A quick and easy homemade garlic bread - this couldn't be more simple to make. Cheesy Garlic Bread is deliciously indulgent, and the perfect side dish for pasta or soups, or just eaten as it is. Crunchy French stick topped with a generous amount of garlic butter, cheddar and parmesan and baked until crispy. You will never need to buy garlic bread again!
This is the perfect garlic bread, and it couldn't be easier to make. You have a crispy crust on the outside, and soft fluffy bread on the inside, and it's all topped with garlic and cheese. If that isn't comfort food, then I don't know what is! Slice it up, pull it apart and dip it in your favourite soup or pasta sauce. I am not sure there is anything better than homemade garlic bread.
This is a great side dish to make for guests, because not only does it bulk out a pasta meal to make it all go further, but it looks far more impressive than it actually is. Sure, store bought garlic bread is easy to throw in the oven, but this is as easy as mixing garlic and butter and grating some cheese. And just look at the results! It's just the thing to make when you need a garlic bread fix.
If you are looking for some other garlic heavy recipes, why not try our Garlic Spring Greens, Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia, Garlic Prawn Spaghetti, Crispy Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Garlic and Herb Mushrooms or Homemade Garlic Crisps.
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Why should you try it?
- Easy - This cheesy garlic bread is so easy, that exact measurements don't really matter. Once you have seen this recipe, and can remember the ingredients (there are only 7), then you don't really need to look at the recipe again. It doesn't matter how much butter, garlic or cheese you use, so use what works for you.
- Quick - This doesn't take much longer than putting a store bought garlic bread in the oven. Just mix the garlic and butter together and spread on the bread, bake and topped with cheese. Simple!
- Adaptable - Use this as the base recipe and then you can adapt it with different ingredients like chilli and pesto. More on that below.
- Freezes well - This actually freezes really well. We like to keep some of this in the freezer, and then you can defrost just as much as you need to go with dinner, rather than making a big batch.
What you will need
- French bread - We actually used a tiger French stick, as we like the extra flavour that tiger loaf gives. However, a normal crusty French stick will work. This is a really crunchy garlic bread, which is just how we like it. However, if you like yours a little softer, then use a soft French or Italian loaf instead. A long and flat bread will mean you can have 2 sticks of garlic bread.
- Butter - We used unsalted butter, and then just seasoned it ourself. If you use salted butter, then you will need to adjust the seasoning. Try to use the best quality butter you can, as you really will taste the difference.
- Oil - This is mixed in with the butter, just to make it go further, and it adds a lovely flavour too. We used extra virgin olive oil, and just like the butter, try to use the best quality you can.
- Garlic - Always use freshly crushed garlic for this recipe. Make sure that it is finely crushed, almost like a paste, as this will ensure an even distribution of the garlic butter once everything is mixed together and spread on the bread.
- Cheese - The star of the garlic bread, and what makes it really special. We used a mixture of parmesan and cheddar. The parmesan helps to get it nice and crispy, and the cheddar gives it a really strong flavour. We used mature cheddar, because of the strong flavour you can get away with using less. You can use mozzarella too, which is less fatty than other cheese, so the garlic bread won't be as oily. It also helps to give that amazing cheese pull.
- Parsley - This is totally optional, but we love a sprinkling of fresh parsley on top before serving, as it freshens it up a little and adds some colour. You could also mix some fresh chopped parsley in to the butter too. Basil works well too.
- Salt and pepper - Season to taste.
Step by step
One: Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. In a bowl, mix together the butter, oil, garlic and salt and pepper.
Two: Half the French stick lengthways and spread over the garlic butter.
Three: Wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes. Open the foil and sprinkle over the cheese.
Four: Return to the oven and bake for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the parsley.
Five: Slice and serve.
Variations
What I love about homemade garlic bread is that you can change it up and make it a different way every time. This is the very basic recipe, with just garlic butter and cheese (nothing wrong with that), but there are a few other ways you can jazz it up a little. Here are some of our favourite additions:
- Red chilli flakes
- Truffle oil
- Pesto
- Sundried tomato paste
- Chopped olives
- Fresh basil
- Chopped jalapenoes
What to serve with Cheesy Garlic Bread
I don't think there is anything that doesn't go well with this. I mean, I wouldn't serve it with dessert, but when it comes to soups, stews and pasta, it goes with pretty much everything.
