There’s something undeniably satisfying about the combination of soft, flaky bread with gooey, melted cheese and rich garlic butter. The moment you break apart a warm, cheesy piece of bread, it’s as if the stresses of the day melt away, and you’re enveloped in a comforting embrace of flavors. This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is a dish that delivers all of that in one irresistible, shareable loaf. Whether you’re making it for a cozy night at home, a potluck, or a casual get-together with friends, this bread is guaranteed to impress.
Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread: The Ultimate Comfort Appetizer for Beginners
There’s nothing better than warm, cheesy bread loaded with garlic butter. This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is perfect for beginners—simple, flavorful, and ready in just over an hour. Made with biscuit dough, mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and a garlic butter drizzle, it’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that everyone will love. No fancy skills required, just delicious layers of cheesy goodness waiting to be pulled apart and enjoyed. Let’s get baking!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 can (8-count) buttermilk biscuits
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (113 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (56.5 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Loaf Pan
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the bread will bake evenly and achieve that golden-brown color. While the oven is heating up, spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent the bread from sticking to the pan and make it easy to remove once it’s baked. Set the pan aside and move on to the next steps.
Make the Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and kosher salt. Stir well to ensure that the garlic and parsley are evenly distributed in the butter. The garlic will infuse the butter with its rich, aromatic flavor, which will then coat the biscuit layers for a mouthwatering result. Set the garlic butter aside for later use.
Prepare the Cheese Mixture
In a separate bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. These two cheeses create a perfectly balanced flavor—mozzarella provides that classic, melty texture, while cheddar adds a sharp, tangy bite. Stir the cheese mixture together to combine and set it aside as well.
Prepare the Biscuit Layers
Open the can of buttermilk biscuits and carefully separate each biscuit. Next, gently peel each biscuit into two layers, creating a total of 16 layers. This is where the magic happens—the layers will allow the bread to pull apart easily once it’s baked, and they’ll help create pockets of cheese and garlic butter in between.
Coat the Biscuit Layers
Take each biscuit layer and dip it into the garlic butter mixture, ensuring it’s completely coated on both sides. After the biscuit layer is coated in butter, sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon of the shredded cheese mixture on top. Repeat this process with the remaining biscuit layers, stacking them on top of each other as you go. You’ll end up with two stacks of 8 layers each. Make sure the cheese is evenly distributed between the layers so that every bite has a good amount of cheesy goodness.
Arrange the Biscuit Stacks in the Loaf Pan
Carefully place each stack of biscuit layers horizontally in the prepared loaf pan, starting from one end of the pan and working your way to the other end. The biscuit stacks should fit snugly together in the pan, ensuring they bake evenly. Don’t worry if they don’t perfectly align—it’s all about getting the layers to fit tightly and create that pull-apart texture.
Top with Garlic Butter and Cheese
Once the biscuit stacks are in place, brush the top of the stacked biscuits with the remaining garlic butter mixture. This will add extra flavor and help the bread brown beautifully during baking. Then, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top of the bread, ensuring that every surface is covered with cheesy goodness.
Bake the Bread
Cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. This initial bake will allow the biscuits to cook through while maintaining their soft texture. After 35 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through. The cheese should be melted and bubbling, and the garlic butter should have soaked into the biscuit layers, creating a deliciously aromatic crust.
Cool and Garnish
Once the bread is finished baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. This will allow the bread to firm up slightly and make it easier to cut. Garnish the bread with extra chopped parsley for a pop of color and added freshness. This final touch elevates the bread and adds a hint of brightness to complement the rich flavors.
Serve and Enjoy
Once the bread has cooled slightly, it’s ready to serve! Tear off the pull-apart pieces and enjoy the cheesy, garlicky goodness. This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is perfect for sharing with family and friends, and it pairs beautifully with a variety of meals.
Notes
- How to Avoid Overbaking: If you notice that the top of the bread is getting too brown before the center is fully baked, you can cover it with foil again to prevent burning while the bread finishes cooking. Just keep an eye on the bread during the final 25 minutes of baking.
