Garlic Cheese Bread (4 Pieces) Recipe

Prepare the bread

Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Place the whole loaf on a cutting board and slice it crosswise into 4 even pieces (each piece will be a portion). For each piece, make a horizontal cut almost through the middle to create a pocket but keep the bottom crust intact so the loaf holds together. Alternatively, you can slice each piece in half lengthwise to create open-faced halves.

Add cheese

Mix shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan in a bowl. Spoon an even amount of the cheese mixture into each cut/pocket or distribute evenly over the open-faced halves so each of the 4 pieces receives roughly 0.5 cups of shredded mozzarella + a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Make the garlic butter

In a small bowl, combine softened unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix thoroughly until smooth and homogenous. Taste and adjust salt or garlic as desired.

Assemble

Using a butter knife or spatula, spread an even layer of the garlic butter inside the cut/pocket of each bread piece and on top of the open-faced halves. Make sure some butter gets into the edges and onto the crust so it crisps. If the pockets are tight, gently spoon the cheese into the pocket after buttering, or smear butter on top of the cheese for extra flavor.

Bake

Place the assembled pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil (buttered side up). Optionally brush a little olive oil on exposed crust edges for extra browning. Bake in the preheated 400°F (205°C) oven for 10–14 minutes, until the butter has melted and the cheese is bubbly. For a golden-brown top, switch the oven to broil on high and broil for 1–2 minutes while watching closely to prevent burning.

Garnish & serve

Remove from oven and let rest for 2 minutes. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top. Slice each piece into 2 smaller portions if desired. Serve warm so cheese is gooey. Provide napkins — the garlic butter will be rich and slightly runny.