Nothing beats the irresistible combination of crispy, buttery bread infused with rich garlic flavor.
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked cheesy garlic bread filling your kitchen. With its crispy golden crust, soft buttery center, and a punch of garlic flavor, this classic side dish is a must-have for any meal. Whether you’re serving it alongside a hearty pasta dish, a juicy steak, or simply enjoying it on its own, this homemade garlic bread recipe will take your taste buds to the next level. Plus, it’s quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Let’s get baking!
Feeds 2-4 people
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 90 minutes
Why Cheesy Garlic Bread Works
The Perfect Balance of Crunchy and Gooey Textures: Cheesy garlic bread combines the best of both worlds—a crispy, golden-brown crust with a soft, buttery, and cheesy center. The contrast between the crunchy bread and the gooey melted cheese makes it incredibly satisfying. This balance of textures is what keeps people coming back for more.
Rich, Savory, and Buttery Flavor Profile: This dish delivers layers of bold flavors—the garlic confit adds depth, the butter enhances richness, and the combination of cheeses creates a salty, umami-packed bite. The herbs bring a fresh, aromatic finish, making it more than just a side dish—it’s an experience.
Versatile and Easy to Pair with Any Meal: Cheesy garlic bread isn’t just a side; it’s a crowd-pleaser that works with almost any meal. Whether served alongside pasta, steak, BBQ, soup, or even enjoyed on its own, it complements a variety of dishes. Plus, you can customize it by using different cheeses, herbs, or even adding toppings like bacon or jalapeños.
Simple to Make Yet Feels Indulgent: Despite being quick and easy to prepare, cheesy garlic bread feels like a special treat. It requires just a handful of ingredients, but the result is restaurant-quality comfort food. This makes it ideal for both busy weeknights and special occasions, proving that great flavor doesn’t have to be complicated.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter(room temperature)
- 6-8 cloves of garlic confit(you can substitute this with roasted garlic or minced garlic. If using minced garlic use 1 tablespoon)
- 2 cups olive oil
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded havarti cheese(you can substitute this with mozzarella cheese)
- ½ tablespoon Italian herb seasoning
- 1 loaf of Italian or French Bread
- Marinara dipping sauce
Make The Garlic Confit
First, grab an oven-safe dish and place your peeled garlic cloves inside. Then, pour in enough olive oil to fully submerge the garlic. Next, add two sprigs of fresh rosemary for extra flavor.
Now, place the dish in your smoker or oven at 225°F (107°C) and let it cook for about an hour. The garlic is done when it becomes soft enough to spread with a butter knife. Once ready, remove the dish from the heat and allow the garlic to cool. Store the confit in a mason jar with the oil. For this recipe, you’ll need 6-8 cloves of the garlic confit.
Instructions
Prepare the Garlic Butter: In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter, garlic confit, Italian herb seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese. Then, mix everything together until you create a well-blended compound butter.
Assemble the Garlic Bread: Take an Italian bread loaf and cut it in half. Next, spread the compound butter generously over the cut sides. However, be careful not to spread it too thick—leaving some texture will help the bread stay crunchy. Then sprinkle shredded Parmesan and Havarti cheese on top for extra cheesiness.
Bake the Garlic Bread: Place the bread in your smoker or oven at 400°F (204°C) and bake for 8-10 minutes until the cheese starts melting. For an extra crispy, golden-brown finish, switch the oven to broil for the last couple of minutes.
Serve and Enjoy: Once the garlic bread is golden brown, remove it from the oven and slice it into strips. Then, serve it with marinara sauce on the side and enjoy every cheesy, garlicky bite!
If you are looking for a quicker recipe i recommend my Pull Apart Garlic Bread
This Cheesy Garlic Bread pairs great with Tri Tip Steak or Rack of Lamb
Cheesy Garlic Bread
There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked cheesy garlic bread filling your kitchen. With its crispy golden crust, soft buttery center, and a punch of garlic flavor, this classic side dish is a must-have for any meal. Whether you're serving it alongside a hearty pasta dish, a juicy steak, or simply enjoying it on its own, this homemade garlic bread recipe will take your taste buds to the next level. Plus, it's quick and easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Let’s get baking!
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter(room temperature)
- 6-8 cloves of garlic confit(you can substitute this with roasted garlic or minced garlic. If using minced garlic use 1 tablespoon)
- 2 cups olive oil
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded havarti cheese(you can substitute this with mozzarella cheese)
- ½ tablespoon Italian herb seasoning
- 1 loaf of Italian or French Bread
- Marinara dipping sauce
Instructions
Make the Garlic Confit
First, grab an oven-safe dish and place your peeled garlic cloves inside. Then, pour in enough olive oil to fully submerge the garlic. Next, add two sprigs of fresh rosemary for extra flavor.
Now, place the dish in your smoker or oven at 225°F (107°C) and let it cook for about an hour. The garlic is done when it becomes soft enough to spread with a butter knife. Once ready, remove the dish from the heat and allow the garlic to cool. Store the confit in a mason jar with the oil. For this recipe, you’ll need 6-8 cloves of the garlic confit.
Prepare the Garlic Butter
In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter, garlic confit, Italian herb seasoning, and grated Parmesan cheese. Then, mix everything together until you create a well-blended compound butter.
Assemble the Garlic Bread
Take an Italian bread loaf and cut it in half. Next, spread the compound butter generously over the cut sides. However, be careful not to spread it too thin—leaving some texture will help the bread stay crunchy. Then sprinkle shredded Parmesan and Havarti cheese on top for extra cheesiness.
Bake the Garlic Bread:
Place the bread in your smoker or oven at 400°F (204°C) and bake for 8-10 minutes until the cheese starts melting. For an extra crispy, golden-brown finish, switch the oven to broil for the last couple of minutes.
Serve and Enjoy: Once the garlic bread is golden brown, remove it from the oven and slice it into strips. Then, serve it with marinara sauce on the side and enjoy every cheesy, garlicky bite!
Notes
Why Cheesy Garlic Bread Works
The Perfect Balance of Crunchy and Gooey Textures: Cheesy garlic bread combines the best of both worlds—a crispy, golden-brown crust with a soft, buttery, and cheesy center. The contrast between the crunchy bread and the gooey melted cheese makes it incredibly satisfying. This balance of textures is what keeps people coming back for more.
Rich, Savory, and Buttery Flavor Profile: This dish delivers layers of bold flavors—the garlic confit adds depth, the butter enhances richness, and the combination of cheeses creates a salty, umami-packed bite. The herbs bring a fresh, aromatic finish, making it more than just a side dish—it’s an experience.
Versatile and Easy to Pair with Any Meal: Cheesy garlic bread isn’t just a side; it’s a crowd-pleaser that works with almost any meal. Whether served alongside pasta, steak, BBQ, soup, or even enjoyed on its own, it complements a variety of dishes. Plus, you can customize it by using different cheeses, herbs, or even adding toppings like bacon or jalapeños.
Simple to Make Yet Feels Indulgent: Despite being quick and easy to prepare, cheesy garlic bread feels like a special treat. It requires just a handful of ingredients, but the result is restaurant-quality comfort food. This makes it ideal for both busy weeknights and special occasions, proving that great flavor doesn’t have to be complicated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1 SliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 420mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 9g