This cheesy garlic bread recipe is the ultimate appetizer or side dish! Golden, toasted bread smothered in a flavorful garlic butter spread and loaded with gooey melted cheese.
Skip the cheese and make plain garlic bread, the perfect side dish!
CHEESY GARLIC BREAD RECIPE
Nothing beats homemade cheesy bread, it’s easy to make and loaded with so much flavor! French bread smothered in a garlic butter spread, topped with shredded cheese and then baked until gooey and cheesy. Pair this cheesy garlic bread with marinara sauce for the ultimate appetizer or side dish. Enjoy this cheesy garlic bread with your soups, pastas, or on its own!
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Bread– This cheesy bread recipe works best with a loaf of French bread, whether it is homemade or store-bought. You can also switch it up with other breads like sourdough, challah, or brioche.
- Butter– Both salted and unsalted butter can be used for the garlic butter spread. For the best results, go with a higher quality butter such as Kerrygold Irish butter.
- Garlic– Freshly grated garlic brings the boldest flavor, but garlic powder can be used as an easy substitute.
- Herbs– For added flavor, I LOVE to add herbs to the garlic spread, either fresh or dried herbs work! I love using a mix of cilantro and parsley.
- Flavor– To season the garlic butter, this recipe calls for salt and for a slight kick, red pepper flakes. You can leave the red pepper flakes out if you prefer.
- Cheese– You can use any of your favorite shredded cheese for this dish! This recipe calls for a mixture of both Colby jack and Mozzarella cheese.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY BREAD RECIPE
This cheesy bread recipe is so easy and comes together in no time!
- Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the garlic butter spread.
- Cut the French bread in half, lengthwise. Place onto the lined baking sheet.
- Spread the garlic butter onto both slices, dividing evenly between both slices.
- Top with shredded cheese, covering both slices of bread.
- Bake until bread is toasted and cheese has melted.
- Remove it from the oven and slice. Top with additional herbs and parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce or desired sides.
MAKING AHEAD
Making this cheesy bread ahead of time works great! You can prepare ahead of time for the next day to freeze for later!
- Freeze– This garlic cheese bread freezes great! Once the bread is assembled, flash freeze until frozen and then wrap the bread in parchment paper and add into freezer safe bags and freeze for 3-4 months.
- To Bake– Preheat the oven, unwrap the bread, place on a baking sheet and bake according to package instructions, adding 5-10 additional minutes. Watch the bread closely, if it seems like it’s browning fast but the inside is not warming through, cover the top with foil.
- Fridge– If you want to prepare this for dinner or the next day you totally can! Just assemble the cheesy bread and store it in the fridge for 2-3 days. When ready to bake, remove from the fridge while the oven preheats and bake according to package instructions.
CHEESY BREAD VARIATIONS
You don’t have to just leave this as plain cheesy bread! You can totally take it to another level and make cheesy pizza bread!
- Classic Pizza– Load this cheesy bread with marinara and pepperoni for a pizza bread. Check out my French Bread Pizza recipe for all the details.
- Cheesy Alfredo Bread– Swap the garlic butter for Alfredo sauce for a delicious cheesy Alfredo bread recipe.
SERVING IDEAS-
Enjoy this delicious cheesy garlic bread as an appetizer with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping or pair with your dinner as a side! Pair with
- Classic Chicken Alfredo
- Rotini Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
- Blackened Salmon
- Baked Potato Casserole
- BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Olive Garden Salad
- Zuppa Toscana Soup
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
Yes! Slice the French bread into slices instead of two big pieces and then spread the garlic butter and cheese on all the slices. The bake time will be a little less, depending on the thickness of the toast slices.
Once the cheese bread has cooled, cover and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat and enjoy.
No, this bread is baked open, but if the cheese seems to be browning faster than the bread, cover with foil.
Reheat the bread in the air fryer, microwave or oven to enjoy leftovers!
Yes! You can totally make this in the air fryer or toaster oven, depending on the size of your bread loaf and if it will fill in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 385°F for 5-6 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese has melted.
OTHER CHEESY BREAD RECIPES-
Cheesy bread is a great appetizer! Try these other cheesy bread recipes:
Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 French bread loaf
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
- freshly chopped greens for garnish
Garlic Butter Spread-
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter 1 stick
- 3 fresh garlic clove minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley finely chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, add softened butter, minced garlic, chopped greens, salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix until well combined.
- Cut the French bread loaf in half, lengthwise. Place both slices onto the lined baking sheet.
- Using a spatula or butter knife, spread the garlic butter over both halves of the bread, evenly dividing between both slices. (If you want you can also add some of the garlic butter on the outer crust parts of the slices.)
- In a bowl, mix both types of shredded cheese.
- Divide the cheese evenly between both slices of bread, adding on top of the garlic butter.
- Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, until the bread is crispy and the cheese has melted. (You can broil the bread for 1-2 minutes at the end for extra crisp.)
- Remove and slice into slices. Serve warm with desired sides.
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