Cheesy Pull Apart Bread is the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer crispy on the outside, cheesy and garlicky on the inside, and irresistible from the very first bite. It’s the perfect dish for sharing at gatherings, parties, or holiday feasts.
With a golden crust, gooey melted cheese, and fragrant garlic butter tucked between each piece, this bread is a showstopper that also happens to be unbelievably easy to make. All you need is a good loaf of crusty bread, garlic butter, and your favorite melty cheese to create this pull-apart masterpiece.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
Cheesy Pull Apart Bread is pure comfort food buttery, garlicky, and loaded with melted cheese in every pull. It’s warm, inviting, and beautifully simple, yet looks impressive enough for entertaining guests.
This recipe takes only a few ingredients and turns them into something magical. The aroma of garlic butter wafting from the oven and the sight of stretchy, melted cheese with every pull make it an unforgettable dish for parties, holidays, or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
Bread and Cheese
- 1 crusty loaf, preferably sourdough or Vienna
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or any good melting cheese)
Garlic Butter
- 100 g / 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Step-by-Step Method
Step 1: Prepare the bread
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup.
Place the loaf of bread on a cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the bread into a grid pattern make slices about 1 inch apart in both directions, but don’t cut all the way through. The bread should remain joined at the base to hold everything together.
Step 2: Make the garlic butter
In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, salt, and finely chopped parsley. Stir until smooth and well-mixed. The aroma alone will make your kitchen smell incredible.
Step 3: Stuff the bread
Using a small spoon or knife, gently pry open each cut in the bread and spread a bit of the garlic butter inside, making sure to coat as much as possible for maximum flavor.
Then, stuff shredded mozzarella cheese into each cut don’t be shy! The more cheese, the more ooey-gooey goodness when baked.
Step 4: Wrap and bake
Transfer the prepared loaf to your foil-lined baking sheet. Loosely wrap the bread with foil to keep it from browning too quickly while the cheese melts.
Bake for 15 minutes, then unwrap the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 5: Serve
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Sprinkle with a little extra parsley if you’d like, then let guests pull apart pieces by hand and enjoy the cheesy garlic layers inside.
Expert Tips for Success
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Use crusty bread: Sourdough or Vienna loaves hold up best without becoming soggy.
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Don’t cut too deep: Keep the base intact to make the bread easy to pull apart.
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Stuff generously: Be sure to get both butter and cheese into every nook and cranny.
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Wrap loosely: This keeps the inside soft and melty while allowing the crust to crisp up later.
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Reheat smart: Leftovers reheat well wrapped in foil bake at 325°F for about 10 minutes.
Tasty Variations to Try
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Cheese mix: Combine mozzarella with cheddar or Monterey Jack for extra flavor.
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Herb delight: Add thyme, oregano, or rosemary to the garlic butter for an herbal twist.
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Spicy version: Sprinkle red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño into the cheese mix.
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Bacon and cheese: Add crispy turkey bacon bits between slices for smoky, salty crunch.
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Italian-style: Use garlic butter mixed with grated Parmesan and a dash of Italian seasoning.
Serving Ideas
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Party appetizer: Place the loaf at the center of the table guests can pull pieces apart by hand.
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Soup companion: Serve alongside tomato soup, potato soup, or creamy broccoli soup.
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Family pizza night: Swap mozzarella for pizza cheese blend and serve with marinara dip.
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Holiday side dish: A perfect addition to Thanksgiving or Christmas spreads.
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Movie night snack: Just the right size for sharing while watching your favorite film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of bread?
Yes! Sourdough works great, but any firm-crusted loaf will do. Avoid very soft bread it doesn’t hold up when baking or pulling apart.
Can I prepare it ahead of time?
Definitely. Assemble the loaf (but don’t bake) and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Bake just before serving for best texture and flavor.
Can I use pre-shredded cheese?
You can, but freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly and tastes fresher.
Can I make it with vegan alternatives?
Absolutely. Use plant-based butter and dairy-free mozzarella to make it vegan-friendly.
How to serve leftovers?
Reheat leftovers in the oven, or toast small pieces in an air fryer for 5 minutes until crispy again.
Print
Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
- Total Time: 35
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
The ultimate shareable appetizer with a crisp crust, gooey garlic butter, and melted cheese between buttery layers of crusty bread. Perfect for gatherings, holidays, or quick crowd-pleasing snacks.
Ingredients
- 1 crusty loaf (sourdough or Vienna works best)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (or any melting cheese)
- 100 g / 8 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheet with foil. Using serrated knife, slice bread into 1-inch grid without cutting fully through keep base intact.
- Mix softened butter, garlic, salt, and parsley until smooth and fragrant.
- Gently separate bread cuts and spread garlic butter inside. Fill each gap with shredded cheese evenly.
- Place loaf on foil-lined sheet. Loosely wrap with foil and bake 15 minutes.
- Uncover and bake 10 more minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let cool slightly. Garnish with parsley, pull apart, and serve warm.
Notes
Use firm crusty bread to keep crisp and hold filling.
Do not cut fully through bread base to keep loaf intact.
Fill generously with cheese for maximum gooey flavor.
Wrap loosely to melt cheese while crisping crust.
Reheat leftovers wrapped in foil at 325°F for 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Appetizer, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 loaf
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: cheesy pull apart bread, garlic mozzarella bread, party appetizer, easy baked bread, garlic butter cheese loaf
