Description
This Cheesy Bread recipe is a quick and easy guide to making a delicious, garlic-infused, cheesy bread that’s perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. Featuring a buttery garlic spread topped with a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, this baked bread is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, with optional toppings to customize your flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf (1 pound) Italian bread, French bread, or sourdough bread
Garlic Butter Spread
- 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
Cheese Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional
- Red pepper flakes, for a touch of heat
- Optional toppings such as sliced tomatoes, olives, or pepperoni
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly. Taste the mixture and adjust seasonings if needed to ensure a balanced flavor.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the bread evenly.
- Slice Bread: Using a sharp knife, slice the bread lengthwise into two equal halves to create a flat surface for spreading the garlic butter and adding cheese.
- Score Bread (Optional): For enhanced flavor penetration, make shallow diagonal cuts across the cut sides of each bread half without cutting all the way through.
- Spread Garlic Butter: Generously spread the prepared garlic butter over the cut sides of both bread halves, ensuring an even coating for maximum flavor.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over both halves, followed by a layer of grated Parmesan cheese for a rich, cheesy topping.
- Optional Toppings: Add any desired toppings such as sliced tomatoes, olives, or pepperoni to customize your cheesy bread.
- Bake: Place the bread halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
- Broil (Optional): For extra golden and crispy cheese, broil the bread for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing and serving warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Using fresh garlic will result in a more robust garlic flavor compared to pre-minced garlic.
- Adjust the amount of cheese to taste or use a blend of different cheeses for variety.
- Optional toppings add a nice twist but are not necessary for classic cheesy garlic bread.
- Be careful when broiling to avoid burning the cheese.
- This bread is best served fresh and warm but can be reheated in the oven for a few minutes.