Pasta and garlic bread are a delicious match, and I always order it as a side when we go out for Italian. Why not try our Mushroom Carbonara, 10 Minute Cream Cheese Pasta, Chorizo Mac and Cheese, Easy Marmite Pasta or Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake?
Why just dip sliced bread in soup when you can dip in some cheesy garlic bread? It goes so well with soup, and here are some of our favourites - Easy Tomato Soup, Kale Soup, Potato and Leek Soup, Creamy Vegetable Soup or Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup.
We also think it goes really well with a casserole or stew like our Slow Cooker Honey and Mustard Chicken, Sausage Casserole, Slow Cooker Beef Ragu or Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can, and it's a great way to get ahead if you are serving this up at a dinner party. Make it up to spreading the garlic butter on the spread, and then wrap it up and store it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it. Then you can sprinkle the cheese on and carry on with the recipe.
If you have leftovers of this, then you can wrap it in foil and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. It is best cooked from fresh though.
Yes, it actually freezes really well. Wait until it has fully cooled and then individually wrap the slices of cheesy garlic bread and then put in a freezer bag. They will store in the freezer for up to a month. Then you can take out individual slices and defrost as many as you need.
Although this is best cooked from fresh, due to getting even crispier in the oven, you can reheat leftovers. Make sure it is defrosted if it has been in the freezer, and then heat through in the oven on a low heat.
If you use gluten free bread, and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.
Yes, if you want crispy bread (but not burnt) on the outside and soft and fluffy bread on the inside, then wrapping it in foil is the way to go. If you don't wrap it in foil, then it will get too crispy and it will be hard to eat.
Extra tips
- If you want that amazing cheese pull when you serve up your cheesy garlic bread, then use mozzarella and make sure it is served hot from the oven.
- To make this bread super garlicky all the way through, melt the butter first before mixing the garlic in to it. Once this is put on the bread, all the garlic butter will seep through the bread making every bite garlicky.
- Whilst this cheesy garlic bread is best served warm, wait a couple of minutes before slicing in to it to make it easier.
- Make sure you grate the cheese yourself, rather than using a pre-gated cheese. Grated cheese in a bag has a coating on it with means the cheese doesn't melt as well and it won't look as nice.
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Recipe
Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 200 g French stick
- 70 g butter
- 6 garlic cloves - crushed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 40 g cheddar cheese - grated
- 20 g Parmesan - grated
- 4 g fresh parsley - finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6. In a bowl, mix together the butter, oil, garlic and salt and pepper.70 g butter, 6 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- Half the French stick lengthways and spread over the garlic butter.200 g French stick
- Wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes. Open the foil and sprinkle over the cheese.40 g cheddar cheese, 20 g Parmesan
- Return to the oven and bake for a further 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the parsley.4 g fresh parsley
- Slice and serve.
Notes
- If you want that amazing cheese pull when you serve up your cheesy garlic bread, then use mozzarella and make sure it is served hot from the oven.
- To make this bread super garlicky all the way through, melt the butter first before mixing the garlic in to it. Once this is put on the bread, all the garlic butter will seep through the bread making every bite garlicky.
- Whilst this cheesy garlic bread is best served warm, wait a couple of minutes before slicing in to it to make it easier.
- Make sure you grate the cheese yourself, rather than using a pre-gated cheese. Grated cheese in a bag has a coating on it with means the cheese doesn't melt as well and it won't look as nice.
Matt
My mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid. For some reason I haven’t had it in forever. It was amazing and thanks for jogging my memory!
Jessie
Ok, YES PLEASE to adding cheese to garlic bread! I'm never making it another way again. The step by step photos here are super helpful - thank you!
Gina
How do you make garlic bread even better than it already is? Cheese! This is so good and highly addictive!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
This is something my family will love. It's all about the cheese! Great for quick comfort food.
Kait
Oh yum! Garlic bread is my weakness, and the cheesiness of this one definitely takes it to the next level. Totally an upgrade to any meal!
Natalie
My boys love garlic bread. I will give your recipe a try. Love added cheese. Never tried that before. Thanks!
Toni
Such an amazing side dish!! My family loved it!
Gloria
Garlic bread is always a hit. I think the grandkids could eat the whole loaf. The perfect and easy side or appetizer.
Kate
My kinda comfort food! Any pasta supper becomes a special occasion with cheesy garlic bread - this looks so delicious and easy to make, another winner!
Angela
This garlic bread is perfect! I love to use it for sopping up tomato sauce or dipping in soups. The perfect blend of garlic and cheeses.... so good!