Cheesy Garlic Pizza Bread (Printable version)
Golden, crispy bread topped with garlic butter, melted cheeses, and fresh herbs for a savory, satisfying bite.
# What you need:
→ Bread
01 - 1 large pizza crust, approximately 12 inches in diameter (store-bought or homemade)
→ Garlic Butter
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Cheeses
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approximately 100 grams)
09 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (approximately 50 grams)
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (approximately 25 grams)
→ Optional Toppings
11 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
12 - Additional chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
# How To:
01 - Set the oven temperature to 430°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly blended.
03 - Place the pizza crust on the lined baking sheet and evenly spread the garlic butter mixture across its surface.
04 - Sprinkle the mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the garlic buttered crust.
05 - If desired, sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes evenly over the cheese layer for added heat.
06 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cheeses are melted, bubbling, and golden around the edges.
07 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Slice into 8 wedges, garnish with extra parsley if desired, and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It looks homemade and impressive but comes together in 30 minutes flat, which feels like cheating.
- The garlic butter soaks into the bread while the three cheeses melt into this creamy, salty dream that tastes way better than store-bought garlic bread.
- You can make it with store-bought pizza bases and still have people think you've spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
- The butter-to-bread ratio matters more than you think; too little and it tastes dry and plain, too much and it becomes heavy—trust the measurements.
- If your pizza base is frozen, let it thaw to room temperature first or add a few extra minutes to the baking time so the inside cooks through while the cheese gets bubbly.
- Fresh garlic makes a real difference here; garlic powder just doesn't have the same warmth and subtlety when it bakes.
03 -
- Room-temperature softened butter spreads like butter should, not like cold or melted butter struggling to coat the bread evenly.
- Freshly grated or shredded cheese melts faster and more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties, which have anti-caking agents that can interfere with that creamy texture.