This recipe makes a warm, gooey, and flavorful cheese bread perfect for appetizers, snacks, or as a side with your favorite pasta dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf of Italian or French bread (about 12-16 inches long)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or a blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Bread:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Slice the bread lengthwise, creating two halves.
- Make the Garlic Butter:
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Spread the Butter:
- Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both halves of the bread.
- Add the Cheese:
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese (and any other cheese blend you’re using) evenly over the buttered bread.
- If you choose to add parmesan, sprinkle it now.
- Bake:
- Place the bread halves on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Remove the cheese bread from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- If desired, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.
- Slice the bread into individual servings and serve warm.
Tips and Variations:
- Cheese Variations: Feel free to experiment with different cheeses, such as cheddar, provolone, or Monterey Jack.
- Spicy Cheese Bread: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for a spicy kick.
- Fresh Garlic: For a more intense garlic flavor, use freshly minced garlic.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme can also be added for extra flavor.
- Broiling: For extra browning on the cheese, broil the bread for the last 1-2 minutes of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Air Fryer: you can also cook this in an air fryer. 350 degrees F for about 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.