Easy Garlic Basil Cheese Bread
How to make our easy, not too greasy garlic bread with fresh garlic, basil, cheeses and a soft buttery center. Related: We also love this garlic bread made with roasted garlic. I love cheesy garlic bread, but don’t like it to be greasy. We’ll usually break out the garlic bread when serving something like pasta or soups. So we don’t want it to be too heavy by itself. This recipe makes garlic bread with crisp edges and a soft buttery center. There’s lots of garlic, fresh basil, and just enough cheese to make it extra delicious. How to Make Cheesy Garlic Bread from Scratch I love making garlic bread with French bread (or a baguette), but you could use just about any type of bread you like. Try to find one that’s pretty fresh. The center should be soft. We love this recipe so much, we’ve shared another garlic bread recipe with an even softer center. Slice the bread down the middle then grab a bowl. Smash softened butter, garlic, cheese, and chopped fresh basil together. We use two kinds of cheese – mozzarella and cheddar — but any cheese would work, here. Feta or goat cheese would be really delicious. Spread the butter and cheesy goodness all over the bread then bake in the oven until golden brown. See how the edges are crisp and the center is soft and gooey? Just perfect for soaking up extra sauce on your plate or dipping into soup. Recipe updated, originally posted November 2012. Since posting this in 2012, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. – Adam and Joanne Easy Garlic Basil Cheese Bread PREP 10 mins COOK 15 mins TOTAL 25 mins PREP 10 mins COOK 15 mins TOTAL 25 mins We love cheesy garlic bread, but don’t like it to be too greasy. Our recipe makes garlic bread with crisp edges and a soft buttery center. There’s lots of garlic, fresh basil, and just enough cheese to make it extra delicious. Makes approximately 8 servings You Will Need 1 baguette 2 garlic cloves 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature 3 ounces mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (about 3/4 cup) 3 ounces cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (about 3/4 cup) 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, chopped Directions 1Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife then remove the skin and discard. Mince the garlic finely then add the salt on top. Use the flat side of a chef’s knife to press and push the garlic and salt across the cutting board, turning it into a fine paste. 2In a small bowl, mix the garlic paste, butter, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and the chopped basil together until well blended. Cut bread in half lengthwise, and cut in half crosswise if very long. Spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut-side of the bread. Place bread cut side up onto the baking sheet. 3Bake bread until the bread is golden around the edges and the cheese has melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Then the oven to broil, until the cheese starts to bubble and turns golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. 1Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a knife then remove the skin and discard. Mince the garlic finely then add the salt on top. Use the flat side of a chef’s knife to press and push the garlic and salt across the cutting board, turning it into a fine paste. 2In a small bowl, mix the garlic paste, butter, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and the chopped basil together until well blended. Cut bread in half lengthwise, and cut in half crosswise if very long. Spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut-side of the bread. Place bread cut side up onto the baking sheet. 3Bake bread until the bread is golden around the edges and the cheese has melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Then the oven to broil, until the cheese starts to bubble and turns golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Adam and Joanne's Tips Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values. Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values. If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 slice / Calories 274 / Protein 9 g / Carbohydrate 19 g / Dietary Fiber 1 g / Total Sugars 1 g / Total Fat 18 g / Saturated Fat 11 g / Cholesterol 50 mg / Sodium 344 mg AUTHOR: Adam Gallagher We’re Adam and Joanne, a couple passionate about cooking and sharing delicious, reliable recipes since 2009. Our goal? To inspire you to get in the kitchen and confidently cook fresh and flavorful meals.More About Us