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Pull-Apart Cheese Bread with Garlic, Parsley, and Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 591 reviews
  • Author: Lana
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This Pull-Apart Cheese Bread is a delicious and easy appetizer featuring a crusty loaf of bread sliced into a diamond pattern, generously stuffed with melted mozzarella, parmesan cheese, garlic butter, and parsley. Baked until golden and bubbly, it’s perfect for sharing and dipping into marinara sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread and Butter

  • 1 loaf crusty bread (sourdough or Italian)
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Cheese and Herbs

  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Dipping Sauce

  • 1 cup marinara sauce (or pizza sauce for dipping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for baking the bread evenly.
  2. Slice the Bread: Use a sharp serrated knife to make diagonal cuts about 1-inch apart along the loaf, slicing almost but not completely through the bottom crust. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and make diagonal cuts again to form a diamond grid pattern, allowing for easy pull-apart pieces.
  3. Prepare Garlic Butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in the garlic powder until well combined to create a flavorful garlic butter mixture.
  4. Stuff the Bread: Place the loaf on a piece of foil on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, generously coat the inside cuts of the bread with the garlic butter. Stuff the cracks with shredded mozzarella cheese, grated parmesan, and chopped parsley, ensuring the cheese fills the crevices evenly.
  5. Wrap and Bake: Wrap the entire loaf loosely in foil to keep it moist and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
  6. Finish Baking: Unwrap the top of the foil to expose the bread, then bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the top is golden and slightly crispy.
  7. Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with warm marinara or pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

  • Use a serrated knife for easier and cleaner cuts in the bread loaf.
  • You can substitute parsley with fresh basil or oregano for a different herb flavor.
  • For extra cheesiness, add more shredded mozzarella between the slices.
  • Serve the bread warm to enjoy the melted cheese and garlic butter at their best.
  • Leftovers can be reheated wrapped in foil at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: pull-apart bread, cheese bread, garlic bread, appetizer, party snack, melted cheese, easy recipe

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Find it online: https://mealsbylana.com/pull-apart-cheese-bread-with-garlic-parsley-and-marinara-dipping-sauce-recipe/