Jump to Recipe

This Cheesy Garlic Bread is stuffed with mozzarella, parsley, and garlic then drizzled with butter. Cutting a round loaf with a cross-hatch pattern gives more surface area for the gooey cheese!

My family gets very excited when garlic bread is on the menu. But adding loads of mozzarella cheese makes a version of homemade garlic bread that will have everyone swooning!

Cheesy Garlic Bread with a fork full of gooey bread on a fork
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Should Make this Homemade Garlic Bread
2 Frequently Asked Questions
3 Tips for Making This Mozzarella Bread
4 How to Make Homemade Garlic Bread:
5 Ingredient Notes:
6 More Bread Recipes You’ll Love:
7 Cheesy Garlic Bread

Why You Should Make this Homemade Garlic Bread

  • Using a hearty bakery loaf of bread and lots of gooey cheese makes this so much tastier than any premade garlic bread you can buy.
  • It’s an interactive side dish as everyone can reach in and pull out a piece of this garlic cheese bread.
  • This unique bread is stuffed with a mixture of cheese, herbs, and garlic and is then doused with melted butter. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the History of Garlic Bread?

The garlic bread boom started in the late 1940s when Italian American restaurants were opening throughout the U.S. Italian or French bread was spread with garlic butter and baked.

What Are Some Variations of Garlic Bread?

You can bake or broil the bread. Use different melty cheeses or herbs. Leave out the melty cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan. Add in some minced sundried tomatoes or red pepper flakes. Vary the type of bread you use to find a favorite.

How Long Do You Bake Garlic Bread?

At 350 degrees, this big round loaf takes 15-20 minutes for the bread to warm and the cheese to melt. Different shaped loaves with softer crusts may take less time to bake.

Cheesy Garlic Bread in a ceramic basket

Tips for Making This Mozzarella Bread

  • The toughest part about this homemade garlic bread is cutting it properly. Use a serrated knife and cut deep without slicing through the loaf.
  • Depending on the size of your bread, you may not need all the melted butter. You don’t want it to be soggy with grease, but it’s great to have as much of the surface area coated with butter and cheese as possible.
  • Use a sturdy loaf of bread with a good crust for this homemade garlic bread. See what looks best in the bakery section of your market or at a good bakery. A soft loaf will be more difficult to cut without compressing.
  • Gooey mozzarella is wonderful in this bread, but any favorite melty cheese would work. Monterey Jack and Gouda come to mind.
  • Use a fork or fingers to pull out and indulge on these cheesy pieces of this gooey mozzarella bread. Heavenly.
Close up view of Cheesy Garlic Bread in a white ceramic basket

How to Make Homemade Garlic Bread:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Cut a cross-hatch or checkerboard pattern into your loaf, slicing almost all the way through.
  3. Mix together the cheese, garlic, herbs, etc.
  4. Spread open the bread without breaking through the crust and fill slots with cheese mixture.
  5. Again, spread open the bread and drizzle melted butter over the cheese and down into the bread.
  6. Wrap loaf in foil and place on baking sheet.
  7. Bake until the cheese is melted, then open the foil and cook a little longer.
  8. Serve warm.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Round Loaf of Bread with a sturdy crust – I used a country loaf
  • Shredded Mozzarella – vary with your favorite melty cheese. You can grate your own cheese, but shredded will be easier to get into all the nooks and crannies of the loaf
  • Garlic cloves – Must use fresh garlic for the best results
  • Minced Parsley – Mostly for a pop of color but also to brighten the flavor
  • Kosher salt – will enhance the flavor of the bread
  • Butter – I use salted butter, but if you prefer unsalted, then increase the salt amount a touch

More Bread Recipes You’ll Love:

This recipe was first shared in August 2016. Text was updated in 2021.

Cheesy Garlic Bread
The Recipe:

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Yield 1 loaf

This stuffed bread is a delicious twist on garlic bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 round loaf of sturdy bread (I used a country loaf)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted (you may not use it all depending on the size of your loaf)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Cut a cross-hatch or checkerboard pattern into your loaf. Cut almost all the way through. Set aside.
  3. If using shredded mozzarella, mix together the mozzarella, minced garlic, parsley, and salt in a medium bowl.
  4. Spread open the bread without breaking through the crust and fill slots with cheese mixture.
  5. Again, spread open the bread and drizzle the butter over the cheese and down into the bread.
  6. Wrap loaf in foil and place on baking sheet.
  7. If using sliced mozzarella,cut the slices into smaller pieces and insert into the slots. Mix the butter with the garlic, parsley, and salt and drizzle over into the loaf.
  8. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Open foil and bake another 5 minutes.
  9. Serve warm.

Notes

Depending on the size of your loaf and depth of your cuts, you may not need all the butter.
Cooking time with depend on the size of your bread and the power of your oven.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1/12 loaf
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 511mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 9g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Bread