Best Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

Garlic Cheese Bread is a simple yet delicious dish that's perfect for any meal. With the addition of air fryer roasted garlic, this recipe takes classic cheese bread to a whole new level. My kids devour these whenever I make this family favorite.

To make this homemade cheesy garlic bread recipe, you'll need Italian or French loaf, aged cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, melted butter, chopped parsley, and, of course, roasted garlic. The roasted garlic is the secret ingredient that provides a sweet, nutty flavor, complementing the cheese and bread perfectly.

This garlic cheese bread recipe is perfect for a party or as a quick and easy appetizer. It can be made in the air fryer or the oven, depending on your preference. It can be customized with different cheeses, fresh herbs, or spices to suit your taste. Serve it hot and watch it disappear in no time!

Jump to:

• Why you will love this recipe 
• How to make air fryer roasted garlic
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• Instructions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• 3 Top Tips for Success
• Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread - FAQ
• Related
• What to eat with cheesy garlic bread?
• Best Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread (air fryer)
• Food safety
• Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan
• Easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread with Roasted Garlic

Why you will love this recipe 

1. Delicious and Flavorful: This easy recipe for homemade garlic cheese bread is a delicious and flavorful appetizer that combines the nutty, sweet flavor of roasted garlic with melted aged cheddar and Parmesan cheese. The bread is crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside, making it a satisfying and indulgent snack that everyone will love.
   
2. Easy to Make: This recipe is very easy to make, and it can be prepared in just a few steps. Roasting the garlic in the air fryer or oven takes only 25 minutes, and the cheese-butter mixture can be whipped up in no time. It takes just 7 minutes to air fry or 10 minutes to bake in the oven, making it a perfect side dish to prepare for any occasion.

3. Versatile: This cheese garlic bread recipe is also versatile and can be customized to suit your taste. You can use different types of cheese, such as mozzarella or Gouda, or add herbs and spices to the butter-cheese mixture for a unique flavor.
   

How to make air fryer roasted garlic

Making air fryer roasted garlic is effortless. Roasted garlic can transform any dish you want into something special. My recipes such as Air Fryer Ribeye and this one uses roasted garlic. 

Air fryer roasted garlic is super easy to make in the air fryer and quicker too. I roasted the fresh garlic in the air fryer for 25 minutes. Traditionally, this would have taken me 45 minutes in the oven. 

Here’s what you need: 

• Foil 
• Extra virgin olive oil 
• Garlic bulbs 

In a piece of aluminum foil, place the garlic bulbs in the middle, add 1 or 2 tablespoon of oil, and wrap it up. Place it in the air fryer and roast for 25 minutes until the garlic cloves are soft and tender.

Ingredients and Substitutions

1. Italian or French loaf - You can substitute this with any other loaf of bread that you prefer, such as sourdough, ciabatta, or a baguette.
   
2. Freshly grated aged cheddar - You can use any other type of hard cheese, such as Parmesan, Asiago, or Pecorino Romano.
   
3. Freshly grated parmesan cheese - You can use any other type of hard cheese, such as Romano, Asiago, or Pecorino. You can even use mozzarella cheese and Monterey jack for that melty cheesy bread.
   
4. Melted salted butter - You can use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt to the butter-cheese mixture.
   
5. Minced parsley - This is optional, but if you don't have fresh parsley, you can use other herbs, such as thyme, oregano, or rosemary, or leave it out altogether.
   
6. Air Fryer Roasted Garlic - If you don't have an air fryer, you can roast the garlic in the oven by wrapping it in foil and baking it at 350°F for about 45 minutes, or until it's soft and caramelized.
   
7. Extra virgin olive oil - You can use vegetable oil or any other type of cooking oil that you prefer.
   

Remember that ingredient substitutions can affect the flavor and texture of the dish, so it's best to use the original ingredients whenever possible. However, these substitutions can be useful if you don't have certain ingredients on hand or have dietary restrictions.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

• Air fryer roasted garlic: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees on air fry mode. 
• Cut the top part of the garlic bulb exposing the garlic inside. 
• Place the garlic bulb in the middle of the 10’ x 10’ foil. Pour the 2 tablespoon of oil on top of the bulb. Wrap it up, and place it in the air fryer basket or air fryer tray. 
• Roast in the air fryer for 25 minutes or until the bulbs in the middle are tender.
• Garlic cheese bread: Cut the bread lengthwise. 
• In a medium size bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. 
• Add the roasted garlic cloves, aged cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese and parsley to the bowl. 
• Taste and season with salt and pepper if it needs it. 
• Using a spoon and spread the butter-cheese mixture onto the bread.
• Air fry for 7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy on the outside. 
• Serve and enjoy! 

Notes: 

Oven instructions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the garlic butter cheese bread for 10 minutes. 

Variations

Here are three different variations you can try for a warm slice of cheesy garlic bread:

1. Tomato and Basil Garlic Cheese Bread: Add a layer of sliced fresh tomatoes and chopped basil on top of the butter-cheese mixture before air frying or baking. The combination of sweet tomatoes, fragrant basil, and savory cheese will give the bread a delicious Italian twist.
   
2. Spicy Jalapeño Garlic Cheese Bread: Add some diced jalapeño peppers to the butter-cheese mixture before spreading it on the bread. The spicy kick of the jalapeños will give the bread a bold and zesty flavor that pairs well with a cold beer or soda.
   
3. Bacon and Onion Garlic Cheese Bread: Cook some chopped bacon and caramelized onions in a skillet until crispy, then sprinkle them on top of the butter-cheese mixture before air frying or baking. The smoky bacon and sweet onions will complement the roasted garlic and melted cheese, creating a savory and satisfying snack that's perfect for a movie night or game day.

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Microwave 
• Bowls 
• Knife 
• Cutting board 
• Cheese grater

Storage

To store the leftover garlic bread, you can wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To reheat the bread, you have a few options:

1. Air Fryer: The best way is to preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then air fry the bread for 2-3 minutes or until it's heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
   
2. Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then place the bread on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until it's heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
   
3. Toaster oven: If you have a toaster oven, you can simply pop the bread in and toast it until it's heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
   

No matter which method you choose, be sure to keep an eye on the bread to make sure it doesn't burn. Once it's heated through, serve and enjoy your delicious garlic cheese bread once again!

Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread - FAQ

Related

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What to eat with cheesy garlic bread?

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this homemade garlic bread recipe:

Cheesy garlic bread is a delicious side dish that pairs well with many different types of meals. Here are a few ideas for what to eat with the best cheesy garlic bread:

1. Pasta dishes: Cheesy garlic bread is a classic side dish for pasta dishes like spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, or my Smoky Chorizo Carbonara.
   
2. Soups and stews: Serve cheesy garlic bread with a warm bowl of soup or stew, like tomato soup or chicken noodle soup, or this Salsa Pot Roast recipe.
   
3. Salads: Cheesy garlic bread can add some crunch and flavor to a simple salad, like Caesar salad or Greek salad.
   
4. Grilled meats: Cheesy garlic bread is a great accompaniment to grilled meats like steak, chicken, or pork chops. I love it with my Balsamic Glazed Chicken Thighs.
   
5. Appetizers: Serve cheesy garlic bread as an appetizer, along with other snacks like vegetable sticks, chips and dip, or meatballs.
   
6. Game-day snacks: Cheesy garlic bread is a perfect snack for watching sports games with friends and family, along with other finger foods like buffalo wings or nachos.
   

Overall, cheesy garlic bread is a tasty side dish that can complement many different types of meals and snacks.

Here are more delicious dishes you can serve with the cheesy garlic bread

Food safety

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.