Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread
If you love warm, cheesy garlic bread, wait until you try it with sourdough! This Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread is crispy around the edges, soft and chewy in the middle, loaded with melted cheese, and packed with buttery garlic flavor.
It’s a great way to use a fresh sourdough loaf, but it’s also perfect for using up leftover bread that’s a day or two old. The sourdough adds a mild tang that makes this garlic bread taste even better.
Serve it with pasta, soup, pizza, grilled meats, or your favorite Italian dinner. Honestly, it’s hard not to grab a piece straight from the baking tray!
Why You’ll Love This Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread
There are plenty of reasons to keep this recipe in your regular dinner rotation:
- Crispy and cheesy: The edges get golden and crisp while the cheese melts into every cut.
- Big garlic flavor: Fresh garlic and butter make this bread incredibly flavorful.
- Easy to make: You only need a few basic ingredients.
- Great for leftover sourdough: This is an easy way to give day-old bread a delicious makeover.
- Perfect side dish: It pairs well with pasta, soups, salads, and grilled dishes.
- Easy to customize: Add herbs, extra cheese, red pepper flakes, or even a little Parmesan.
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 1 large sourdough loaf
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
You can use homemade sourdough bread or your favorite bakery loaf. A loaf with a slightly chewy crumb works especially well because it holds the butter and cheese without falling apart.
How to Make Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This makes cleanup much easier, especially if some cheese melts onto the pan.
2. Prepare the Garlic Butter
Add the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, and salt to a small bowl.
Mix everything together until well combined.
For the best flavor, use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder. Fresh garlic gives the butter a stronger, more savory taste and creates that classic garlic bread flavor.
If you love garlic, feel free to add another clove or two.
3. Slice the Sourdough
Place the sourdough loaf on a cutting board.
Using a sharp bread knife, slice the loaf into thick slices, about 1-inch apart. Don’t cut all the way through the bottom. You want the slices to stay connected so the loaf holds together.
You can also cut the bread completely into slices if you prefer individual pieces.
4. Add the Garlic Butter
Gently open each cut in the sourdough loaf and spread the garlic butter inside.
Try to get some butter deep into the cuts. This is where all that flavor comes from!
Spread any remaining garlic butter over the top of the loaf.
5. Add the Cheese
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella into the cuts, making sure each section gets plenty of cheese.
Then sprinkle Parmesan over the top.
Mozzarella gives you that classic stretchy, melty cheese texture, while Parmesan adds a salty, nutty flavor.
For an extra cheesy loaf, you can add a little more mozzarella. There’s really no such thing as too much cheese here!
6. Wrap and Bake
Loosely wrap the sourdough loaf in aluminum foil and place it on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 15 minutes.
Wrapping the bread first helps the cheese melt without making the bread too hard or dry.
7. Uncover and Finish Baking
Carefully open the foil and return the bread to the oven.
Bake uncovered for another 5–10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the top is golden brown.
For an extra crispy top, you can switch the oven to broil for the final 1–2 minutes. Keep a close eye on it because cheese can go from golden to burnt very quickly.
8. Garnish and Serve
Remove the bread from the oven and sprinkle with a little extra fresh parsley.
Let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
Pull apart the slices and enjoy while the cheese is still warm and gooey!
Tips for the Best Sourdough Garlic Bread
Use Day-Old Sourdough
Fresh sourdough works, but slightly stale bread is often even better for garlic bread. It has enough structure to soak up the garlic butter without becoming too soft.
Don’t Skip the Fresh Garlic
Freshly minced garlic gives this recipe a much better flavor than garlic powder alone. If you like a stronger garlic taste, add an extra clove.
Use Good Melting Cheese
Mozzarella is the classic choice, but you can mix it with other cheeses. Monterey Jack, provolone, cheddar, or Gruyère can all work well.
Watch the Broiler
If you’re broiling the bread at the end, don’t walk away. The cheese can brown very quickly.
Easy Variations
Want to change things up? Try one of these simple ideas.
Cheesy Herb Garlic Bread: Add fresh basil, oregano, rosemary, or extra parsley to the butter.
Spicy Garlic Bread: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a little cayenne pepper to the garlic butter.
Extra Parmesan: Add another layer of Parmesan before baking for a crisp, salty topping.
Three-Cheese Garlic Bread: Combine mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone for an extra cheesy version.
Jalapeño Cheesy Garlic Bread: Add finely chopped jalapeños before baking for a spicy kick.
What to Serve With Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread
This bread is the perfect side for so many meals.
Serve it with spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, baked ziti, chicken Alfredo, tomato soup, creamy soups, chili, grilled chicken, or a simple green salad.
It also makes a great appetizer for parties. Just slice the loaf into smaller pieces and place it on a serving board while it’s still warm.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have leftovers, let the bread cool completely and place it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in foil.
Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place the bread in a 350°F oven for several minutes until warmed through. You can also use an air fryer for a quick reheat.
Avoid microwaving it if possible because the bread can become chewy and the crust will lose its crisp texture.
Can I Freeze Cheesy Garlic Bread?
Yes! Prepare the bread with the garlic butter and cheese, then wrap it tightly in foil and place it in a freezer-safe bag.
Freeze for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to eat it, bake it from frozen at 375°F until hot and the cheese is melted. Remove the foil near the end so the top can crisp up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade sourdough bread?
Absolutely. Homemade sourdough is perfect for this recipe. A medium or large round loaf works especially well.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes. If using salted butter, simply reduce or skip the additional salt in the garlic butter.
What cheese melts best?
Mozzarella is one of the best choices because it melts smoothly and gives you that classic cheese pull. Parmesan is great for adding extra flavor.
Can I make this without Parmesan?
Of course. You can use only mozzarella or replace the Parmesan with another hard cheese you enjoy.
Recipe at a Glance
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
Total Time: 30–35 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Final Thoughts
This Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread is one of those recipes that looks impressive but takes very little effort. With a loaf of sourdough, a few cloves of garlic, butter, herbs, and plenty of cheese, you can turn simple bread into an amazing side dish.
The outside gets golden and crisp, while the inside stays soft, buttery, cheesy, and full of garlic flavor. It’s especially good served warm when the cheese is still gooey.
So next time you have a loaf of sourdough sitting around, don’t let it go to waste. Grab some butter and cheese and turn it into this easy Sourdough Cheesy Garlic Bread. You might find yourself making it on purpose!
