Cheesy Garlic Bread

Ingredients

• 1 loafbread of your choice
• 4 tbsp (about 56 g)melted butter
• 3 cloves, finely choppedgarlic
• 2 tspdried oregano
• to tastesalt
• to tasteshredded Cheddar cheese or another cheese
• to garnishsliced spring onion

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut the loaf

   Cut small holes into the loaf, making pockets for the filling.

2. 2

   Add garlic butter

   Spoon the garlic butter into the holes.

3. 3

   Fill with cheese

   Stuff the holes with shredded cheese.

4. 4

   Brush the loaf

   Brush any remaining garlic butter over the outside of the loaf and the cheese.

5. 5

   Bake until toasted

   Bake at 180°C for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the bread is toasted.

6. 6

   Add spring onion

   Scatter sliced spring onion over the top.

7. 7

   Serve the bread

   Enjoy while warm.

What is cheesy garlic bread?

Garlic bread is a familiar side made by flavouring bread with garlic and butter; this version adds cheese inside the loaf as well as across its surface. It draws on the simple combination of toasted bread, garlic and melted cheese rather than a specific regional tradition.

The pockets help carry the filling into the loaf, while a final brush of butter flavours the crust. Baking brings the bread and cheese together in one warm, shareable dish.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 530 calories, 19g protein, 62g carbs, 24g fat.

Most of the carbohydrates come from the bread, while butter and cheese provide much of the fat; the cheese also contributes most of the protein. Serve a piece with a generous salad or vegetables to make a more balanced plate.

Choosing the bread and cheese

Bread: Choose a loaf sturdy enough to hold its shape when cut and filled. A crusty loaf gives a more pronounced toasted outside, while a softer loaf makes a gentler, pillowy centre.

Cheese: Shredded Cheddar gives a savoury, familiar flavour, but another cheese can be used. Add enough to fill the pockets without packing them so tightly that the cheese cannot melt through.

Making the garlic butter

Garlic: Finely chopped cloves spread their flavour through the melted butter and fit more easily into the small holes. Stir them through the butter before spooning it into the loaf.

Seasoning: Oregano and salt go into the butter, so mix them in evenly. Taste the mixture before adding it if your cheese is already quite salty.

Filling the loaf

Pockets: Cut small openings in the loaf and distribute the garlic butter between them. Try to keep the cuts contained so the loaf stays together for serving.

Finish: Fill the openings with cheese, then brush the remaining butter over the loaf and cheese. This gives the exposed bread and filling flavour as they bake.

Baking and checking doneness

Timing: Bake at 180°C for about 20 minutes. The recipe gives melted cheese and toasted bread as the cues to look for, so check the loaf towards the end of the baking time.

Texture: The outside should be toasted, with melted cheese in the pockets. If the bread is still pale or the cheese has not melted, continue baking briefly and check again.

Serving ideas

Garnish: Sprinkle the spring onion over the loaf after baking for a fresh, savoury finish. Serve it warm so the cheese is at its most inviting.

Pairings: Offer the bread alongside pasta, soup or a salad. Its rich, buttery flavour works well as a side to a meal with lighter or more acidic components.

Recipe notes & tips

• Chop the garlic finely so it distributes well through the butter.
• Mix the oregano and salt into the melted butter before filling the loaf.
• Use a loaf that holds together when cut into small pockets.
• Spread the remaining garlic butter over the whole loaf for an evenly flavoured crust.
• Check the loaf near the end of baking and use the melted cheese and toasted bread as your cues.
• Add the spring onion after baking to keep its fresh flavour.

Variations

• Use mozzarella: Fill the pockets with mozzarella for a milder, stretchy melt.
• Try another cheese: Swap Cheddar for a cheese you enjoy that melts well.
• Add chilli: Mix a little chilli into the garlic butter for heat.
• Add herbs: Replace or supplement the oregano with another dried herb.
• Use fresh oregano: Finely chop it and mix it into the butter for a different herbal note.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Cutting too deeply: The loaf can fall apart; make small pockets that leave the base intact.
• Using large pieces of garlic: They may not spread evenly; chop the cloves finely.
• Leaving pockets unfilled: The flavour becomes uneven; distribute butter and cheese across the loaf.
• Skipping the butter on top: The exposed bread may be less flavourful; brush on the remainder before baking.
• Baking by time alone: Ovens and loaves vary; check for melted cheese and toasted bread around 20 minutes.

How to store

Keep leftover bread covered in the fridge and eat within 2 days. Reheat in an oven until warmed through; the bread may soften slightly after storage.

Frequently asked questions