There’s nothing quite like warm, cheesy bread fresh from the oven—crispy on the edges, soft in the center, and oozing with melted mozzarella. This cheesy bread recipe uses my tried-and-true pizza dough as the base, but we swap in bread flour for a chewier texture and a crispier crust. It’s brushed with a garlic herb butter, loaded with cheese, and baked until golden and bubbly. Slice into strips and serve with warm pizza sauce for the ultimate appetizer, game day snack, or side to pasta night. This has quickly become one of my families favorite dinner recipes, and so easy to make during the week!
Why Bread Flour?
You can absolutely make this recipe with all-purpose flour and still get a soft and satisfying cheesy bread—but if you have bread flour on hand, it’s worth the upgrade. Bread flour has a higher protein content, which helps develop more gluten during kneading. That translates to a chewier texture and better structure, which makes a difference when you’re looking for that ideal pull-apart, pizzeria-style bite. Don’t have bread flour? All-purpose works just fine.
Recipe Tips
For best results, let your dough rest at room temperature for about 20–30 minutes before rolling it out—this relaxes the gluten and makes it easier to stretch. If you’re short on time the day you plan to bake, you can make the dough a day ahead and store it in the fridge after the first rise. Just bring it back to room temperature before shaping. When brushing on the garlic butter, be sure to get all the way to the edges of the dough so the crust turns golden and flavorful. Want to switch things up? Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or swap in an Italian cheese blend for more flavor.
Homemade vs. Store-Bought Dough
This cheesy bread is amazing with homemade dough—it’s soft, chewy, and full of flavor thanks to the honey and garlic powder in the recipe. But if you’re in a pinch, store-bought pizza dough works too! Look for fresh dough in the refrigerated section of your grocery store or use a frozen dough that’s been thawed overnight. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out so it doesn’t snap back. No matter which dough you use, you’ll still get that cheesy, garlicky, pull-apart perfection. If you like this recipe, check out my other pizza inspired recipes!
Cheesy Bread
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 package Instant Yeast 2 ¼ teaspoons
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 ½ cups bread flour or all-purpose
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the toppings:
- 2 tbsp salted butter melted
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce for serving
Instructions
For the dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine warm water and yeast. Add honey and salt, and mix on the lowest speed for about 30 seconds. Gradually add in flour. Once it starts to come together, add the olive oil and garlic powder. Mix on low for 10 minutes. This acts as your kneading—no need to do it by hand!
- Meanwhile, coat a large bowl with about 1 tbsp olive oil. Once dough is kneaded, transfer it to the bowl, cover with a damp dish towel, and place in a warm, dark area for 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Tip: Preheat your oven on the lowest setting for 2 minutes, turn it off, and let the dough rise inside.)
For assembly:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Roll dough out to about a 9×13 inch rectangle.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, minced garlic, and oregano. Brush generously over the dough. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top.
- Bake for 14–15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Slice into strips and serve warm with pizza sauce for dipping.