This recipe delivers warm, gooey, and irresistibly cheesy garlic bread perfect for any occasion. It’s easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf of Italian or French bread (about 12-16 inches long)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions:
- Prepare the Bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the loaf of bread in half horizontally.
- Make the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Spread the Garlic Butter: Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both halves of the bread.
- Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the garlic butter. If desired, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the bread halves on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the bread are golden brown.
- Slice and Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool for a minute or two. Then, slice the cheesy bread into individual servings and serve immediately.
Optional Additions/Variations:
- Spicy Cheesy Bread: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for a spicy kick.
- Herb Variations: Change up the herbs! Try fresh basil, thyme, or rosemary.
- Different Cheeses: Experiment with different cheeses like provolone, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes before adding the cheese for extra flavor.
- Caramelized Onions: top the buttered bread with carmelized onions before the cheese.
- Broiling: For extra browning on the top of the cheese, broil for the last 1-2 minutes of baking, watching very closely to prevent burning.