Cheesy Garlic Bread made with real Garlic!
I love the smell when I'm making garlic bread. The fresh garlic infuses it's wonderful flavor in the butter and the oil. It is oh so good! It tastes so much better than the ready-made garlic bread you buy in the grocery store.
Your house smells like an authentic Italian restaurant when you make this!
Ingredients:
Italian bread cut into slices about an inch thick (French bread can also be used)
3 medium cloves of fresh garlic (not garlic powder!)
1 stick butter (salted or unsalted butter is fine)
¼ cup olive oil (or grapeseed oil)
mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional - but a necessity in my house!)
fresh parsley as an optional garnish.
Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe Instructions
Use a smaller frying pan. Add a stick of butter. Use a low stove temperature. You want to melt the butter but you don't want to scorch it!
I'm starting to use a little olive oil or grapeseed oil with the butter. You know, the healthier oils! If you used one stick of butter, that's ½ cup. Add about ¼ cup of either olive oil or grapeseed oil.
Peel and slice garlic cloves into slivers. Minced garlic also works. For this much oil, I used three medium-sized cloves to get a nice garlic taste. When I have picky eaters who don't want the garlic to stay on their bread, I usually cut into slivers. Minced is my preferred method.
Add olive oil (or other healthy oil.
Cut garlic into slivers or mince.
The peeled and slivered garlic.
Once all the butter is melted, add the garlic. You want to infuse the butter and oil with the garlic flavor. Leave the temperature low. Cook for a couple of minutes then let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. This allows the butter to get nice and garlicky. If you are making this as a side to a pasta dish etc., this is the time to get some of your final prep. done.
The reality in my house is, someone usually comes along with a slice and gives it a dip and has a garlic bread appetizer. Mmmmmmmm. My house smells so good right now and the garlic bread tastes so good!
That's it. Just dip or dunk (or whatever you want to call it) the sliced loaf into the garlic butter mixture. You want nice even coverage but you don't want to soak your bread. Don't worry, you'll know what the right amount is.
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Sometimes I make cheesy garlic bread. Really easy and takes just a few more minutes.
Just grab some shredded mozzarella and place it on the garlic bread.
I heat it in the toaster oven (toast setting, about 5 minutes at 400 degrees).
You can also put it on a baking sheet and put them in the oven if you make a bunch. Preheat to about 450. You can also broil it in a broiler or your oven. Watch it very carefully, once the bread/cheese starts browning, pull it out. It can burn very quickly!
If you have parsley handy, sprinkle some on top! It makes it look extra appetizing.
Enjoy this wonderful side to an Italian meal. It can also be a nice, filling snack for the kids. Especially when you add the cheese on top.
A perfect side dish - the best garlic bread recipe!
Enjoy this wonderful side to an Italian meal. It can also be a nice, easy snack, especially when you add the cheese on top.
I find this makes a meal if you eat it with a salad or with your favorite soup. It is your choice if you want to add cheese (or maybe just a bit of parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella) or just eat it as garlic toast.
What to do with leftovers
Honestly, it is so rare that we have any garlic toast left over! If you do, wrap it in foil and keep refrigerated. It's fine for a few days. You will want to reheat in the oven so it becomes toasty again. Do not microwave because it gets soggy with the oil & butter mixture on it.
Homemade garlic bread (with cheese)!
A delicious and flavorful homemade garlic bread. This authentic Italian recipe was shared with me by an Italian restaurant owner. I only use fresh garlic - never garlic powder. You can make your garlic bread with or without cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: broil/bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Italian bread cut into slices about an inch thick (French bread or a baguette can also be used)
- 3 medium cloves of fresh garlic cut into slivers or minced (not garlic powder!)
- 1 stick butter (salted or unsalted butter is fine)
- ¼ cup olive oil (or grapeseed oil)
- mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional - but a necessity in my house!)
- fresh parsley as an optional garnish.
Instructions
Peel and slice garlic cloves into slivers. Minced garlic also works. For this much oil, I used three medium-sized cloves to get a nice garlic taste.
Using a frying or saute pan, melt butter on a low setting, taking care not to scorch the butter. Add the olive oil (or grapeseed oil) and gently stir to combine with melted butter.
Once all the butter is melted, add the garlic.
Cook for a couple of minutes then let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
Dip or dunk the sliced loaf into the garlic butter mixture. You want nice even coverage but you don't want to soak your bread. Sometimes I make cheesy garlic bread. Really easy and takes just a few more minutes.
Take shredded mozzarella and place it on the garlic bread.
I heat my garlic bread (with or without cheese) in the toaster oven (toast setting, about 5 minutes at 400 degrees).
You can also put it on a baking sheet and put them in the oven if you make a bunch. Preheat to about 450. It only takes a few minutes (3-5 minutes) You can also broil it in a broiler or your oven. Watch it very carefully, once the bread/cheese starts browning, pull it out. It can burn very quickly!
If you have parsley handy, sprinkle some on top! It makes it look extra appetizing.
***Only one side of the garlic bread is toasted. I find it easier and not necessary to toast both sides.
Notes
A perfect side dish - the best garlic bread recipe!
Enjoy this wonderful side to an Italian meal. It can also be a nice, easy snack, especially when you add the cheese on top.
I find this makes a meal if you eat it with a salad or with your favorite soup. It is your choice if you want to add cheese (or maybe just a bit of parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella) or just eat it as garlic toast.
What to do with leftovers
Honestly, it is so rare that we have any garlic toast left over! If you do, wrap it in foil and keep refrigerated. It's fine for a few days. You will want to reheat in the oven so it becomes toasty again. Do not microwave because it gets soggy with the oil & butter mixture on it.
Keywords: garlic bread, garlic toast, garlic bread with cheese
Love Italian Food? Here is the recipe for my moist and delicious Italian meatballs!
Italian Meatballs with Spaghetti Sauce.
Soup recipes that this garlic bread would be great with
imarancher
I am going to make some now. And yes, the olive oil sounds like a nice touch.