This cheesy stuffed garlic bread is loaded with gooey melted mozzarella, buttery garlic, and fresh parsley, all tucked inside warm, golden bread. It's crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy in the middle, and incredibly easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients. Perfect for pizza night, family dinners, or sharing with friends!
P.S. If you love cheesy garlic bread as much as we do, you'll definitely want to try my cheesy stuffed bagels next!
This garlic bread has a serious case of disappearing before dinner! 🧄🧀😂
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super cheesy: Every bite is filled with gooey, melted mozzarella cheese and delicious garlic butter.
- Easy to make: No kneading or homemade dough required! Just grab a loaf of French bread and a few simple ingredients.
- Crispy and golden: The outside turns beautifully golden while the inside stays soft, buttery, and cheesy.
- Perfect for sharing: A family favorite that's ideal for pizza nights, parties, BBQs, or serving alongside pasta.
- Easy to customize: Add extra herbs, different cheeses, or a sprinkle of chili flakes for a little heat.
Ingredients for Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread
French Bread: Choose a crusty French loaf or Italian bread, approximately 24 inches (60 cm) long. You want bread that's sturdy enough to hold the melted cheese and garlic butter without becoming soggy.
Unsalted Butter: Use softened butter so it's easy to mix with the garlic and herbs and spread between the slices. Salted butter also works; just reduce the added salt.
Fresh Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives this stuffed garlic bread its delicious flavor. You'll need approximately 3–4 cloves, depending on how garlicky you like it!
Fresh Parsley: Adds freshness and a lovely pop of green. You can substitute dried parsley if needed, but fresh is my favorite.
Mozzarella Cheese: The secret to that irresistible, gooey cheese pull! Use shredded mozzarella for easy stuffing. You can also mix in a little Parmesan or cheddar for extra flavor.
🥖 TOP TIP FROM MY KITCHEN
Slightly stale, day-old bread works beautifully for stuffed garlic bread! It's a little firmer, making it easier to slice and stuff without falling apart. It also holds the garlic butter and melted cheese well without becoming overly soggy.
👩🏼🍳 How to make the best cheesy stuffed garlic bread
Note: Please scroll to the full printable recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the method.
Step 1: Slice the Bread
Using a sharp bread knife, cut your French loaf into slices approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, without cutting all the way through the bottom. Leave the base intact so the loaf holds together and creates little pockets for the filling.
Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Gently open each slice and spread the garlic butter between the cuts, reserving a little for the top.
Step 3: Stuff with Cheese
Generously stuff shredded mozzarella cheese between each slice of bread. Make sure the cheese reaches into the pockets so every bite is filled with gooey, melted goodness!
Step 4: Wrap in Foil
Spread the remaining garlic butter over the top of the loaf. Wrap the bread loosely in aluminum foil to help keep the inside soft and prevent the garlic from burning.
Step 5: Bake Until Golden
Preheat your oven to 390°F (200°C). Place the foil-wrapped bread on a baking tray and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
For a crispier crust, carefully open the foil and return the bread to the oven for another 3–5 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Step 6: Serve Warm
Remove from the oven, carefully open the foil, and serve immediately while the mozzarella is beautifully melted and stretchy. Enjoy!
🧄 Tips & Tricks for the Best Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread
- Don't slice all the way through: Leave the bottom of the loaf intact so the bread holds together while you stuff it with garlic butter and cheese.
- Use softened butter: Room-temperature butter is much easier to mix with garlic and parsley and spread between the slices.
- Choose the right bread: A crusty French loaf or Italian bread works best. Slightly stale, day-old bread is also great because it's firmer and easier to stuff.
- Shred your own mozzarella: Freshly shredded low-moisture mozzarella generally melts beautifully and gives you that irresistible cheese pull!
- Don't overdo the butter: You want every slice coated, but too much butter can make the bottom of the bread greasy or soggy.
