Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread for Parties, Game Days, and Family Nights
This cheesy pull-apart garlic bread is the ultimate comfort food, buttery, garlicky, and loaded with melty cheese in every bite. It’s the perfect party appetizer, side dish, or game-day snack that disappears in minutes. With crispy edges, gooey cheese, and fragrant garlic butter in every crack, it’s impossible to resist!
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Pull-apart bread has become a party favorite as it’s fun to eat and incredibly flavorful. This cheesy garlic version takes classic garlic bread to the next level by stuffing butter, herbs, and cheese deep into every slice. It pairs beautifully with pasta, soups, or your favorite appetizers, or just enjoy it on its own!
Key Takeaways
- Cheesy pull-apart garlic bread is a round crusty loaf that is deeply scored, filled with garlic butter and cheese, then baked until crisp on the outside and gooey inside.
- This bread works as a party appetizer, game-day snack, or family side dish, and pairs well with pasta, soups, salads, and other comfort foods.
- The best bread for this recipe is a firm, crusty round loaf, such as sourdough, since it holds the deep cuts and cheese without falling apart.
- The recipe takes about 30 minutes: score the loaf, mix garlic butter, stuff the cuts with butter and cheese, wrap in foil, then bake until the cheese melts and the edges are golden.
- You can assemble the loaf ahead, refrigerate or freeze it, then bake just before serving, and reheat leftovers in the oven to restore a crisp exterior.
Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread Ingredients
See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a serrated knife, cut deep crisscross slices in the loaf without cutting all the way through. In a bowl, mix melted butter, garlic, salt, parsley, and Italian herbs.
Step 2: Spread the garlic butter mixture into all cut sections. Stuff the grated cheese into every crack evenly.
Step 3: Wrap the loaf fully in foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Unwrap and bake another 5–7 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are golden. Serve hot and pull apart by hand!
Expert Tips
- Pick a loaf with a firm crust so the pull-apart pieces hold their shape.
- Let the melted butter cool slightly before mixing in the garlic.
- Grate your own cheese for the best melt.
- If serving for guests, bake it right before everyone arrives.
Serving Ideas & Variations
- Serve alongside pasta dishes, lasagna, creamy soups, or a platter of easy entertaining recipes.
- Turn it into a game-day snack with a side of marinara, ranch, or garlic dipping sauce.
- Add finely chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a mild kick.
- Swap in rosemary or chives if you prefer a different herb profile.
- Use a mix of mozzarella and provolone for extra stretch, or add a touch of parmesan for a sharper finish.
- For a richer loaf, tuck small pieces of pepperoni or cooked bacon into a few of the cuts.
Pull-Apart Garlic Bread FAQs
Yes. Assemble the loaf, wrap it tightly in foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake just before serving.
You can freeze the assembled loaf before baking. Bake from frozen at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
A crusty round loaf (sourdough or similar) works best since it holds the cuts well and creates a sturdy base for the cheese and garlic butter.
Freshly grated melts better, but pre-shredded works fine for convenience.
Place the bread in the oven at 325°F for 8 to 10 minutes to re-melt the cheese and crisp the edges again.
More Party Appetizers
- Crispy fried tortellini bites are the kind of appetizer that disappear fast once they hit the table. Lightly breaded and fried until crisp, they’re easy to pass around and just as easy to pair with your favorite dipping sauces. Perfect for parties, game day spreads, or casual get-togethers where finger food is the real star.
- Thin and crispy Turkish lahmacun is baked with a finely spiced lamb topping that keeps every bite flavorful and light. The flatbread slices easily for sharing or folds neatly for a casual, hands-on meal. It works just as well on a party table as it does for a relaxed dinner spread.
- These bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts have the perfect mix of crisp edges, tender centers, and a glossy maple finish. They’re the kind of sweet-savory bites that disappear fast at parties and fit effortlessly into holiday menus or any casual gathering. Simple to make, easy to serve, and guaranteed to stand out on any appetizer spread.
- A golden, crunchy coating gives these bite-sized appetizers a texture that immediately pulls you in. These crispy cauliflower bites stay tender inside while holding a firm, crackly exterior that pairs perfectly with the cool yogurt dill sauce. It’s a simple fried cauliflower appetizer that feels fun, satisfying, and impossible to stop eating.
- Thinly sliced and fried until crisp, these banana chifles are a classic plantain chip with a clean, salty crunch. They fry up golden, stay light and crisp, and work just as well for casual snacking as they do on a snack board. Simple, familiar, and easy to keep reaching for.
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Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
Equipment
- Serrated knife
- Small mixing bowl
- Spoon or pastry brush
- Aluminum foil
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 round loaf crusty bread
- ½ cup melted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- 2 cups grated cheese mozzarella, cheddar, or a mix
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs oregano or basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Place the loaf on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, make deep crisscross cuts across the surface of the bread, keeping the base intact so the loaf stays connected.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, garlic, salt, parsley, and Italian herbs.
- Spoon or brush the garlic butter into all the cuts. Pack the grated cheese into each slit so it’s distributed throughout.
- Wrap the loaf tightly in foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Unwrap and return to the oven for 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese melts and the top turns golden.
- Serve warm. Pull pieces apart by hand straight from the loaf.
Notes
- Use a sturdy, crusty loaf so it holds its shape when cut.
- Mix mozzarella for stretch and cheddar for flavor.
- Add a pinch of crushed red pepper for a mild heat.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven to crisp the edges again.
