Description
This Cheesy Bread Quick Easy recipe is the ultimate guide to making a delicious, cheesy garlic bread that’s perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish. Loaded with a garlic butter spread, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, this recipe is baked to golden bubbly perfection in just 30 minutes and serves 8 people.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf (1 pound) Italian bread, French bread, or sourdough bread
Garlic Butter Mixture
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheeses
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Toppings
- Red pepper flakes, for a touch of heat
- Sliced tomatoes
- Olives
- Pepperoni
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings if needed to suit your preference.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the bread.
- Slice Bread: Slice the bread lengthwise into two equal halves to create the base for the garlic butter and cheese topping.
- Score Bread (Optional): Make shallow diagonal cuts across the cut side of each bread half. This helps the garlic butter and cheese penetrate deeper into the bread.
- Spread Garlic Butter: Generously spread the prepared garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of both bread halves, ensuring even coverage for full flavor in every bite.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over both bread halves. Follow with an even sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese for added richness and flavor.
- Optional Toppings: Add any optional toppings such as sliced tomatoes, olives, or pepperoni if desired, customizing the bread to your taste.
- Bake: Place the bread halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
- Broil (Optional): For extra browning, switch the oven to broil and broil the bread for the last 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning and achieve a perfect golden crust.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool slightly to set the cheese before slicing. Serve warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- You can use any robust bread like French, Italian, or sourdough depending on your preference.
- For a spicier kick, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the cheese before baking.
- Let the bread cool slightly after baking to prevent the cheese from sliding off when slicing.
- Storing: Leftover cheesy bread can be wrapped well and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat in the oven or toaster oven to regain crispiness rather than a microwave.
- Feel free to experiment with additional toppings like olives, pepperoni, or sliced tomatoes to customize your cheesy bread.
