This delicious garlic bread starts with a french bread base that’s spread with seasoned butter and topped with mozzarella cheese for that perfect cheesy pull!
Why this recipe works
This cheesy garlic bread has a secret ingredient in it – cardamom. Cardamom gives it a delicious, but slightly different taste than normal, and we highly suggest you give it a try here! The flavors are incredible and unique, and I bet you will want to make it over and over again. As always, feel free to omit it if it doesn’t suit your taste, it’s super tasty either way.
These cheesy garlic bread slices remind me of french bread pizza without the sauce. Optionally toss on some peppers or onions if you’re looking to enjoy it as a complete meal. That’s the beauty of a versatile recipe like this. You can season it to your heart’s desire or add in whatever you’d like to customize it.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
BREAD – We love a classic French bread loaf when we make garlic bread, but Italian bread works just as well! You can even make homemade French or Italian bread if that’s your fancy.
BUTTER MIXTURE – Salted butter is what we use here, but it can be substituted with unsalted or even olive oil. For the seasonings, you’ll want garlic powder, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried basil, onion powder, and ground cardamom. As we stated above, you can remove the cardamom if you don’t like the taste, but we think it’s the perfect touch to this bread! If you don’t have cardamom on hand you can mix equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg to replicate the flavor.
CHEESE – Good ole mozzarella cheese is a classic on top of garlic bread. Cheddar, colby jack, provolone, and pepper jack also work like magic as a substitute, as well as a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top if desired.
How to Make Cheesy Garlic Bread
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet pan by lining it with aluminum foil.
- Cut the French bread loaf in half lengthwise and set bread on a sheet pan.
- In a bowl, mix together the salted butter, garlic powder, ground cardamom, dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, and dried rosemary. Thoroughly coat the top and edges of each bread loaf with the butter mixture.
- Wrap each bread loaf in aluminum foil and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
- Once the bread is done baking, remove it from the aluminum foil and sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and set the oven to broil. Broil for another 1-2 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the bread from the oven and top off with optional fresh chopped parsley or parmesan cheese.
- Let bread cool slightly to make it easier to handle before cutting into horizontal slices. Plate and serve warm.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Depending on personal preference, some people might want to use less butter or opt for a healthier option. This recipe does call for quite a bit of butter, so if you would prefer a lighter version, substitute with grapeseed oil, olive oil, or even coconut oil. If you use any of those, use about ½ of a cup instead. You may also cut back on the amount of butter if you’d like without compromising anything.
Absolutely. Prepare the garlic bread, do not bake, and wrap it in plastic wrap followed by a wrap of aluminum foil. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes, it’s quite easy to make this bread ahead of time. Prepare the bread as you would according to directions without baking. Store the prepped garlic bread wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the refrigerator for a few hours or up to 1 day in advance.
Serving Suggestions
Garlic bread is certainly a comfort food, and works well as a side for so many different dishes. Pasta, pizza, salad, and soup are all great options to serve it up with, but it can also be made as an appetizer! We like our garlic bread with a side of marinara, ranch, or garlic butter. Below is a list of dinner ideas that pair well with this bread.
- Baked Ziti
- Italian Lasagna
- Hamburger Stew
- Homemade Goulash
- John Wayne Casserole
- Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara
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Cheesy Garlic Bread
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- ⅔ cup salted butter 1 stick + 3 Tbsp. softened
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground cardamom optional, but suggested
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dried rosemary
- 1 ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- fresh parsley chopped, optional
- grated parmesan cheese optional
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- If you don’t have cardamom on hand, you can mix equal parts cinnamon and nutmeg to replicate the flavor.
- You can use an Italian loaf instead if you prefer.
- If preferred, substitute the salted butter with unsalted or use olive oil in its place. If using olive oil, use about 1/2 cup.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a baking sheet pan by lining it with aluminum foil.
- Cut the French bread loaf in half lengthwise and set bread on a sheet pan.
- In a bowl, mix together the salted butter, garlic powder, ground cardamom, dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, and dried rosemary. Thoroughly coat the top and edges of each bread loaf with the butter mixture.
- Wrap each bread loaf in aluminum foil and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
- Once the bread is done baking, remove it from the aluminum foil and sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and set the oven to broil. Broil for another 1-2 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove the bread from the oven and top off with optional fresh chopped parsley or parmesan cheese.
- Let bread cool slightly to make it easier to handle before cutting into horizontal slices. Plate and serve warm.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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