Cheesy Garlic Bread is an individual serving roll that is filled with a garlicky cheesy center and layered with garlic butter and more cheese before being baked to a golden brown. They are meant as individual servings but are big enough for 2 folks to share!
This Cheesy Garlic Bread is a step up from traditional garlic bread. Layers of garlic butter and shredded cheese surround a cream cheese mixture filling, making each bite full of garlicky, cheesy flavor. The cream cheese flavor is not lost in this bread and blends perfectly with the other cheese and garlic butter.
WHY IS THIS RECIPE DIFFERENT?
I have spent far too much time trying to cut up big loaves of bread to make the “traditional” pull-apart bread. I always seem to mess it up, not get the cuts deep enough, make them too deep, not enough cheese in the cuts, etc. This “individual” sized portion is a LOT easier to manage and still has maximum flavor!
CHEESY GARLIC BREAD RECIPE
There are two parts to this recipe–the cream cheese filling and the garlic butter. So, once you have your rolls picked out (I recommend Kaiser rolls, otherwise known as a Vienna or hard rolls. They are a bit bigger than a standard hamburger bun and bought UNCUT.), get the rest of the ingredients you need to get this cheesy bread baked and served!
Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients (full recipe below)
- Cream cheese
- Heavy whipping cream
- Lemon juice
- Shredded mozzarella cheese–One cup of the mozzarella cheese will be used in this filling; the other cup will be used as added cheese before being baked.
Garlic Butter Ingredients
- Butter
- Garlic
- Kosher salt
- Parsley
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY GARLIC BREAD
The cream cheese filling is the center of this cheesy bread. To make the filling, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until creamy. Add in the heavy whipping cream and lemon juice, continuing to mix until the mixture is smooth. Fold in one cup of the mozzarella cheese (reserving the other cup for the added layers of cheese).
Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a piping bag and let it chill in the refrigerator as you prepare the garlic butter. To make the garlic butter, combine the melted butter, garlic, salt, and parsley in a medium bowl. It’s time to load up the rolls with all the garlicky flavor.
ASSEMBLING AND BAKING CHEESY GARLIC BREAD
First, make two lengthwise cuts on the tops of each roll so you have four wedges, but don’t cut all the way through the bread or your cheesy layers will not stay in! Begin filling the rolls with the reserved shredded mozzarella cheese. Use about 1/8 cup of cheese for each roll to start.
Next, pipe in equal amounts of the cream cheese mixture in each roll, using all of it. Then, pour half the garlic butter equally over the four rolls. Top with another 1/8 cup of mozzarella cheese in each roll and the other half of the garlic butter. Bake for 7-10 minutes at 350°F, or until golden brown. I baked all four in a large (15-inch) oven-safe skillet, but you could also use a parchment-lined baking sheet as well. Garnish with parsley before serving.
HOW TO SERVE CHEESY GARLIC BREAD
This cheesy bread is definitely a rich and filling bread that can easily be cut in half, or even in fourths, before serving. For serving size, I said 8 servings in the recipe, and that is if everyone ate half a roll. This bread would be delicious with Spaghetti and Meatballs or as a side of bread for any main dish.
Ingredients
- 4 round (5-6 inch) rolls
CREAM CHEESE FILLING
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon parsley, minced (optional)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
GARLIC BUTTER
- 1 cup (2 sticks or 227g) butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon parsley, minced
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F
CREAM CHEESE FILLING
Beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer until creamy.
Add the heavy whipping cream, lemon juice, and parsley and continue to beat until the mixture is smooth.
Fold in one cup of the mozzarella cheese, reserving the other cup for layering.
Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and chill in the fridge while you prepare the garlic butter.
GARLIC BUTTER
In a medium bowl combine butter, garlic, salt, and parsley. Stir until well combined.
ASSEMBLY
Make two lengthwise cuts on the top of the rolls, (like an X) making sure that the base of the bread remains attached, so not cutting all the way through.
Begin by filling each roll with 1/8 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
Pipe the cream cheese mixture equally into each roll. To do that fill up a plastic bag (or piping bag) with the cream cheese mixture and then twist it on top to avoid spillage. Cut off the top so that you can easily pipe the cream cheese mixture between the bread wedges. You can also apply with a knife, just be careful with the bread.
Pour half the garlic butter sauce equally on each roll on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Add another 1/8 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Top with the remaining garlic butter. I like to spoon it over so that you can get all the delicious garlic bits on each roll.
Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown, in a large (15-inch) oven-safe skillet. Top with parsley, for garnish.
