This cheesy garlic bread recipe only requires 4 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of preparation time making it an extremely easy side dish recipe to make in a pinch. This simple recipe is the coziest and most perfect side dish to pair with your favorite pasta meals and is also a very kid friendly recipe to make.
A homemade garlic bread recipe like this is the perfect side dish to throw together for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. It is also great to serve alongside a dinner when having guests over, especially when making a pasta or Italian inspired dish.
This was inspired by my Garlic Bread Dip recipe on this site, and pairs well with this Roasted Tomato Spinach Gnocchi in a Creamy Blush Sauce.
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Ingredients
To make this cheese garlic bread, the best fresh bread options are either Italian bread or French bread. Raw garlic is then used for the garlicky butter mixture. Fresh mozzarella cheese is shredded and added on top of the garlic bread prior to baking.
- loaf of Italian bread or French bread
- fresh garlic cloves
- salted butter
- shredded mozzarella cheese
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Soften butter in the microwave for about 15 seconds in a small bowl. You don't want to melt the butter completely, you just want a soft texture. You can also let your butter sit out at room temperature for about 12 hours to achieve this texture.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Soften butter in the microwave for about 15 seconds in a small bowl. You don't want to melt the butter completely, you just want a soft texture. You can also let your butter sit out at room temperature for about 12 hours to achieve this texture.
- Step 2: Add the fresh crushed garlic into the softened butter and mix. If you feel the need for more garlic, you can also add garlic powder. Slice the baguette in half. Spread the garlic butter mixture on both halves of the bread until the whole loaf is covered.
- Step 3: Spread the shredded mozzarella over both halves of bread. Transfer the bread to a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- Step 4: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted. For a soft garlic bread, remove from the oven at this point. If you want a more crisp bread with slightly browned cheese, broil on low for 1-2 minutes. Slice the bread into thick slices. Top with fresh parsley if desired.
Hint: cook your garlic bread until you see the cheese start to slightly bubble. This means that your cheese is melted enough but the bread is not too crisp. That is my perfect easy baguette garlic bread. You can also mix the mozzarella cheese with some parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Substitutions
- Butter - if you are not an extreme salt lover like myself, you can also use unsalted butter. Don't worry, the garlic will provide you with plenty of flavor
- Type of bread - while I prefer a large french baguette, there are a few options to choose from. Another absolute classic is to use Texas Toast. You get nice thick 1-inch slices and you still get that soft bread if that is what you desire
Variations
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes on top of the cheese to imbue heat in the dish. You can also mix some hot sauce in with the butter for a buffalo garlic bread
- Deluxe - add caramelized onions on top when finished. It is kind of like a deconstructed French Onion Soup
- Pull Apart Bread - add the cheese inside of pizza dough and spread garlic butter and mozzarella cheese on top before baking
See this pull apart cheese garlic bread version on my website!
Equipment
All you need for this recipe is a bowl to mix the butter and garlic in along with a baking sheet.
How to Store Cheesy Garlic Bread Baguette
The extra slices of garlic bread can be stored in an airtight container. You can store it in the fridge for about 2-3 days. After this point the bread will get stale.
Reheat leftovers in the oven or air fryer.
This recipe can be frozen in a freezer safe bag for up to 2 months.
Top Tip
Slice the garlic bread into smaller pieces and add it to a salad. The soft yet crisp bread along with a lot of garlic adds a delicious burst of flavor on top of your salad dressing of choice.
FAQ
Yes, this easy garlic bread recipe can be prepped ahead of time and saved in the fridge until ready to bake. Bake until golden brown prior to serving.
Yes, use gluten free bread to make this recipe gluten free.
Yes, use vegan butter and vegan cheese to make this recipe dairy free.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this cheesy garlic bread baguette:
📖 Recipe
Quick and Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread Baguette Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 1 large Italian Baguette
- 8 tablespoon butter
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Soften butter in the microwave for about 15 seconds in a small bowl. You don't want to melt the butter completely, you just want a soft texture. You can also let your butter sit out at room temperature for about 12 hours to achieve this texture.
- Add the fresh crushed garlic into the softened butter and mix. If you feel the need for more garlic, you can also add garlic powder. Slice the baguette in half. Spread the garlic butter mixture on both halves of the bread until the whole loaf is covered.
- Spread the shredded mozzarella over both halves of bread. Transfer the bread to a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted. For a soft garlic bread, remove from the oven at this point. If you want a more crisp bread with slightly browned cheese, broil on low for 1-2 minutes. Slice the bread into thick slices. Top with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- save leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- reheat before serving.
- these ingredients can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
If you have any questions about how to make this cheesy garlic bread or need other side dish recipe suggestions, leave a comment below!
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