- Using Fresh Garlic vs. Pre-Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic will provide the most robust and aromatic flavor, but if you’re short on time, pre-minced garlic from a jar works fine. Just be sure to adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- Don’t Skimp on the Garlic Butter: The garlic butter is what makes this bread so flavorful, so make sure to coat each biscuit layer generously. If you want to kick things up a notch, consider adding some red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Alternative Pan Sizes: If you don’t have a 9×5-inch loaf pan, feel free to use an 8×8-inch square baking dish. The key is to ensure the biscuit layers fit tightly together to create the pull-apart texture.
- How to Tell if the Bread Is Done: The bread is done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, the bread is golden brown, and the layers have expanded. If you insert a toothpick in the center, it should come out clean without any raw dough sticking to it.
As a beginner cook, you might wonder if such a flavorful dish could really be that simple to make. The answer is yes! This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is perfect for those who are new to cooking or for anyone who wants a quick and delicious appetizer with minimal effort. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic cooking techniques, you can create a dish that’s both easy to prepare and sure to be a hit with anyone who tastes it. It’s all about layering buttery biscuits, garlic, and cheese, and baking them until they form a golden, pull-apart masterpiece.
Not only is this recipe simple, but it also offers plenty of flexibility. You can experiment with different types of cheese, herbs, or even add in some extra flavor with spices like red pepper flakes. Whether you’re serving it as a snack, a side dish, or a party appetizer, this Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread has something for everyone. It’s easy, fast, and full of rich, comforting flavors—a perfect dish for anyone just starting to explore the world of cooking.
Ingredients and Preparation
To make this irresistible Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 can (8-count) buttermilk biscuits
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (113 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (56.5 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
These ingredients are basic pantry staples that you likely already have on hand, making this an ideal recipe for beginners. The buttermilk biscuits are the star of this recipe. They provide the soft, flaky layers that will pull apart perfectly after baking. The mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese combine to create a cheesy, gooey filling that adds flavor and richness to each bite. Garlic and fresh parsley add aromatic depth, while the unsalted butter ensures the biscuit layers stay tender and golden.
Ingredient Substitutions: One of the great things about this recipe is its versatility. If you don’t have buttermilk biscuits, you can substitute them with regular biscuits or even crescent roll dough. While buttermilk biscuits lend a slightly tangy flavor and a flakier texture, you can still achieve excellent results with other doughs. If you’re looking for a dairy-free version, you can use dairy-free butter and opt for non-dairy cheeses, such as almond milk cheese or soy-based cheese. For the garlic butter, you can substitute fresh garlic with pre-minced garlic or even garlic powder, although fresh garlic will provide the most robust flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have all your ingredients, let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions that will guide you through the process of making this delectable pull-apart bread.
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Loaf Pan
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the bread will bake evenly and achieve that golden-brown color. While the oven is heating up, spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent the bread from sticking to the pan and make it easy to remove once it’s baked. Set the pan aside and move on to the next steps. - Make the Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and kosher salt. Stir well to ensure that the garlic and parsley are evenly distributed in the butter. The garlic will infuse the butter with its rich, aromatic flavor, which will then coat the biscuit layers for a mouthwatering result. Set the garlic butter aside for later use. - Prepare the Cheese Mixture
In a separate bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. These two cheeses create a perfectly balanced flavor—mozzarella provides that classic, melty texture, while cheddar adds a sharp, tangy bite. Stir the cheese mixture together to combine and set it aside as well. - Prepare the Biscuit Layers
Open the can of buttermilk biscuits and carefully separate each biscuit. Next, gently peel each biscuit into two layers, creating a total of 16 layers. This is where the magic happens—the layers will allow the bread to pull apart easily once it’s baked, and they’ll help create pockets of cheese and garlic butter in between. - Coat the Biscuit Layers
