Description
Cheesy Garlic Bread is the ultimate comfort food featuring a crispy French or Italian bread base slathered with a flavorful garlic butter, topped with a generous layer of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Enhanced with fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes, this easy-to-make side dish or snack is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Butter Mixture
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Toppings
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the bread and melting the cheese.
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the French or Italian bread in half lengthwise and place the halves cut side up on a baking sheet, making it ready for the toppings.
- Make the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to infuse the butter with garlic flavor evenly.
- Spread the Mixture: Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread, ensuring each part is covered for maximum flavor.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese followed by the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the buttered bread.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and starting to turn golden brown.
- Broil (Optional): For a crispy and browned top, broil the bread for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Keep a close watch to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and optional red pepper flakes. Slice the bread and serve warm to enjoy the gooey cheesy garlic goodness.
Notes
- For additional flavor, add Italian seasoning or a pinch of smoked paprika to the garlic butter mixture.
- To achieve a crispier crust, wrap the bread in foil for the first 10 minutes of baking, then uncover it for the last 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt and brown.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
