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This Garlic Cheese Bread is a quick, no-yeast loaf packed with sharp cheddar and brushed with a savory garlic butter, and it bakes up golden in under an hour. I throw it together on busy soup nights when I want warm, cheesy bread without waiting for dough to rise. Serve it next to a bowl of our Italian wedding soup for the coziest dinner.
No yeast, no kneading, no rising, just mix, bake, and brush with garlic butter.
Garlic Cheese Bread Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 40 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 50 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 272kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Cheesy, buttery, savory, and garlicky
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our homemade dinner rolls
Quick Answer
To make garlic cheese bread, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, then stir in shredded cheddar. Mix in milk, an egg, and melted butter until just combined, spread the batter into a greased loaf pan, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes. While it bakes, whisk together melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and parsley, then brush it over the warm loaf. The whole quick bread takes under an hour, with no yeast or rising required.
Jump to:
- Garlic Cheese Bread Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Garlic Cheese Bread
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Garlic Cheese Bread FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Bread and Soup Recipes
- Garlic Cheese Bread
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- No yeast, no waiting. This is a quick bread leavened with baking powder, so there is no dough to knead or rise, just mix and bake.
- Loaded with real cheddar. Three cups of shredded cheese mean a rich, cheesy flavor and a soft, tender crumb in every slice.
- The garlic butter topping is irresistible. Brushing the warm loaf with garlic-herb butter gives it that savory, garlic-bread flavor on top.
- One bowl, simple ingredients. Everything comes together with a whisk and pantry staples, no mixer required.
- Bakes up golden and sliceable. Baked in a loaf pan, it slices neatly for sandwiches, soup-dipping, or snacking.
- Ready in under an hour. From bowl to table in less than 60 minutes, it is the perfect last-minute side.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is loaded with sharp cheddar and brushed with savory garlic butter.
- There is no yeast, kneading, or rising, just mix, bake, and brush.
- It is the perfect quick side for soup, like our Italian meatball soup.
Key Ingredients
Just simple pantry ingredients make this cheesy garlic bread come together fast.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Three full cups give the bread its rich, cheesy flavor and soft texture.
- Flour, baking powder, and sugar: The quick-bread base that rises without any yeast.
- Milk, egg, and butter: They bind the batter and keep the loaf moist and tender.
- Garlic and onion powder: Whisked into the butter topping for that classic garlic-bread flavor.
- Parsley: Added to the garlic butter for a fresh, herby finish on top.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Make this garlic cheese bread your own with these easy swaps.
- Use a different cheese: Try Monterey Jack, pepper jack, mozzarella, or a sharp white cheddar.
- Add mix-ins: Fold in cooked bacon, diced jalapenos, or chopped green onion for extra flavor.
- Use fresh garlic: Swap the garlic powder in the topping for fresh minced garlic sauteed in the butter.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the batter or topping.
- Bake it as muffins: Divide the batter into a muffin tin and reduce the bake time for individual cheese breads, like mini versions of our focaccia.
How to Make Garlic Cheese Bread
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese so it is evenly coated in the flour mixture.
- Whisk the milk and egg together, pour them into the dry ingredients, then mix in the melted butter until everything is just combined with no dry spots.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9×5 loaf pan and smooth out the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Whisk together the melted butter, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and parsley, then brush it over the warm loaf.
- Let the bread cool for a few minutes in the pan, then turn it out, slice, and serve warm.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Do not overmix the batter, stir just until combined so the bread stays soft and tender.
- Shred your own cheese for the best melt, pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can make it dry.
- Brush the butter while warm, the garlic topping soaks into the hot loaf for the most flavor.
- Check for doneness with a toothpick in the center, it should come out clean with no wet batter.
- Serve it warm with soup, it is made for dipping into our Italian wedding soup or a bowl of chili.
- Grease the pan well and use a pastry brush to coat every corner so the cheesy loaf releases cleanly.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This garlic cheese bread is the ultimate easy side for any cozy meal. Serve thick slices warm alongside soups, stews, and chili for dipping, or next to pasta dishes and salads. The cheesy, garlicky flavor makes it a natural partner for our Italian meatball soup or a big bowl of marinara pasta.
It is delicious on its own as a snack, slathered with extra butter, or toasted the next day. You can also use the slices for grilled cheese, mini sandwiches, or to mop up sauce from your plate.
Round out a comforting dinner by pairing it with other homemade breads like our ciabatta rolls or dinner rolls. Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5, and warm slices before serving.
Garlic Cheese Bread FAQs
No, this garlic cheese bread is a quick bread made with baking powder, so there is no yeast, kneading, or rising time. That is what makes it so fast, you simply mix the batter, pour it into a loaf pan, and bake. You get warm, cheesy, garlicky bread in under an hour instead of waiting hours for dough to rise.
Sharp cheddar is the classic choice because it has a bold, rich flavor and melts beautifully into the loaf. You can also use Monterey Jack, pepper jack, mozzarella, or a blend. For the best texture and melt, shred the cheese yourself rather than using pre-shredded, which contains anti-caking agents.
Yes. You can bake the loaf a day ahead, let it cool completely, and store it wrapped at room temperature or in the fridge. Warm slices in the oven or toaster before serving and brush on a little extra garlic butter to refresh the flavor. The baked bread also freezes well for up to 3 months.
Store cooled garlic cheese bread wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm slices in a 300 degree oven, a toaster oven, or a skillet until heated through and the edges crisp up. Avoid the microwave, which can make the bread chewy.
Garlic cheese bread is the perfect partner for soups, stews, and chili, and it is wonderful with pasta dishes, salads, and saucy mains for soaking up every bite. It is also great on its own as a snack with extra butter, or used for sandwiches and grilled cheese the next day.
Dense quick bread usually comes from overmixing the batter, which develops too much gluten. Stir just until the ingredients are combined and a few small lumps are fine. Also make sure your baking powder is fresh, as old baking powder will not give the bread its proper lift. Measuring the flour correctly by spooning and leveling helps too.
Love homemade bread? Try our crusty ciabatta bread rolls next for another easy bakery-style favorite.
Garlic Cheese Bread
Ingredients
- 1 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
For the topping:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- pinch teaspoon onion powder
- pinch teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with baking spray, using a pastry brush brush the spray all over the loaf pan to make sure it is covered, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients- flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined.1 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Add the cheese and stir it together so the cheese is coated in the flour mixture, set aside.3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Pour this mixture into the dry and stir it until just combined, a few dry spots are okay.1 cup whole milk, 1 large egg
- Add the melted butter and mix it in until everything is combined and there are no dry patches.1/4 cup unsalted butter
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the bread is baking, whisk together the butter, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, and dried parsley for the topping, set aside.1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt, pinch teaspoon onion powder, pinch teaspoon dried parsley
- Place the bread in the loaf pan on a wire rack to cool slightly.
- Immediately brush the bread with the butter topping. Let the bread cool for 5 minutes in the pan then take it out of the pan and cool completely on the wire rack. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the batter to keep the bread light and fluffy.
- Check the bread 5 minutes before the timer goes off to prevent over-browning.
- Let the bread cool for a few minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack.
- Experiment with different kinds of cheese for new flavors.
- Serve warm for the best cheesy experience!
Nutrition
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