This cheesy garlic bread is truly life-changing. It’s buttery, garlicky, and loaded with gooey melted cheese, yet it remains crispy without feeling heavy—exactly how garlic bread should be. The combination of roasted garlic and a rich garlic butter custard takes it to the next level, making it an irresistible side or snack.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it perfectly balances flavor and texture. Roasting the garlic softens its sharpness and adds a mellow sweetness, which blends beautifully into the garlic butter custard. Dipping the bread in this mixture ensures every bite is packed with flavor, while baking and broiling give the bread a golden crust topped with melted cheese. Using King’s Hawaiian rolls adds a subtle sweetness that complements the savory garlic and cheese, but a good baguette works just as well.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Roasted Garlic:
8–10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of salt
Garlic Butter Custard:
Roasted garlic from above
½ cup (113g) butter, melted
1 egg
¼ cup (60g) milk
½ tsp salt
½ tsp paprika
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Assembly:
12 King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sheet Rolls (full sheet) or substitute with a similar-sized French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Chopped parsley and chili flakes for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Toss the peeled garlic cloves with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Transfer them to a small oven-safe pot with a lid or cover with foil. Roast for about 20 minutes until soft and golden. Mash the garlic with a fork and set aside.
Lower the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) after roasting the garlic.
In a bowl, whisk together the mashed roasted garlic, melted butter, egg, milk, salt, paprika, and parsley to make the garlic butter custard.
Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the sheet of Hawaiian rolls into two halves horizontally. Place the halves on a large baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes until lightly golden and crispy.
Pour the garlic butter custard into a larger pan. Dip each baked bread half carefully into the custard, coating all sides well.
Place the coated bread halves back on the baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 15–18 minutes until golden.
Remove the bread from the oven and evenly cover with shredded mozzarella cheese. Switch the oven to broil or grill setting and broil for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and chili flakes. Slice the bread, serve, and enjoy!
Servings and Timing
This recipe makes 12 servings and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes total, including roasting, prep, and baking time.
Variations
Swap mozzarella for cheddar, provolone, or a blend of your favorite cheeses.
Sprinkle some Italian seasoning or garlic powder on top before broiling for a herby twist.
Use gluten-free rolls or bread to make it gluten-free.
For a spicy kick, mix some cayenne pepper into the garlic butter custard.
Storage/Reheating
I store leftover cheesy garlic bread wrapped tightly in foil at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for 3–4 days. To reheat, I pop it in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes until warmed through and the cheese is melty again. Avoid microwaving to keep the bread crispy.
FAQs
Can I skip roasting the garlic?
Yes, but roasting mellows the garlic’s sharpness and adds a sweeter flavor that I really love in this recipe.
Can I use regular sandwich bread instead of Hawaiian rolls or baguette?
You can, but Hawaiian rolls or a crusty baguette give the best texture and flavor balance.
Is the garlic butter custard safe to dip the bread in raw egg?
Yes, since the bread is baked after dipping, the egg cooks through during baking.
Can I prepare this ahead of time?
You can roast the garlic and prepare the custard in advance, then assemble and bake when ready.
What if I don’t have a broil setting?
You can bake the bread a bit longer at 350°F until the cheese melts and turns golden.
Conclusion
This cheesy garlic bread recipe has become one of my all-time favorites for good reason. The roasted garlic, flavorful butter custard, and gooey mozzarella combine to create a crispy, cheesy, garlicky bread that’s perfect as a side or snack. It’s easy to make yet impressive enough for guests, and I always find myself craving another slice. If you want to elevate your garlic bread game, this recipe won’t disappoint.
This cheesy garlic bread is buttery, garlicky, and loaded with gooey melted cheese while remaining crispy and light. Roasted garlic and a rich garlic butter custard create an irresistible flavor, making it a perfect side or snack.
Ingredients
8–10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tbsp olive oil
Pinch of salt
½ cup (113g) butter, melted
1 egg
¼ cup (60g) milk
½ tsp salt
½ tsp paprika
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
12 King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sheet Rolls or similar-sized French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Chopped parsley and chili flakes for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Toss peeled garlic cloves with olive oil and salt; roast covered in oven-safe pot or foil for 20 minutes until soft and golden. Mash garlic and set aside.
Lower oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
Whisk mashed garlic, melted butter, egg, milk, salt, paprika, and parsley to make garlic butter custard.
Slice Hawaiian rolls horizontally into two halves and place on baking sheet. Bake 8–10 minutes until lightly golden and crispy.
Pour garlic butter custard into a larger pan and dip each bread half carefully to coat all sides.
Place coated bread halves back on baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 15–18 minutes until golden.
Remove bread from oven, evenly cover with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Switch oven to broil and broil for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown.
Garnish with chopped parsley and chili flakes. Slice and serve.
Notes
Substitute mozzarella with cheddar, provolone, or cheese blends.
Add cooked bacon bits or caramelized onions for extra flavor.
Sprinkle Italian seasoning or garlic powder before broiling for herby twist.
Use gluten-free rolls or bread to make gluten-free.
Add cayenne pepper to custard for a spicy kick.
Store leftovers wrapped tightly in foil at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerated for 3–4 days.
Reheat in oven at 350°F for 10 minutes to restore crispiness and melty cheese.
Microwaving is not recommended to keep bread crispy.
