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Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks are the gooey, pull-apart appetizer that disappears off the pan before dinner even starts, and they became our go-to after the girls asked for the Bosco-style sticks from school pizza day one busy weeknight. They start with store-bought pizza dough and whole sticks of string cheese, so they come together fast and pair perfectly with a bowl of our homemade pizza sauce for dipping.
With melty cheese tucked inside and garlic butter brushed on top, these taste just like the cheesy breadsticks from your favorite pizza place.
Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 14 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 34 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 16 breadsticks
- ⚡ Calories: 262kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Cheesy, garlicky, and buttery with a soft, pull-apart center
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our sheet pan pizza
Quick Answer
Roll pizza dough into a thin rectangle, lay whole sticks of string cheese in rows on top, then roll out a second piece of dough and lay it over the cheese. Press firmly between each cheese stick to seal, cut into individual breadsticks with a pizza cutter, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 14 minutes, then brush with garlic butter and top with parsley.
Jump to:
- Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks FAQs
- Other Recommended Appetizer Recipes
- Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Two sheets of pizza dough make stuffing 16 breadsticks much easier. Instead of wrapping every cheese stick individually, this recipe rolls out one 16-ounce package of pizza dough, arranges the string cheese over it, then lays a second rolled sheet of dough on top. Once the seams are pressed and the breadsticks are cut apart, you get 16 evenly filled pieces without having to shape each one from scratch.
- Sealing between each cheese stick is the most important assembly step. Press firmly between every piece of string cheese and pinch the ends closed before cutting the breadsticks apart. Those sealed edges help keep the melted cheese inside the dough during baking instead of letting it run out onto the sheet pan.
- String cheese gives you evenly portioned centers. The recipe uses 16 individual string cheeses, so every breadstick gets its own piece of mozzarella. Their uniform shape makes them easy to arrange between the two sheets of dough and gives each breadstick a consistent cheesy center. The recipe notes also allow fresh sliced mozzarella if you prefer not to use string cheese.
- Shredded cheese on top adds another layer of cheese before baking. After the stuffed breadsticks are cut and spaced on the baking sheet, 3/4 cup of Italian blend cheese or mozzarella is sprinkled over the tops. That gives you melted cheese both inside and outside the breadsticks.
- A hot oven cooks the dough quickly while melting the filling. These bake at 425 degrees F for 12 to 14 minutes. The short, hot bake is enough to cook the pizza dough through and melt the string cheese without requiring a long rise or baking time.
- Garlic butter is added after baking. Melted salted butter and garlic powder are mixed while the breadsticks bake, then brushed over the hot breadsticks as soon as they come out of the oven. This gives the tops a buttery garlic finish without changing the way the dough bakes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They use just a handful of easy ingredients and store-bought pizza dough, so anyone can make them.
- The gooey string cheese center makes them an instant hit with kids and adults alike.
- They are perfect for game day, movie night, or alongside our buffalo chicken pizza for a fun pizza-night spread.
- It has earned a permanent spot in our rotation, right up there with our cheese stuffed bacon wrapped brats.
- It earns a spot in the rotation right next to our spanakopita triangles.
Key Ingredients
- Pizza Dough: Two packages of store-bought dough form the soft top and bottom layers; let it come to room temperature so it stretches easily.
- String Cheese: Whole sticks of low-moisture mozzarella string cheese are the gooey filling that melts without leaking.
- Italian Blend Cheese: A sprinkle of shredded Italian cheese or mozzarella on top gives the breadsticks their golden, bubbly crust.
- Salted Butter: Melted butter brushed on after baking carries the garlic flavor and keeps the tops soft.
- Garlic Powder: Stirred into the melted butter for that classic garlicky pizzeria breadstick flavor.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Make them spicy: add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper or pickled jalapenos before sealing the dough.
- Switch the cheese: use pepper jack or cheddar string cheese for a different melty center.
- Add pepperoni: tuck a few mini pepperoni next to the cheese for stuffed pizza sticks.
- Try different herbs: stir Italian seasoning or grated Parmesan into the garlic butter.
- Serve with more dips: these are great with ranch, marinara, or a warm spinach artichoke dip.
- Craving a different flavor next time? Our italian stuffed mushrooms recipe delivers the same easy comfort with its own twist.
- In the mood for something different? Our cheese muffins with garlic butter scratches a similar itch.
How to Make Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Stretch and roll one package of pizza dough into a flat rectangle about a quarter inch thick.
- Place the string cheese in two rows, spacing them one to two inches apart on top of the dough.
