Make soft, fluffy cheesy garlic bread from scratch with this simple recipe. It combines a tender homemade dough with garlic butter, herbs, and melted mozzarella for a comforting, flavorful loaf.
Why you’ll love this easy cheesy garlic bread
This recipe uses a few basic ingredients and comes together in four straightforward steps. From mixing the dough to baking, you can get this garlic bread ready in under 95 minutes.
Ingredients
For the bread dough
- Flour: 260 g (about 2 cups, loosely packed)
- Warm milk: 160 ml (about 1/2 cup + 2 1/2 tbsp; around 95°F / 35°C)
- Salt: 3/4 tsp
- Instant yeast: 1 tsp
- Sugar: 19 g (about 1 1/2 tbsp)
- Oil: 30 ml (2 tbsp)
For the topping
- Mozzarella cheese: 175 g
- Minced garlic: 2 tsp
- Finely chopped herbs (parsley, oregano, or your choice): 2 tsp
- Butter: 2 tbsp (about 30 g)
- A pinch of salt
Method
This cheesy garlic bread is made in four main steps: prepare the dough, shape and top, proof, and bake.
1. Prepare the bread dough
Combine the flour, warm milk, sugar, yeast, salt, and oil in a mixing bowl. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until it becomes soft and elastic. Well-kneaded dough produces a light, fluffy bread.
If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook and knead for about 8 minutes for best results. After kneading, let the dough rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten and make shaping easier.
2. Shape into a rectangle and add toppings
Roll the rested dough into a rectangular sheet and place it on a parchment-lined baking tray.
Score a crisscross pattern across the dough with a sharp knife, leaving about 1/8 inch (3 mm) clear at the edges. Avoid making too many small cuts—large or medium-sized squares work better and prevent over-stuffing with cheese.
Mix the softened butter with minced garlic, chopped herbs, and a pinch of salt, then spread the garlic butter over the dough. Tuck pieces of mozzarella into the scored creases so the cheese melts into the bread while baking.
Cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap to keep the surface from drying out during the next step.
3. Proof the shaped dough
Let the shaped dough rise for about 30 minutes, or until noticeably puffed. The exact time depends on room temperature; it should look airy and slightly enlarged before baking.
4. Bake the garlic bread
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the bread for 32–35 minutes, adjusting for your pan depth—deeper pans may need more time, while shallow pans will finish sooner.
If the top browns too quickly, tent the loaf loosely with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time so the interior finishes cooking without burning the crust.
Serving and notes
- Allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing so the melted cheese sets a little and the interior remains soft.
- Use fresh herbs for brighter flavor; dried herbs can be used but reduce the amount slightly.
- You can swap mozzarella for a mix of mozzarella and cheddar for a sharper taste.
Recipe summary
Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 34 mins | Proofing: 50 mins | Total: about 1 hr 34 mins
Course: Breakfast, Snack | Cuisine: American
Ingredients (concise)
For dough: 260 g flour, 160 ml warm milk, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp yeast, 19 g sugar, 30 ml oil. For topping: 175 g mozzarella, 2 tsp minced garlic, 2 tsp chopped herbs, 2 tbsp butter, pinch of salt.
Instructions (concise)
- Mix all dough ingredients and knead until soft and elastic. Rest 10 minutes.
- Roll into a rectangle, place on parchment, score a crisscross pattern, spread garlic butter, and tuck mozzarella into the creases. Cover loosely.
- Proof for about 30 minutes until puffed.
- Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 32–35 minutes. Tent with foil if browning too fast. Cool slightly, slice, and serve.
Tried this recipe? Let us know how it turned out!