Take each biscuit layer and dip it into the garlic butter mixture, ensuring it’s completely coated on both sides. After the biscuit layer is coated in butter, sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon of the shredded cheese mixture on top. Repeat this process with the remaining biscuit layers, stacking them on top of each other as you go. You’ll end up with two stacks of 8 layers each. Make sure the cheese is evenly distributed between the layers so that every bite has a good amount of cheesy goodness. - Arrange the Biscuit Stacks in the Loaf Pan
Carefully place each stack of biscuit layers horizontally in the prepared loaf pan, starting from one end of the pan and working your way to the other end. The biscuit stacks should fit snugly together in the pan, ensuring they bake evenly. Don’t worry if they don’t perfectly align—it’s all about getting the layers to fit tightly and create that pull-apart texture. - Top with Garlic Butter and Cheese
Once the biscuit stacks are in place, brush the top of the stacked biscuits with the remaining garlic butter mixture. This will add extra flavor and help the bread brown beautifully during baking. Then, sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top of the bread, ensuring that every surface is covered with cheesy goodness. - Bake the Bread
Cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. This initial bake will allow the biscuits to cook through while maintaining their soft texture. After 35 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through. The cheese should be melted and bubbling, and the garlic butter should have soaked into the biscuit layers, creating a deliciously aromatic crust. - Cool and Garnish
Once the bread is finished baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. This will allow the bread to firm up slightly and make it easier to cut. Garnish the bread with extra chopped parsley for a pop of color and added freshness. This final touch elevates the bread and adds a hint of brightness to complement the rich flavors. - Serve and Enjoy
Once the bread has cooled slightly, it’s ready to serve! Tear off the pull-apart pieces and enjoy the cheesy, garlicky goodness. This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is perfect for sharing with family and friends, and it pairs beautifully with a variety of meals.
Beginner Tips and Notes
- How to Avoid Overbaking: If you notice that the top of the bread is getting too brown before the center is fully baked, you can cover it with foil again to prevent burning while the bread finishes cooking. Just keep an eye on the bread during the final 25 minutes of baking.
- Using Fresh Garlic vs. Pre-Minced Garlic: Freshly minced garlic will provide the most robust and aromatic flavor, but if you’re short on time, pre-minced garlic from a jar works fine. Just be sure to adjust the amount to suit your taste.
- Don’t Skimp on the Garlic Butter: The garlic butter is what makes this bread so flavorful, so make sure to coat each biscuit layer generously. If you want to kick things up a notch, consider adding some red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Alternative Pan Sizes: If you don’t have a 9×5-inch loaf pan, feel free to use an 8×8-inch square baking dish. The key is to ensure the biscuit layers fit tightly together to create the pull-apart texture.
- How to Tell if the Bread Is Done: The bread is done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, the bread is golden brown, and the layers have expanded. If you insert a toothpick in the center, it should come out clean without any raw dough sticking to it.
Serving Suggestions
While this Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is delicious on its own, there are several ways to elevate the dish even further:
- Serve with Dips: Pair this bread with a rich marinara sauce or a creamy ranch dressing for dipping. The tangy sauce or creamy dip balances the richness of the garlic and cheese.
- Pair with Soup: This bread makes an excellent side dish to a hearty soup. Try it with a bowl of creamy tomato soup, potato leek soup, or a savory vegetable soup for a comforting meal.
- Pair with Salad: A fresh salad with a light vinaigrette complements the richness of the bread. Try a simple mixed green salad or a Caesar salad for a balanced meal.
- Turn it into a Meal: Add some grilled chicken or a vegetable stir-fry to make this dish a more filling main course.
Storage Tips for Leftovers
If you happen to have leftovers (though it’s unlikely!), store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, wrap the bread tightly in foil and place it in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply warm it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melty and the bread is heated through.
Conclusion
We hope this Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread brings as much joy to your kitchen as it did to ours! This easy, cheesy, and delicious dish is the perfect recipe to try, especially if you’re a beginner cook looking to build your skills and impress your guests. Have you tried making it yet? We’d love to hear about your experience! What variations did you try? Did you add different cheeses, spices, or herbs? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and feel free to tag us on social media with your creations. We can’t wait to see how your Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread turns out!
