This Garlic Bread with Cheese is made with French Bread, a delicious garlic butter mixture, and is topped with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese. Plus a secret ingredient that takes this recipe up to restaurant quality!

Be sure to serve this with some Pink Sauce Pasta, and try my Pizza Dip recipe next!

A hand picking up Garlic Bread with Cheese.

Garlic Bread With Cheese

Did you think I could possibly post a recipe for garlic bread without adding cheese to it?! Never.

I am excited to share with you a secret ingredient that gives this garlic bread a little extra something. See if you can spot it below, then check out my PRO tips, how to freeze it to bake another day, reheating instructions, etc. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • French Bread: The best choice when it comes to garlic bread.
  • Butter: High-quality salted butter is best for this recipe. I like to use Cabot or Land O’ Lakes.
  • Fresh Garlic: The fresher the better, minced yourself at home.
  • Cheese: Parmesan and Mozzarella shredded/grated at home from a block is best for taste and texture.
  • Italian Salad Dressing: Optional, but it takes this right up to restaurant quality. I use Olive Garden salad dressing which you can also make at home.

An overhead view of ingredients needed to make Garlic Bread with Cheese.

How to Make It

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Slice the bread in half to create two thinner pieces of equal size.
  • Combine room temperature butter, minced garlic, 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, and Italian Salad Dressing. Spread it evenly over each slice of bread. Top with Parmesan, then with remaining 2 cups of Mozzarella.
  • Bake at 350° for 10 minutes, then increase heat to 450° and baked until the top begins to brown, up to 8 more minutes.
  • Cut into 1-inch slices, garnish with parsley, and serve with pasta, soup, or homemade marinara sauce.

French bread with garlic butter, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese on top before being baked to make Garlic Bread with Cheese. French bread topped with Garlic Butter and Melted Cheese before slicing to make Garlic Bread with Cheese.

Why is my Garlic Bread Soggy

  • Garlic bread that sits too long before being baked or that is cooked at a temperature that is too low can become soggy.
  • For this recipe we’ll bake it at 350° until the cheese is melted (10 minutes), then increase the heat to 450° for the remainder of the baking time, about 8 more minutes, or until it begins to brown on the top. Watch it carefully to ensure it doesn’t burn.
  • I like to use a thick 1lb. loaf of French bread so that I can slice it in half and still have two pieces that are thick enough to hold up underneath the garlic butter spread and cheese.

Freezer Garlic Bread

This recipe can be prepared ahead of time to freeze and serve later.

  • Prepare the bread as outlined and cut it into slices. (Don’t bake it.) Flash freeze it for 40 minutes. Transfer it to an airtight freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • When ready to serve, bake it at 350° until the cheese is melted, (about 13 minutes). Then increase heat to 450° and bake until the top begins to brown, (up to 8 more minutes).

Pro Tips

  • French Bread is the best kind to use for this recipe. It has crispy outer crust which allows it to hold up well, and it’s soft in the middle which is perfect for absorbing the cheesy garlic butter spread!
  • Use fresh garlic instead of jarred, it tastes much better! If the garlic clove isn’t fresh it may turn a blueish green color when it bakes. This is from the acid in the Italian dressing. It’s still safe to eat.
  • Shred/grate your own Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese from a block, it tastes and melts much better.
  • Use high-quality ingredients for this recipe. I like to use Cabot or Land O’ Lakes Butter.

Storage

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating

  • To reheat garlic bread, simply wrap it in foil and bake it at 350° until heated through, about 10 minutes for refrigerated or 15-20 minutes for frozen.
  • To reheat it in the microwave, turn the power down to around 40% and reheat with a cover over it for 1 minute or so. If the bread gets too hot, it will lose its texture and become very chewy.

Sticks of Garlic Bread with Cheese topped with parsley.

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A hand pulling up a slice of Garlic Bread with Cheese from a line of them.

Garlic Bread With Cheese

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
5 from 26 ratings
Servings: 16 slices
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This Garlic Bread with Cheese is made with French Bread, a delicious garlic butter mixture, and is topped with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread, about 1 lb.
  • 1 stick salted butter, at room temperature
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • Fresh Parsley, to garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Combine the butter, garlic, Italian salad dressing, and 1 cup of the Mozzarella cheese in a large bowl until well incorporated.
  • Slice the French bread in half lengthwise and spread the top of each half with equal amounts of garlic butter.
  • Place the halves on a baking sheet, butter side up. Top with Parmesan cheese, then with remaining Mozzarella.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
  • Increase heat to 450° and bake for up to 8 additional minutes, until the top begins to brown. Keep an eye on it during this time.
  • Remove and cut into 1-inch slices. Garnish with parsley and serve with pasta, soup, or homemade marinara sauce.

Notes

Pro Tips
  • French Bread is the best kind to use for this recipe. It has a crispy outer crust which allows it to hold up well, and it's soft in the middle which is perfect for absorbing the cheesy garlic butter spread!
  • Use fresh garlic instead of jarred, it tastes much better! If the garlic clove isn't fresh it may turn a blueish green color when it bakes. This is from the acid in the Italian dressing. It's still safe to eat.
  • Shred/grate your own Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese from a block, it tastes and melts much better.
  • Use high-quality ingredients for this recipe. I like to use Cabot or Land O' Lakes Butter.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating
  • To reheat garlic bread, simply wrap it in foil and bake it at 350° until heated through, about 10 minutes for refrigerated or 15-20 minutes for frozen.
  • To reheat it in the microwave, turn the power down to around 40% and reheat with a cover over it for 1 minute or so. If the bread gets too hot, it will lose its texture and become very chewy.
Freezer Garlic Bread
This recipe can be prepared ahead of time to freeze and serve later.
  • Prepare the bread as outlined and cut it into 1-inch slices. (Don't bake it.) Flash freeze it for 40 minutes. Transfer it to an airtight freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • When ready to serve, bake it at 350° until the cheese is melted, (about 13 minutes). Then increase heat to 450° and bake until the top begins to brown, (up to 8 more minutes).

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 372mg, Potassium: 59mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 332IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Author: Stephanie