This cheesy garlic bread is crunchy on the exterior, soft on the inside, and bursting with garlic and butter tastes. It’s done in 20 minutes! This recipe makes an appealing side dish out of ciabatta bread and an Asiago and Parmesan cheese combo.

I have a lot of comfort foods, which is why I have a whole category on my site devoted to them. At any given moment, everything involving cheese is at the top of my list. Carbohydrates and cheese.

You know, things like mozzarella sticks, soft pretzels with beer cheese, pizza, baked mac and cheese, ham and cheese strata, cheddar bay biscuits, and so on. I’ve just added homemade cheesy garlic bread to that list.

What kind of cheese should I use for this garlic bread recipe?

I like the combo of Asiago and Parmesan, but ultimately, what you want is genuine melting cheese.

Other excellent cheese options are the standard mozzarella, finely shredded cheddar, provolone, or muenster.

However, as is often the case, freshly shredded or grated cheese melts smoother and more smoothly than pre-packaged varieties. They’ll do in a pinch, but fresh is always best!

What kind of bread should I use for garlic bread?

You may use anything you like, just make sure it’s a strong loaf of bread.

Ciabatta is my particular favorite, which is not a common option. Most people like a French bread or an Italian loaf, but a baguette from a local market would also work for this dish.

How to make garlic butter

It’s incredibly simple: in a small bowl, combine very soft unsalted butter, chopped garlic, and black pepper. That’s all there is to it! A number of things to keep in mind to get the best results:

• Use extremely soft but not melted butter.If it’s melted, it’ll seep into all the small cracks instead of sitting on the surface, which won’t give the bread the same texture we’re aiming for.
• Don’t use minced garlic instead. Fresh garlic, peeled and minced, is required, since garlic powder will not produce the desired consistency for the butter spread.

Tips for making the best homemade garlic bread

I wouldn’t say I’m particular about cheesy garlic bread, but I do have preferences for the kind of bread and cheeses I like.

• Spread the garlic butter mixture thickly and evenly. It should cover every square inch of the sliced side of your bread!
• Do you want additional cheese? More cheese, please!I’ve included a modest quantity in the recipe below, but I’ve been known to add 50% more when I’m wanting cheese.
• Flat leaf parsley is required. When you’re at the grocery, make sure you get flat-leaf parsley rather than curly-leaf parsley. Flat-leaf parsley, in my view, has a more pleasing taste. Curly is a little bitter for me.

How to store garlic bread

Refrigerating garlic bread can dry it out and cause it to go stale faster.

After cooling to room temperature, keep it in an airtight bag or container at room temperature. At room temperature, it will only survive a few days.

I’d suggest freezing it if you want to keep it for a longer amount of time. Allow it to cool to room temperature before wrapping it in plastic wrap followed by foil. After that, put the bread in a freezer-safe bag and press out any extra air. Can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.

How to reheat garlic bread

Wrap the garlic bread in foil and lay it on a baking sheet on the center rack to reheat (it may be cut or still whole). Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until well warmed.

If you wish to broil the cheese, remove the top from the foil and put it on the top rack for a few minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn!

I don’t advocate warming it in the microwave since it will have an unusual soft feel and will harden rapidly at room temperature.

Garlic bread variations

You can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true original, but if you want to shake things up, try this.

• Serve with thinly sliced tomatoes and chopped basil on top.
• You could even make garlic bread pizzas out of them! Before adding the cheese, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on top and top with your favorite pizza toppings.
• For a more intense garlic taste, replace the minced garlic with roasted garlic spread.

What to serve with garlic bread

The thing with garlic bread is that I feel it goes with almost everything.

If it were socially acceptable, I’d simply eat a loaf by myself for supper. Okay, fine. I’ve done it before, and I’m not sorry.

However, the following meals go nicely with your hot, cheesy, crunchy handmade garlic bread:

• Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers Dinner
• Pastas: Summer Vegetable Spaghetti, Ground Turkey Stuffed Shells, Veggie Lasagna Rollups, Ramen Spaghetti Bake
• Soups: Carrot Ginger Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, and Easy Instant Pot Corn Chowder