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This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread is made with golden, crispy sourdough stuffed with garlic herb butter and loaded with melty mozzarella, and it disappears in minutes every single time I make it.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, a cozy Sunday pasta night, or a game-day party, this sourdough garlic bread is the appetizer everyone reaches for first.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- Ingredients for Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- How to Make Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread with Sourdough
- Tips and Tricks for the best results
- Why You Need to Make This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- Frequently asked questions – FAQ
- Sourdough Garlic Cheese Pull-Apart Bread Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- Made with crusty sourdough for extra texture
- Loaded with melty mozzarella and parmesan
- Perfect for holidays, pasta nights, or game day
- Easy to prep ahead
- A guaranteed crowd-pleaser
If you love sourdough recipes and dishes similar to this one, check out this Starbucks Sourdough Grilled Cheese Recipe, Sourdough Discard Biscuits, and these Cheesy Sourdough Bagels.
Ingredients for Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- Sourdough Bread: is the base of the dish and provides a robust flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: coats the delicious loaf and ensures a crispy texture when baked. Use unsalted so we can control the amount of salt that goes in separately.
- Garlic: adds a pungent and aromatic kick.
- Fresh Parsley: provides a fresh flavor that contrasts with the richness of the cheesy dish.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: melts to create strings of gooey cheese throughout the bread.
- Parmesan Cheese: adds a sharp flavor and helps create a golden brown crust on top of the bread.
- Salt and Pepper: balances the overall flavors of the warm bread. Adjust to taste.
How to Make Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread with Sourdough
- Preheat your oven. Without going all the way down, cut the fresh sourdough loaf in a crosshatch pattern by slicing it vertically and horizontally using a sharp serrated knife. Make sure not to crosswise cut all the way through so the bottom of the loaf stays intact and holds the loaf together.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper until well combined.
- Using a spoon or a pastry brush, generously work the garlic butter mixture into the bread’s nooks and crannies.
- Stuff the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan into the sliced openings, making sure the cheese mixture is evenly distributed throughout the entire loaf.
- Place the loaf on a baking sheet and loosely wrap it in foil.
- Loosely wrap the bread in foil and bake until warmed through, then uncover and bake again until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden and crisp.
- Take the bread out of the oven and let it sit for a few minutes to cool slightly.
- Serve the sourdough pull-apart cheese bread warm and let everyone pull pieces apart to enjoy that melty, cheesy, garlicky perfection!
This cheesy pull-apart garlic bread with sourdough is surprisingly simple to assemble but looks impressive enough for entertaining.
Tips and Tricks for the best results
- Brush the exposed parts of the bread with a little bit of extra garlic herb butter before baking for extra crispy edges.
- Use a kitchen scale instead of a measuring cup to weigh your ingredients for the most accurate measurement.
- Use full-fat mozzarella instead of reduced-fat so that the cheese pulls better and more beautifully.
- Fresh ingredients will give a better flavor. Use fresh parsley instead of dried, and freshly minced garlic instead of jarred.
- Add a sprinkle of garlic powder, more fresh herbs, or Italian seasoning into the melted butter mixture for extra flavor.
Why You Need to Make This Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread
- It’s the best bread recipe that makes an incredible side dish or easy appetizer.
- The best part about this easy recipe is that it needs firm bread, so it’s great for using old or stale bread that you’ve had for a few days.
- Swap out your basic dinner rolls and try this perfect appetizer instead next time!
- It’s impressive enough to make for special occasions like holidays or birthdays.
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
Yes! While sourdough gives the best texture and structure, you can use any crusty bread like French bread or Italian bread. Avoid very soft sandwich bread since it may become soggy.
Absolutely! Sharp cheddar cheese, fontina, provolone, or Monterey Jack all melt well and add great flavor.
Definitely, you can assemble the entire bread with the softened butter mixture and cheese, wrap it in foil, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake the next day, just bake as directed.
Place your leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top bag and put it in the fridge. It should last for 3-4 days if the seal is airtight. To freeze, simply put it in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to a month or two. It will last longer if you wrap it tightly in plastic wrap first.
If your bread got too soggy, you may have just put too much of the butter mixture. But that’s not a problem. Just keep it uncovered in the oven and continue baking until it firms up.
This cheesy pull-apart garlic bread pairs especially well with pasta dishes, lasagna, creamy soups, and hearty stews.
If you try this Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below, I love seeing how you serve it!
Sourdough Garlic Cheese Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of sourdough bread store-bought or homemade
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F
- Slice the sourdough bread in a crisscross pattern, making vertical and horizontal cuts but ensuring the bottom of the loaf stays intact (like a grid). Be careful not to cut all the way through the loaf; you want to keep the bottom connected so the bread stays whole.1 loaf of sourdough bread
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is fully incorporated.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 6 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, Salt and pepper
- Use a spoon or pastry brush to generously drizzle the garlic butter mixture into all the cracks and crevices of the bread.
- Sprinkle both the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese into the cracks, making sure the bread is well-filled with the cheese.2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Wrap the bread loosely in aluminum foil and place it on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then open the foil and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread is golden brown.
- Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. You can brush the bread with more melted butter if you want it to have that beautiful shine.
- Serve warm and pull apart to enjoy the gooey, cheesy goodness!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
