Cheesy Garlic Bread

Cheesy garlic bread is made with a delicious herbed garlic butter mix and a three-cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan cheese. Serve this warm cheesy appetizer on its own or with pasta, soups, or salads.

Today we’re making some cheesy garlic bread that’s soft and drenched in garlic butter on the inside with a cheesy layer and crispy edges on the outside. It’s a step up from homemade garlic bread with the perfect ratio of butter, garlic and a three-cheese medley.

There’s mozzarella for cheese string goodness, sharp cheddar and Parmesan to add a nutty finish. We’ve paired fresh green onions in this blend to match the bold cheddar flavor but you can always substitute green onions with parsley or Italian seasoning to customize things to your taste.

This easy appetizer pairs well with delicious Italian-inspired main dishes like homemade spaghetti, meatball pasta bake, chicken Alfredo pasta bake, or some creamy sausage pasta.

Ingredients in Cheesy Garlic Bread

CHEESY GARLIC BREAD RECIPE TIPS

• Bread – I used crusty French bread but Italian bread like ciabatta will also work. You will need about 12 oz. of bread which should work up to be about 18” in length.
• Butter – I like using Land O Lakes butter sticks which measure out the tablespoons for you. Make sure to soften the butter by taking it out of the fridge ahead of time so it mixes well and spreads easily. It can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour for chilled butter to soften to room temperature. 1/2 cup of butter is equal to 1 stick of butter or 8 tablespoons of butter.
• Garlic – I used both fresh minced garlic and garlic powder for a richer garlic flavor overall but not too overpowering in pungency.

• Herbs – I used fresh green onions because it has a bold, punchy flavor that pairs well with the sharpness of cheddar but you can substitute it with flat-leaf parsley or fresh basil.  You can also use Italian seasoning or a mix of dried oregano and basil if you lack fresh herbs.
• Cheese – This recipe uses a mix of mozzarella for the melty cheese strings, cheddar for its boldness and Parmesan for a nutty flavor. You can switch and experiment with other cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or provolone.
• Cheesy butter mix – This mix will be chunky and a little hard to spread on the bread. Start by dividing the butter mix in half for each loaf, then spoon them into several sections on the split loaves. Use a butter knife to spread the mixture end to end – you will end up with a thick and generous layer of cheesy butter mix.

• Baking – All that cheese with melt and get messy, so you’ll want to have a prepared baking sheet for easy cleanup later.
• Leftovers – Cheesy garlic bread will keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating leftovers in the oven – Wrap leftovers loosely in foil so it doesn’t dry out, then bake them at 350°F for 10 minutes. Remove the foil at the last 2 minutes of baking to let the cheese melt again.
• Reheating leftovers in the air fryer – Reheat the garlic bread by air frying at 350°F for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.

What to Serve with Cheesy Garlic Bread

Pair cheesy garlic bread with hearty main dishes like beef stroganoff, homemade spaghetti, creamy Tuscan sausage pasta, chicken Lazone or some proteins like garlic butter steak bites, creamy garlic butter salmon, or a simple oven-baked chicken.

And that’s about it. Enjoy the cheesy garlic bread and let me know how you liked it, what substitutions you made or what you paired it with in the comments below!

MORE BREAD APPETIZERS TO TRY

• Homemade Garlic Bread
• Cheesy Pesto Pull-Apart Bread
• Parmesan Garlic Knots
• Bloomin’ Onion Bread
• Cheddar Bay Biscuits

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