Appetizers / Bread / Holidays / New Years / Side Dishes / Snacks

Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Written by Katerina

Published Dec 30, 2020

Updated Dec 31, 2020

A warm and delicious appetizer, this Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is full of garlic, butter and melty mozzarella cheese. It’s a festive, hearty dish that comes together in a snap!

Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe

This recipe is truly the ULTIMATE in terms of quick, easy, and AH-MAZING. It makes a terrific appetizer for New Year’s, Superbowl Parties, or it can be a great way to add a touch of homemade comfort to a quick meal! Like, say, a store-bought rotisserie chicken plus salad. It’s sure to be your go-to easy, cheesy side!

Recipe Ingredients

All you really need is bread, butter, cheese and garlic. I also like to sprinkle in lots of fresh parsley, but you could use whatever you like: dried basil, Italian seasoning, or even rosemary and cracked black pepper.

Bread: For this recipe, you need an unsliced boule (a round French loaf) or a large baguette.
Butter: A whole stick of melted, unsalted butter gets brushed onto and into the fresh bread.
Fresh Garlic: I recommend 4 to 6 cloves of garlic, or to taste; the more the merrier, in my book!
Parsley: You’ll need ¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley.
Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Cheese: Have on hand 2 cups of shredded cheese. I use shredded mozzarella, but cheddar would also work.

What Is the Best Bread to Use?

I think any French bread, whether it’s a large baguette or a boule, is a great choice. A sourdough boule is also really tasty, which is what I almost always use, and a brioche shaped in a round is also great. Different types of bread will be firmer, softer, more crusty, or less so. Go with what you like!

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Here’s the fun part! I love making this recipe because honestly, not only is it super easy, it’s also different and festive, not like all the usual recipe instructions! Kids can definitely be involved in this process, which makes it even more fun.

Score Bread in Crosshatch Pattern: Using a serrated knife, crosshatch the top of the bread. Slice it lengthwise, then widthwise, but DO NOT slice all the way through the bottom of the bread.
Make Garlic Butter: Melt the stick of butter in a bowl or a large glass cup, in the microwave (you can also melt it in a saucepan on the stove). To the melted butter, add the minced garlic, parsley, salt and pepper; stir to combine.
Brush Bread with Garlic Butter & Stuff with Cheese: Using a pastry or basting brush, spread the bread with the melted butter mixture, brushing inside the crosshatches, too. Stuff each crosshatch with shredded cheese.
Bake. Wrap the loaf of bread in foil. Place it on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the bread is warm. Remove from the oven and let stand for several minutes before serving.
Enjoy!

brushing loaf of bread with melted butter, garlic, and parsley

Tips for Success

As easy as this recipe is, I couldn’t resist rounding up some great tips and pointers to enhance it even more! Keep reading for my favorite ideas and suggestions.

Use a Really Sharp Knife: Bread is notoriously difficult to cut with a dull knife, because it just mushes down, becoming flat and ragged. Any really sharp knife will work to cut bread, but a serrated knife works the best of all, creating neat slices without pressing the air out of the bread.
Add Onion: Want even more flavor? I think that an onion-y bite is a nice addition to this savory appetizer, so when I have time, I like adding thinly sliced scallions, chopped chives, or even finely diced, sauteed onions to the garlic butter. Brush it all on generously, stuff with cheese, and get baking!
Saucy Sides: This bread gets kicked up a notch further when you have some dipping sauce on the side! I recommend warm marinara or cool pesto. You could also serve this with roast beef au jus for a truly delectable dipping experience.

What Goes with Pull-Apart Garlic Bread?

I don’t know about you, but I’m convinced that garlic bread tastes good with everything, especially when it’s stuffed with cheese! These are some of my favorite recipes to pair it with.

Appetizer Extravaganza: Sometimes the most festive meal is just a great roundup of yummy appetizers! I think Shrimp de Jonghe, Asparagus and Prosciutto Chicken Roll-Ups, Slow-Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip, and this cheesy bread would all make a wonderful New Year’s Eve spread!
Stuffed Mushrooms: I mean, any stuffed mushrooms are good, but how about these hearty vegetarian Black Beans and Corn Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms? They’re a meal in themselves, but with this bread, even the most dedicated carnivores won’t be able to resist.
Super Soup: You could make some Italian Sausage Butternut Squash Soup or some Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup for a combo that’ll warm you down to your toes.

crosshatched loaf of bread with melted butter, garlic, and parsley

How to Store Extra Bread

If you have leftover cheesy pull-apart garlic bread, it’s easy to store in the fridge or even the freezer, if you want. Here’s how to store and reheat it:

To Refrigerate: First cut the bread into one-inch pieces. Wrap tightly or seal in food storage bags and place in the refrigerator. Leftovers should be used within 3 days.
To Freeze: Cut into one-inch pieces and store in freezer bags, pressing out as much air as possible before sealing. Bread will keep frozen this way for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Wrap in foil and bake at 350˚F until heated through, about 10-15 minutes.

overhead shot of cheesy garlic pull apart bread

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes