This cheesy garlic bread is golden, toasty, and absolutely delicious. Topped with plenty of melted cheese and fresh herbs, it pairs beautifully with almost any meal. We all love it!
Here’s a weekend treat for you.
This garlic bread browns up perfectly and is packed with fresh garlic, herbs, and spices. It tastes fantastic and comes together quickly when you don’t have time for an extra step.
If you’re familiar with my garlic confit version from Everyday Dinners, you know how incredible it is. That method uses garlic confit for a deeper, softer garlic flavor, but it requires extra time to prepare. When I don’t have confit on hand, this quicker version is my go-to.
We still make a fabulous garlicky, spicy, cheesy butter and spread it generously on the bread. The result is rich, savory, and almost as indulgent as the confit version.
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I served this garlic bread with a bruschetta salmon recipe in spring, and it was perfect. While it’s a natural partner for pasta, it’s equally wonderful beside grilled meats or roasted vegetables. Pair it with a pan of caramelized roasted veggies and you’ve got a seriously satisfying meal.
Garlic bread works in every season and complements a wide range of dishes. That versatility is one of the reasons it’s so beloved.
Here’s how I make it!
Start with a generous amount of minced garlic — I use at least eight cloves, minced as finely as possible. Mix the garlic into softened butter along with a pinch of salt, grated Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes, dried basil, and dried oregano. The result is a deeply seasoned, flavorful butter.
I prefer a large loaf of ciabatta or Italian bread, sliced lengthwise. Spread the seasoned butter all over both cut sides, drizzle with olive oil, and place the loaves on a baking sheet. Bake until the bread is golden and toasty; the aroma that fills the kitchen is irresistible.
Once the bread is golden, remove it briefly from the oven, top it with shredded provolone or mozzarella, and return it to the oven until the cheese is melted and gooey. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley, extra grated Parmesan, and more crushed red pepper if you like heat. Slice and serve hot.
You can easily adjust the spice level — sometimes I make half the loaf extra spicy for the adults and keep the other half milder for the kids.
It tastes amazing.
Spicy Cheesy Garlic Bread
Spicy Cheesy Toasty Garlic Bread
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Ingredients
- 1 loaf Italian bread
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- kosher salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
- crushed red pepper, for topping
- chopped fresh parsley, for topping
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Slice the Italian bread loaf in half lengthwise.
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In a bowl, mash together the butter, garlic cloves, Parmesan, a pinch of salt and pepper, basil, and oregano. Spread the mixture over both cut sides of the bread. Drizzle each side with olive oil and place the loaves on a baking sheet.
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Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden. Add the shredded cheese on top and bake for 2 to 3 minutes more, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Remove from the oven and top with crushed red pepper, chopped parsley, and extra Parmesan. Slice and serve warm.
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That’s heavenly.