Cheesy Garlic Bread

“Cheesy garlic bread made with four kinds of cheese, herbs, spices and lots of fresh, sauteed garlic! Easy, crowd-pleasing recipe!”

Visual learner? Watch me make this cheesy garlic bread from start to finish!

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My oldest son LOVES garlic bread. I used to get a kick out of hearing him say, “Well I guess I’ll make some bread and butter before I go to bed,” when he was younger. Such an old soul, if I’ve ever seen one.

He’s been making his “bread and butter” since about the age of seven. Now he’s 11, and his world changed when I started buying/making different kinds of flavored butter. So far, he’s tried cinnamon butter, cowboy butter, fruit butter —you name it —but bread with garlic butter stays on repeat!

Garlic bread is his favorite bread, and if a restaurant is serving it, you can bet money he’s gonna get it! Surprisingly, he rates K&W Cafeteria as having the best garlic bread he has ever had.

He said my homemade garlic bread was “almost better.” *crickets* 

Really son. I’m losing to a cafeteria, though?

However, he did tell me that my cheesy garlic bread recipe was the best he’s ever had*eye roll* I guess I’ll take whatever place I can get with this brutally honest garlic bread connoisseur.

So today we’re making cheesy garlic bread! Hopefully, this will buy me forgiveness for secretly signing him up for karate class this evening. 

Mercy yall, I would be lying if I said I couldn’t eat this whole thing by myself! Cheese, butter, and bread are my weaknesses (like a million other foods). Throw garlic and herbs in the mix, and I’m willing to cheat on whatever diet I’m currently on. No regrets. No questions asked.

Cheesy garlic bread is so easy to make, but I’ve messed up a few in my day. Why is it that sometimes the most straightforward recipes want to act up? Is it because we try to do too much with them? I believe so. Sometimes it’s just best to stick with the classic instead of giving it twists, tweaks, and twerks!

That’s what I’ll be doing with this cheesy garlic bread! I am keeping it simple! Well, kinda! I’m only tweaking it a bit by adding Italian seasoning, which adds a lot of flavor, and throwing in some Colby Jack cheese with the Mozzarella because it’s my favorite.

The result is a cheesy garlic bread that’s flavorful, with a crunchy crust, soft and chewy on the inside, and full of buttery, garlic flavor and stretchy,  cheesy goodness. It’s hard to stop at just one slice!

Serve it as a side dish with a pasta or soup dinner, or as an appetizer/snack with marinara sauce.

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How to make cheesy garlic bread recipe

INGREDIENTS

• French Bread 
• olive oil
•  fresh garlic cloves, minced
•  salted butter or unsalted butter 
•  parmesan cheese, shredded
•  dried parsley
•  Italian seasoning
•  paprika
•  onion powder
• black pepper
• mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
• Colby Jack, freshly grated
• fresh parsley for garnish (or fresh basil)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400. F degrees.
2. Cut the French bread in half lengthwise, and place each half on a foil-lined baking sheet. Set aside.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil.
4. Once the oil is heated, add the garlic and sauté just until it is fragrant. (Be careful not to burn)
5. Place cooked garlic (including any remaining oil) in a large bowl.
6. Stir in soft butter, parmesan cheese, parsley, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper.
7. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both halves of the bread.
8. Cover the pan tightly with foil.
9. Bake for 10 minutes or until the butter has melted into the bread.
10. Remove from oven and remove foil.
11. Evenly sprinkle on the mozzarella and Colby Jack cheese.
12. Return to oven uncovered and bake until cheese melts (about 6-7 minutes)
13. Broil for the last couple of minutes to crisp up the edges if desired (keep an eye on the bread while it’s broiling. It can burn fast!)
14. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh parsley.
15. Slice and serve hot. 

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Tips On How To Make The Best Cheesy Garlic Bread

• Roast or saute the finely minced FRESH garlic. Heating the garlic brings out a wealth of flavor! Finely mincing or mashing the garlic into a pulp helps distribute it evenly throughout the butter, ensuring a consistent flavor. No garlic powder needed.
• Use fresh French bread. If it’s not homemade, head to a bakery and get a freshly baked loaf of soft bread. It will bake up crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The perfect garlic bread texture!
• Use good, softened butter. Whenever butter is a key ingredient in a recipe, use your favorite kind. This doesn’t mean it has to be expensive! Any unsalted, real cream butter with real pronounceable ingredients is what I reach for. KerryGold is good.
• Broil for the last few minutes. Broiling helps the cheese achieve a perfectly golden look and also crisps up the edges slightly. Just be careful NOT to take your eyes off of it while it’s boiling. It can burn super fast!

How to store cheesy garlic bread

Cheesy garlic bread is best served the same day it’s made. If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

You can also wrap the bread tightly in foil and place it in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.

Reheat in a preheated 350. F oven until warm, about 10 minutes.

Now, go make a pasta dinner with a salad and a basket of this homemade, cheesy garlic bread for the perfect side dish! Or, simply stand there at the oven when this cheesy bread comes out and eat it slice by slice.

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