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This Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe starts with homemade (or store-bought) dough, slathered in buttery garlic herb spread and topped with gooey mozzarella. Baked in the oven until golden, it makes an irresistible appetizer or side for dipping into marinara or donair sauce.
For more homemade bread recipes, try my Cheddar Bay Biscuit recipe and Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread next!
I like making this cheesy garlic bread from scratch because it always feels like I’m bringing an Italian restaurant experience right into my kitchen. The edges bake up perfectly crunchy while the middle stays soft and gooey. It makes this recipe a family favourite.
It’s versatile too! Serve it as a starter, pair it with pasta, or set it out with soup and salad. Of course, it’s perfect for game days and Super Bowl parties. Honestly, it’s the best garlic bread because it’s simple, loaded with flavour, and always gone in minutes!
Table of Contents
Why is restaurant garlic bread so good?
Restaurant garlic bread is so good because it’s made fresh, baked hot, and loaded with butter, garlic, and cheese for maximum flavour. This recipe uses the same approach—homemade dough, a buttery garlic herb spread, and plenty of mozzarella—so you can replicate that same taste and texture right from your own oven.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the homemade dough, giving the bread its structure and chewy texture. You can use bread flour if you prefer a crunchier crust with a chewier inside.
- Garlic Salt or Salt: Enhances the flavour of both the dough and the toppings. It also brings out the richness of the garlic and cheese.
- Active Dry Yeast: Helps the dough rise, creating a light and airy texture that balances the gooey topping. However, you can use either active dry yeast or instant yeast in this recipe. Both work well without needing to be dissolved first, as long as they have moisture, a little sugar for food, and warmth to help the dough rise.
- Granulated White Sugar: Feeds the yeast and adds a subtle touch of sweetness to the dough.
- Warm Water: Activates the yeast and brings the dough together into a smooth, workable consistency.
- Olive Oil: Keeps the dough soft and adds extra flavour with a hint of richness.
- Salted Butter: Creates that classic buttery garlic spread, which soaks into the bread as it bakes.
- Garlic: Provides bold, savoury flavour that’s the star of any garlic bread recipe.
- Fresh Parsley: Adds a fresh, herbaceous note and a pop of colour to balance the richness of the cheese and butter.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Wondering what kind of cheese to put on garlic bread? Mozzarella is always the most popular choice for its stretchy, creamy texture.
- Fresh Parmesan Cheese (optional): Adds sharpness and a nutty, salty finish that complements the mozzarella.
- Marinara or Donair Sauce (optional): Perfect for dipping, adding tangy or sweet contrast to the buttery, cheesy bread.
How to Make Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread
Make the Dough
I start by mixing the flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, I stir the warm water and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Then I slowly pour it into the dry ingredients along with a little olive oil.
Once it begins to come together, I knead it on a floured surface until the dough is smooth and springy. From there, I let it rest in an oiled bowl until doubled in size.
Roll and Prep
When the dough has risen, I roll it out on a pizza stone or baking sheet to the size I want. Then I mix softened butter with garlic, salt, and parsley, spreading it generously over the dough. A good layer of shredded mozzarella goes on top, along with an extra sprinkle of parsley for flavour and colour.
Bake and Serve
I bake the bread at 400°F for about 15–17 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the edges are lightly browned. Once it’s out of the oven, I slice it into sticks and add a little parmesan on top for extra flavour. It’s best served warm with marinara or donair sauce for dipping.
Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe Tip
Be patient and let the dough rise until it doubles in size. A well-risen dough is what gives you that perfect base—soft in the center, a little crunchy on the edges, and strong enough to hold all the buttery, cheesy topping.
Storage
Store any leftover cheesy garlic bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place it in the oven at 350°F until the cheese is melted and the edges crisp back up. Avoid the microwave if you can, since it makes the bread chewy instead of crunchy.
What to Serve with Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Red Sauce Pasta: Spaghetti, lasagna, or baked ziti pair perfectly with cheesy garlic bread for soaking up the sauce.
- Soup: A bowl of tomato basil or Sausage Tortellini Soup is even better with a warm, cheesy slice on the side.
- Salad: Caesar or garden salad balances the richness of the bread with something fresh and crisp.
- Chicken Wings: Baked or fried wings add a fun, savoury contrast alongside the gooey bread. Serve them with BBQ Sriracha Wings, Garlic Parmesan Wings, and Sticky Wings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Not traditionally. Italians usually serve bread plain or with olive oil, while cheesy garlic bread is a North American twist on those flavours.
It’s often from too much butter or not enough bake time. Use a thin layer of butter and bake until the edges are golden and crisp.
Yes, bake it first, let it cool, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven straight from frozen until warmed through and crispy.
Love this Cheesy Garlic Bead Recipe? Try my Pizza Recipes!
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Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Homemade Dough or Use Store-Bought
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Garlic Salt or Salt
- 2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 2 tsp Granulated White Sugar
- 3/4-1 cup Warm Water, 105° and 115°F
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Toppings
- 1/4 cup Salted Butter, softened
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp Salt, more or less to taste
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley, finely chopped + more for garnish
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parmesan Cheese, garnish, optional
- Marinara or Donair Sauce, for serving, optional
Instructions
Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer add flour, salt, and yeast. Whisk together until well combined on low speed. Remove whisk attachment, and add dough hook.
- In a small bowl, combine warm water and sugar (start with 3/4 cup, add more if needed). Mix together until sugar has dissolved. Slowly pour sugar water into the flour mixture. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, and continue mixing all ingredients together on a low speed. Do so until the dough begins to stick together, forming a loose dough ball. The dough should have a tacky, putty-like feel.
- Place dough ball on a clean and lightly floured surface, knead (about a minute) until a smooth dough ball forms, which bounces back quickly when poked. Place dough in a large mixing bowl, and drizzle with approx. 1 tbsp olive oil, ensuring surface is fully covered. Cover with dish towel or shower cap, placing in a warm area for an hour or until dough has doubled in size.
- After an hour, or when dough has doubled in size, remove from bowl and roll out dough to desired size on your pizza stone or baking sheet.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a small bowl, add butter, garlic, salt, and fresh parsley, mix together then brush on dough. Next, add shredded mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle with additional parsley.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges have browned and cheese is melty and golden in spots. Remove from oven, and cut bread into rectangular sticks. Garnish with fresh parmesan cheese, and serve with marinara sauce or donair sauce.
At what oven temperature?
Hello! Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) – thanks so much for your message, hope you enjoy!!