Name: Pull-Apart Cheese Bread Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 loaf crusty bread (sourdough or Italian ); 8 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoons chopped parsley; 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup marinara sauce (or pizza sauce for dipping)

Pull apart cheese bread is so simple to make with sourdough bread. The bread is stuffed with garlic butter and cheese that's melted to perfection in the oven. It's an easy appetizer for holiday parties!

Pull apart garlic cheese bread on a cutting board.

If you're looking for a fun and beautiful way to serve cheesy garlic bread, look no further! You'll love how easy it is to take a loaf of sourdough and turn it into a stunning party appetizer.

Ingredients needed

bread: Homemade sourdough bread is our personal favorite (obviously), but a fresh loaf of sourdough or Italian bread from the store will be delicious.
butter: Salted or unsalted works great.
garlic powder: Garlic powder gives a rich deep flavor to the butter but freshly minced garlic can be used with delicious results.
cheese: We chose freshly grated parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese but you can use your favorite varieties if desired.
fresh herbs: We love chopped parsley but rosemary or thyme would be equally amazing, so feel free to experiment with different herbs!

Pull apart cheese bread ingredients on a table.

Step by step instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cut the loaf of bread on a diagonal into 1" slices, turn the loaf a quarter turn and repeat to make a diamond grid. (Make sure that you do not cut all the way to the bottom of the loaf.) Place the loaf onto a piece of foil on a baking sheet.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the garlic powder. Use a pastry brush to coat the inside surfaces of the slices with the melted garlic butter and stuff the cracks with the shredded cheese and chopped parsley. Wrap the loaf in the foil and place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes covered in the foil, uncover the top and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Two photos that show how to make pull apart garlic cheese bread.

When the bread is done, it will be warm and the cheeses will be melted.

This bread is best enjoyed hot, so serve the pull apart cheese bread right away with a side of marinara or pizza sauce!

Tips for success

knife: Use a sharp serrated knife when slicing crusty artisan style loafs for best results.
cheese: Do not use pre-shredded cheese because it contains a coating that keeps the shreds separated. This coating also causes melted cheese to become clumpy. Shred your own cheese for the best results.
dairy free option: The butter and cheese can be replaced with vegan butter and vegan cheeses if you are looking for a dairy free garlic cheese bread.
make ahead: Assemble this pull apart garlic cheese bread together a day ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to bake.

Recommended kitchen tools

serrated knife (affiliate link)

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