite bread, loaded with melty cheese... is your mouth watering yet?

And, if you're a cheese bread connoisseur, you'll know that the dish it is paired with is just as important. I love to pair it with pasta or soup. Serve one pan chicken piccata over noodles, spaghetti & meatballs with this buttery bread, or dip it in a hearty bowl of minestrone soup.

I eat these stuffed baguette pieces as an appetizer on their own too! Cheesy garlic bread dipped marinara sauce is one of my comfort food favorites. I even serve it at parties and get-togethers because it's just so delicious.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• This delicious recipe takes about five minutes to prep. Then you can forget about it for another 20 minutes while you finish working on the main course.
• The recipe for cheese garlic bread is very adaptable, so you can add or omit anything you'd like.
• Easy cheese garlic bread is a great last minute side dish to throw together when you forgot to prepare a side.

One of the things I love most about cooking dinner is getting to prepare an appetizer. These pre-dinner snacks are perfect for when dinner is simmering for the last few minutes and you need something light and easy to serve your guests or just munch on with your hubby until the main course is ready.

Being a sucker for Italian food and bread, this easy cheese garlic bread is a no brainer. Start with it first before you get dinner going and you'll be fueled up to cook the rest of your meal!

Ingredients

So, what if I told you this recipe only uses just four ingredients?

Yep, you only need four ingredients to make a delicious buttery, garlicky appetizer loaded with mozzarella cheese!

Here's what to grab at the store:

• french bread or rustic bread
• mozzarella cheese
• garlic cloves
• unsalted butter

You might want to snag some marinara sauce for dipping, too!

Substitutions and Variations

Transform this recipe into easy pizza bread sticks by adding some marinara sauce to the bread and topping the mozzarella cheese with pepperoni.

Swap the mozzarella for parmesan, add pieces of chicken, and you've got chicken parmesan stuffed garlic bread! Use sliced crispy chicken strips for the tastiest results.

The mozzarella cheese can both be swapped out for an Italian blend or any other cheese that you prefer to use. You can also use fresh mozzarella and replace the shredded with slices of mozzarella before you bake the french bread.

Use pre-minced garlic instead of cloves garlic, or mince your own if you don't like large chunks of garlic.

Add herbs like Italian seasoning, fresh parsley or basil to the top of this bread before you bake it in the oven.

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Bread

Let's make some cheese garlic bread, shall we? Here's what to do:

Slice your bread into 1-inch pieces. The size is up to you!

Arrange them on a baking sheet. (I line mine with parchment paper for easy clean-up.)

Hot Tip: Use a second baking sheet if the first is too full of slices. It's better for them to be arranged in a single layer.

Cover each piece of bread slices of butter.

Then, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the butter. Place equal pieces of sliced, fresh garlic along the top of the cheese.

If you like, add some Italian seasoning before baking, too.

Bake the stuffed baguette pieces in a preheated oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is almost melted.

If you want the melty cheese to have a golden brown top, broil the bread on low for 5 minutes.

Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Cut into smaller slices if you like.

Serve with marinara sauce or the perfect main dish!

What to Serve with Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is one of those easy recipes that truly goes with anything!

Main courses like Italian wedding soup and chicken risotto are made extra tasty when paired with a slice of garlic bread. Marry me chicken and tortellini is delicious too.

Cheesy garlic bread is perfect for basic recipes like spaghetti as well as fancier dinner party dishes like aglio olio e peperoncino. I love it with one pot cajun rice too.

This creamy lemon chicken tastes great with cheesy bread since they're both so hearty and rich. And if you're needing to load up on comfort food, just make a warm bowl of loaded baked potato soup and dip cheesy bread in it. There's nothing that can't be cure with potatoes and cheese!

How to Store Leftover Cheesy Garlic Bread

Place leftover baguette slices of garlic bread into an airtight container or zip top bag and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. To freeze, place parchment paper in between the layers of bread and freeze for up to two months.

To reheat, allow leftovers to thaw from frozen, and place in the oven or toaster oven until warmed through.

Tips for Success

• If you end up not liking the large chunks of garlic, make a garlic butter mixture and place it on the inside of the baguette slices before adding the cheese.
• Arrange the slices of garlic bread on a bread board or cutting board to serve with a beautiful presentation.
• If there is excess grease or hot oil pooling on top of the bread, dab it off with paper towels.

FAQ

More Appetizer Recipes

• Easy Crostini
• Whipped Feta Dip
• Tomato Bruschetta
• Pepper Jelly and Cream Cheese Appetizer