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Warm homemade bread layered with garlic butter and melted cheese always has a way of bringing everyone into the kitchen. This Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread bakes into a soft loaf made from stacked rounds of dough, each one filled with buttery garlic and cheese so every piece pulls away perfectly.
The result is a golden, fluffy bread with pockets of melted cheese tucked between the layers. It’s the kind of side dish that disappears quickly when served alongside comforting pasta dinners like Broccoli Alfredo Pasta, spaghetti with Homemade Spaghetti Sauce, or a classic pan of Homemade Lasagna.
The layered structure also makes this bread fun to serve. Each disc pulls away easily, revealing the soft interior and gooey cheese between the layers. Around our table it rarely lasts long, especially when it’s paired with cozy dinners like Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup, Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings, or even a hearty bowl of Crockpot Chili with Cinnamon Rolls on the side.
This loaf is also surprisingly simple to make. The dough comes together quickly with pantry staples, rises until soft and pillowy, then gets layered with garlic butter and cheese before baking into the perfect pull apart loaf.
If you love fresh bread, browse my ever growing collection of Bread Recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft homemade bread layered with garlic butter and cheese
- Pull-apart layers make it easy to serve
- Perfect side dish for pasta, soups, and cozy family dinners
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- The loaf pan shape keeps the bread tall and fluffy
- Pairs beautifully with sides like Spanish rice, cilantro lime rice, or garlic butter rice
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Instant yeast
- Salt
- Warm milk
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Parmesan or mozzarella cheese
- Cheddar cheese
Equipment
Stand Mixer with Dough Hook – A stand mixer makes kneading the dough quick and easy while developing the soft, elastic texture that gives this bread its fluffy interior.
Standard Loaf Pan – A loaf pan helps the stacked dough rounds bake together into the tall pull-apart structure that defines this bread.
Parchment Paper – Parchment keeps the dough from sticking while assembling the layers and makes cleanup easier.
Cooling Rack – Allowing the bread to cool briefly on a rack prevents the bottom from becoming soggy after baking.
How to Make
This dough comes together easily with pantry staples and a stand mixer. Start by combining the flour, sugar, and salt in the mixer bowl. In a separate bowl, stir the warm milk with the yeast and let it sit for a few minutes until small bubbles begin to form on the surface. Once the yeast wakes up, pour the mixture into the flour along with the softened butter.
With the dough hook attached, let the mixer knead the dough for several minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky but still hold together. A small sprinkle of flour can help if it feels sticky, while a splash of milk softens a dough that feels too firm.
After kneading, the dough rests and rises in a warm spot until it doubles in size. This first rise is what gives the finished bread its soft, fluffy texture.
While the dough rises, the garlic butter filling comes together quickly. Softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, and a little salt are stirred together, and the cheeses are set aside so they are ready when it’s time to assemble the loaf.
Once the dough has risen, it is gently divided into small portions and pressed into round discs. Each piece gets a layer of garlic butter and a sprinkle of cheese before being stacked together.
The stacked rounds are then placed sideways into a loaf pan so the layers sit vertically. As the dough rises a second time, the discs begin to puff up and press against each other, creating the signature ridges across the top of the loaf.
In the oven, the bread slowly turns golden as the butter melts between the layers and the cheese melts into the folds of dough. If the top begins browning too quickly, a loose foil tent helps protect the crust while the center finishes baking.
After baking, the loaf rests briefly on a cooling rack before the warm bread is brushed with melted butter and finished with a light sprinkle of salt and parsley. When it’s ready to serve, the layers pull apart easily, revealing soft bread and pockets of melted cheese between every piece.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PrintCheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread
Soft, buttery homemade bread layered with garlic butter and melted cheese, then baked into a loaf you can pull apart piece by piece. This cheesy pull apart garlic bread is perfect alongside pasta, soups, or any cozy family dinner.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Rise Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 TBSP granulated sugar
- 1 TBSP instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 4 TBSP salted butter, softened
Filling
- 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), softened
- 1 TBSP minced garlic
- 1 TBSP chopped parsley
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan or mozzarella cheese
- 2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Topping
-
1 TBSP Garlic Butter (optional)
Instructions
Make the Dough
- In a the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Let sit for about 5 minutes, until soft bubbles form.
