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Close-up of golden Cheesy Garlic Bread slices with melted cheese and fresh parsley on a white plate.
Daniel

Ultimate Golden Cheesy Garlic Bread

This easy-to-make recipe yields crispy-edged, soft-centered garlic bread loaded with a savory butter mixture and a generous blanket of melted, gooey cheese. Perfect as an appetizer or a side dish for any meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian

Ingredients
  

For the Garlic Butter
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 4-5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For the Bread and Cheese
  • 1 loaf crusty French or Italian bread about 16-18 inches long
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese low-moisture, part-skim
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Parchment Paper
  • Pastry brush
  • Sharp knife

Method
 

Prepare the Garlic Butter
  1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix well with a fork until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Preheat Oven & Prepare Bread
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Slice the loaf of bread lengthwise through the middle, creating two halves. If your bread is very wide, you can also cut it into individual slices about 1 inch thick, but slicing lengthwise typically works best for cheesy garlic bread.
Assemble the Garlic Bread
  1. Generously spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of both bread halves (or individual slices). Ensure you go all the way to the edges.
  2. Place the buttered bread halves, cut-side up, on the prepared baking sheet.
First Bake (for crispiness)
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the edges of the bread are lightly golden and slightly crisp. This helps to toast the bread before adding cheese.
Add Cheese & Final Bake
  1. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over both bread halves, followed by the shredded Parmesan cheese. Ensure good coverage.
  2. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown in spots. For extra browning, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Serve
  1. Carefully remove the garlic bread from the oven. Let it cool for 1-2 minutes before slicing each half into desired serving pieces (e.g., 4 triangles per half) with a sharp knife. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious Cheesy Garlic Bread!

Notes

For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter mixture.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 4 days. Reheat in a toaster oven or conventional oven at 350°F (175°C) until warm and crispy.
You can experiment with different cheese blends, such as adding provolone or fontina for more complex flavor.