- Unwrap for crispy edges: Bake the bread wrapped in foil to melt the cheese, then open the foil for the final 3–5 minutes to crisp up the crust.
- Serve immediately: This garlic bread is at its absolute best straight from the oven, while the cheese is hot, gooey, and stretchy.
❓ FAQS
Yes, use vegan butter: Swap regular butter for a plant-based butter alternative.
Vegan cheese: Replace mozzarella and other cheeses with good-quality vegan cheese that melts well, like cashew-based or soy-based cheese.
Yes, just substitute it with gluten-free bread. Make sure the bread is sturdy enough to handle the stuffing.
Yes, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Air fry for 8-10 minutes, checking halfway to ensure the cheese is melting and the bread is heating evenly. Keep an eye on the bread, as air fryers cook faster than ovens.
Absolutely! Feel free to add ingredients like cooked bacon, pepperoni, or jalapeños to customize your stuffed garlic bread.
Yes, but stale or day-old bread holds up better during slicing and stuffing. Fresh bread can get too soft and may become soggy when absorbing the butter mixture.
🧄 Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating
Make-Ahead
You can prepare this cheesy stuffed garlic bread up to 24 hours in advance! Simply slice the bread, spread the garlic butter between each slice, and stuff with mozzarella. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if it's coming straight from the fridge.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover stuffed garlic bread in an airtight container or wrap tightly in foil. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months for best quality.
Reheating
Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Wrap the garlic bread loosely in foil and heat for 10–15 minutes, or until warmed through. Open the foil for the final few minutes if you prefer crispy edges.
Air Fryer: Reheat at 320°F (160°C) for approximately 3–5 minutes, checking frequently to prevent the bread from burning.
From Frozen: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat using either method above.
What to Serve with Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread
Rigatoni al Forno (vegetarian)
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚
Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread (Easy Homemade Recipe)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This cheesy stuffed garlic bread is loaded with gooey melted mozzarella, buttery garlic, and fresh parsley, all tucked inside warm, golden bread. It's crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy in the middle, and incredibly easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients. Perfect for pizza night, family dinners, or sharing with friends!
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette (approximately 24 inches / 60 cm long)
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic (approximately 3-4 cloves)
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup (approximately 113 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Step 1: Slice the Bread
- Using a sharp bread knife, cut your French loaf into slices approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, without cutting all the way through the bottom. Leave the base intact so the loaf holds together and creates little pockets for the filling.
Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Gently open each slice and spread the garlic butter between the cuts, reserving a little for the top.
Step 3: Stuff with Cheese
- Generously stuff shredded mozzarella cheese between each slice of bread. Make sure the cheese reaches into the pockets so every bite is filled with gooey, melted goodness!
Step 4: Wrap in Foil
- Spread the remaining garlic butter over the top of the loaf. Wrap the bread loosely in aluminum foil to help keep the inside soft and prevent the garlic from burning.
Step 5: Bake Until Golden
- Preheat your oven to 390°F (200°C). Place the foil-wrapped bread on a baking tray and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- For a crispier crust, carefully open the foil and return the bread to the oven for another 3–5 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
Step 6: Serve Warm
- Remove from the oven, carefully open the foil, and serve immediately while the mozzarella is beautifully melted and stretchy. Enjoy!
Notes
SERVE HOT: Stuffed garlic bread is best served right out of the oven when the cheese is melted and stretchy. It's perfect for that Instagram-worthy cheese pull!
SPICE IS NICE: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or a bit of chopped jalapeno.
MAKE-AHEAD: You can prepare the stuffed garlic bread in advance. Assemble the bread, stuff it with the garlic butter mixture and cheese, then wrap it tightly in foil. Store it wrapped bread in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
STORAGE: After baking, store any leftover stuff garlic bread in an airtight container or wrap it in foil and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FREEZING: For longer storage, you can freeze the stuffed garlic bread. Wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: per serving
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
The nutritional information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the information listed is not guaranteed.
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