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This is by far our favorite Garlic Bread recipe. It takes minutes to put together and is SO cheesy and delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal, but especially for pasta and Italian dishes!

It’s a go-to side dish for any Italian meal. We also love to serve this as an appetizer at parties. It’s pretty safe to say that this is great with any pasta, especially our Fettuccine Alfredo and Italian Sausage Pasta.

Garlic Bread close up pic
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Favorite Garlic Cheese Bread

I don’t know about you, but we are huge fans of bread, and usually have it as a side dish with most meals. Whether it’s rolls or garlic bread, it’s pretty much a staple for every family dinner because we all love it.

Today’s recipe is one that my mom tried several years ago. We’ve been making it ever since and call it Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread.

It’s simple because it literally takes just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to prepare. It always turns out so cheesy and buttery.

Safe to say, it’s our favorite garlic bread recipe and we have it at least once a month, especially when we gather for Sunday dinner at grandma’s house for spaghetti or lasagna.

We prefer to use Colby Jack cheese for this recipe, but Mozzarella is great and so is Parmesan. If you are like us, and enjoy having an easy, quick, go-to bread recipe this garlic cheese bread is the one that everyone will love. It’s the perfect partner for any pasta or Italian dishes!

cheesy garlic bread process pic

How to make Garlic Bread

As we mentioned, this recipe is beyond simple!

PREHEAT OVEN. Begin, by preheating the oven to 375.

BUTTER MIXTURE. In a small bowl, blend together your butter, garlic and dressing.

CUT + SPREAD. Cut bread (Italian and French bread are our favorites to use) length-wise. Place on a baking sheet and spread butter mixture over both halves. Top bread with shredded cheese and parsley.

BAKE. Bake, uncovered, for 12 – 14 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Slice and serve.

Which Bread to Use?

What’s the difference between Italian bread and French Bread? This garlic bread can pretty much be made with any kind of bread, but we love to make it with Italian Bread or French Bread. It just depends on your preference. So what is the difference between the two?

  • French bread: French bread tends to be longer and thinner, with a more defined shape. It usually has a crusty outside and a light, soft middle
  • Italian bread: Italian bread tends to be round and somewhat flat. It’s also more dense and chewy, but it can still have a hard crust.
How to make garlic bread recipe

STORING + Serving ideas

How to store and reheat leftover garlic bread:  Wrap leftovers with foil and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. The bread will gradually become stale so freeze if you want to store them for a longer amount of time. Reheat: the microwave works, but we prefer the oven or toaster oven.

Can I make garlic bread ahead and freeze?  Yes! You can make this ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 months. Once the recipe has all been assembles place the two slices on a baking pan and flash freeze for about an hour. Remove and wrap each half tightly with plastic wrap then again with aluminum foil and label.

TO HEAT: Allow the bread to thaw. (If you want to pre slice your bread before baking cut it while the bread is still somewhat frozen)  Place bread, cheese side up, on a baking pan and bake according to recipe directions.

what to serve with garlic bread?

Most pasta dishes, main dishes and soups are great pairings for Garlic Bread. Here are some of our favorite dishes to serve it with:

Garlic Bread recipe close up

For more favorite bread recipes, check out:

4.89 from 36 votes

Garlic Bread Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This is by far our favorite Garlic Bread recipe. It takes minutes to put together and is SO cheesy and delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal, but especially for pasta and Italian dishes!
Servings: 16 slices
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓-½ cup Italian dressing
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 loaf Italian bread, halved lengthwise
  • 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese (or mozzarella cheese)
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a small bowl, blend butter, dressing and garlic.
  • Place bread cut side up on a baking sheet and spread butter mixture over both halves.
  • Top bread with cheese and parsley.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 12–14 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Slice and serve warm.

Video

Notes

Make Ahead: You can make this bread ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 months. Once the recipe has been assembled and baked, let cool and slice. Place in a large resealable plastic freezer bag and freeze. To reheat, place frozen pieces on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 4–5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 279kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 247mg, Potassium: 80mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 321IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 103mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

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4.89 from 36 votes (16 ratings without comment)

36 Comments

  1. Kristi Kleinman says:

    1 star
    I really wanted to like this recipe. However, I couldn’t even finish one piece. I should have known since I don’t like Italian dressing. All I tasty was vinegar. It tasted soggy and rotten because of it! I regret using both halves of the super soft Italian loaf I bought cuz it would have been great with just garlic and butter. I’m still hoping to try more recipes from this site. I need to remember everyone has different tastes so just because it is rated 5 stars by others doesnt mean I’m guaranteed to like it.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for your feedback and sure appreciate you giving the recipe a try! Hopefully you’ll find another recipe on our site that you enjoy more. 🙂

  2. Danielle says:

    5 stars
    Mmm forgot all about this recipe until this past weekend. Made it again and was so happy I remembered. This is so yummy and a crowd pleaser every time!

  3. Jennie Little says:

    5 stars
    This is our FAVORITE side for anything pasta! I crave it! So so yummy!

    1. Jennie Little says:

      5 stars
      10 Stars!!