- Once the bubbles have formed, add the milk and yeast mixture along with the softened butter to the dry ingredients. Mix until combined using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
- Knead on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- If the dough is too sticky, add flour 1 TBSP at a time. If the dough is too dry, add milk 1/2 TBSP at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes. (Alternatively, allow the dough to rise in a 100°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until doubled.)
Prepare the Filling
- While the dough is rising, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the shredded cheeses and set aside.
Assembly
- Spray a standard loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or butter the sides. Line your work surface with parchment paper.
- Transfer the risen dough to your work surface and divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Flatten each piece into a 4-inch round disc and place on the parchment paper.
- Top each round of dough with the garlic butter mixture, then sprinkle with an equal amount of the shredded cheese mixture.
- Create two stacks of six dough discs.
- Carefully place the dough stacks horizontally into the prepared loaf pan. Gently separate the pieces slightly.
- Cover the pan and allow the dough to rise again until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Bake
- While the dough rises the second time, preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Bake the loaf for 40–45 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the bread to cool slightly.
- Brush the top with 1 TBSP melted garlic butter. (Optional)
Notes
-
If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil while baking.
-
After baking, brush the warm loaf with melted butter and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and chopped parsley (optional)before serving.
-
This bread pairs well with hearty dinners like broccoli Alfredo pasta, lasagna, or other cozy pasta dishes.
Recipes That Pair Well With This
This cheesy garlic bread makes a perfect side for many of the comforting meals on Our Grateful Kitchen.
Serve it alongside a plate of homemade pasta tossed in rich spaghetti sauce or Alfredo sauce for a classic Italian-style dinner. It also pairs beautifully with a baked pan of homemade lasagna where the bread can soak up extra sauce.
For soup nights, try serving slices with creamy chicken and rice soup or crockpot chicken and dumplings. The soft bread works well for dipping into the creamy broth.
Rice-based meals also pair nicely with this bread. A simple side of Spanish rice, garlic butter rice, or cilantro lime rice rounds out the plate when serving Mexican style dinners.
More Recipes to Try
If you enjoy homemade breads and comforting sides, these recipes are also popular:
- Dutch Oven Cheddar Bread
- Jalapeño Cheddar Dutch Oven Bread
- Fluffy Pancakes
- Sourdough Discard Pancakes
- Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
Tips for Little Helpers
Kids love helping assemble pull apart breads. Younger helpers can:
- Sprinkle cheese between the dough layers
- Brush garlic butter onto the dough rounds
- Help stack the discs before placing them in the loaf pan
This recipe is a fun way to get children involved in baking while teaching simple kitchen skills.
Tips for Success
- Allow the dough to fully double during both rises for the softest texture.
- Keep the dough slightly soft rather than overly dry.
- Spread the garlic butter evenly so every layer has flavor.
- Avoid overbaking to keep the interior tender.
- Tent the loaf loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
FAQs
Why are the dough discs stacked vertically?
Stacking the dough rounds vertically creates the pull-apart structure and distinctive ridges on top of the loaf.
Can I use different cheeses?
Yes. Mozzarella, Parmesan, Monterey Jack, or provolone all work well.
Can this be made without a stand mixer?
Yes. The dough can be kneaded by hand until smooth and elastic.
Why didn’t my bread rise?
Inactive yeast or milk that was too hot can prevent the dough from rising properly.
Storage
Store leftover bread covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate the bread in an airtight container.
To reheat, wrap slices loosely in foil and warm in a 325°F oven until heated through.
Freezing Instructions
This bread freezes well once baked.
Allow the loaf to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through.
Variations
Extra Cheesy Version
Add additional shredded mozzarella between the layers.
Herb Garlic Bread
Mix extra parsley, oregano, or Italian seasoning into the garlic butter.
Spicy Garlic Bread
Add crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic butter mixture.
Parmesan Crust
Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top before baking for a crisp cheesy crust.
Final Thoughts
Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread is one of those simple recipes that feels special every time it comes out of the oven. The soft homemade dough, buttery garlic layers, and melted cheese make it a perfect side for pasta dinners, soups, and cozy family meals. Once you see those stacked layers pull apart at the table, it quickly becomes a recipe everyone asks for again.
And while you’re here, check out all of my Bread Recipes
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