- Roll out the second package of dough to the same size, lay it over the cheese, and press firmly between each stick to seal the seams.
- Cut between each piece with a pizza cutter, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and bake 12 to 14 minutes, then brush with garlic butter and top with parsley.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Let the dough rest. Room-temperature pizza dough stretches without snapping back, making it easy to shape.
- Seal firmly. Press hard between each cheese stick and pinch the ends so the melted cheese stays inside.
- Use a pizza cutter. It slices cleanly between the breadsticks without dragging the cheese.
- Do not overbake. Pull them at 12 to 14 minutes so the dough stays soft and the cheese is just melted.
- Brush butter after baking. Adding the garlic butter once they come out keeps the tops glossy, not greasy.
- Serve warm. These are best fresh and gooey straight from the oven with a dipping sauce.
- Reheat gently. Warm leftovers in the oven or air fryer to bring back the crisp edges and melty centers.
- Make it a full spread. Our pepperoni rolls recipe rounds out the table.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These cheesy breadsticks are made for dipping, so serve them with a bowl of warm pizza sauce or marinara on the side. They are the perfect starter before a homemade sheet pan pizza or a big bowl of pasta.
For game day or a party spread, set them out alongside our spinach artichoke dip and a platter of buffalo chicken pizza so everyone can graze. They hold up well on a buffet table and reheat beautifully.
They also make a fun side for soup night, dunked into a bowl of tomato soup or chili. However you serve them, do not forget extra dipping sauce because these pull-apart breadsticks go fast.
Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks FAQs
Whole sticks of low-moisture mozzarella string cheese work best because they melt into a gooey center without leaking out. A sprinkle of shredded Italian blend cheese on top gives the Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks their golden crust.
Yes. You can assemble and cut the Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks, then cover and refrigerate them for a few hours before baking. Bake them fresh when you are ready to serve for the best melty center.
The cheese leaks when the seams are not sealed tightly. Press firmly between each string cheese stick and pinch the ends closed so the Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks hold the cheese inside while baking.
Yes. Freeze the baked and cooled Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks in an airtight container for up to two months. Reheat them in a 350 degree oven or air fryer until warm and the cheese is melty again.
Refrigerated crescent dough or homemade pizza dough both work in place of store-bought pizza dough. Just roll it thin so the Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks bake through evenly.
Marinara or pizza sauce is the classic dip, but ranch, garlic butter, and warm cheese sauce are all delicious. Set out a few options so everyone can pick their favorite for the Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks.
Yes. Mozzarella string cheese is the tested filling, and fresh sliced mozzarella works too, as noted in the recipe notes. Pepper jack or cheddar string cheese also make fun flavor variations. Keep in mind that different cheeses melt differently, so mozzarella will give you the closest result to the original recipe.
This recipe has not been tested in the air fryer, so I do not have a tried and true time and temperature to share. These breadsticks were tested in the oven at 425 degrees F for 12 to 14 minutes, and that is the method I recommend for the best melty centers.
Still filling out the menu? Readers love pairing this one with our homemade Cheez-Its, sausage tortellini bake, and focaccia bread.
Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 2 16 oz. packages pizza dough
- 16 individual string cheese
- 3/4 cup italian blend cheese or mozzarella
- 4 tablespoons salted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Stretch and roll one package of pizza dough into a flat rectangle shape, making sure it is about ¼ inch thick across.2 16 oz. packages pizza dough
- Place the string cheese in two rows, about 1-2 inches apart from each other on top of the dough.16 individual string cheese
- Stretch and roll the second pizza dough to the same size and shape as the first dough. Then carefully lay the second dough directly on top of the first dough and string cheese.
- Press down firmly between each cheese stick to close the seams between each piece. Pinch the ends of each piece to secure the cheese.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut each breadstick out and separate the pieces from each other.
- Place the breadsticks 2-3 inches apart from each other on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.3/4 cup italian blend cheese
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until fully cooked.
- While the breadsticks are cooking, mix together the melted butter and garlic powder.4 tablespoons salted butter, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Remove breadsticks from the oven, and brush garlic butter over the tops. And top with parsley.Parsley
Notes
- We use the fresh pizza dough that comes in baggies, you can usually get this at your local grocery store.
- You can use any other pizza dough as long as it is the same amount or you could use your own.
- If you wan’t to skip the string cheese, place fresh sliced mozzarella down the center instead.
- Make sure to seal your dough edges well so that the cheese doesn’t melt and seep out of the dough.
- Top with finely grated parmesan and serve with marinara sauce, if desired.
- Easily double this batch if making for a larger crowd.
Nutrition
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