By: Jill Mills Updated: Feb 24, 2026

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Stuffed with lots of cheese and brushed with garlic butter, this Cheesy Pull Apart Bread is easy to make and addicting to eat. Serve with marinara as an appetizer that the whole family will love, or as a side to pasta, soup, or salad.

Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with a hand pulling apart the bread

This recipe takes everything my family loves about cheesy garlic bread and makes it even more fun to eat. Pull apart bread sounds difficult to make, but it’s so easy. I was surprised the first time I made it! It makes an impressive appetizer served with marinara sauce. I also pair it with soup or salad to make a dinner that the kids might not be excited about a little more fun.

Why I Can’t Stop Making This Cheesy Pull Apart Bread

It’s fun! Let’s be honest, cheesy pull apart bread is WAY more fun to eat than breadsticks or even cheesy breadsticks. There’s just something novel about pulling gooey, cheesy pieces away from the loaf to dip into marinara.
Super easy to make. Most importantly, it’s so easy to make. All you need is a good loaf of crusty bread, garlic butter, and cheese. The prep takes less than 10 minutes!
Buttery, cheesy goodness. This bread is LOADED with cheese. I used over 2 cups of mozzarella and parmesan. And before that, it’s brushed with the most irresistible garlic butter that absorbs into every bite of the bread. So flavorful, so good.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make pull apart bread

Recipe Ingredients

This yummy appetizer is made with just a few ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Bread – The key to the best pull apart bread is to start with a round loaf of crusty bread. Sourdough and Italian are the best options.
Butter – I recommend unsalted to fully control the flavor.
Garlic – Mixed with the butter to brush the bread.
Parsley – I like to use finely chopped fresh parsley for color and flavor. Feel free to use another herb.
Salt & pepper
Cheese – I recommend using freshly shredded mozzarella and freshly grated parmesan. Freshly shredded cheese melts more easily since it doesn’t have the coating that pre-shredded cheese has.

How To Make Cheesy Pull Apart Bread

Guests may think this bread took a lot of effort to prepare, but it’s actually so easy! The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Brushing a round loaf of bread with garlic butter

A round loaf of bread with cheese in the cuts

Prep. Preheat the oven to 375F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the bread. Use a sharp knife to make diagonal cuts 1 inch apart across the top of the bread. Rotate the loaf and do the same in the opposite direction. Be sure not to cut all the way to the bottom.
Add the garlic butter. Combine melted butter, garlic, and the spices in a bowl. Drizzle the mixture over the bread, ensuring it gets deep into the slices.
Add the cheese. Stuff the cheese into all of the cracks, making sure it’s evenly distributed.

Bake. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil, sealing it tightly. Bake for 15 minutes. Unwrap the foil, then bake for an additional 5 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the bread golden brown.
Enjoy. Sprinkle with extra parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making cheesy pull apart bread for the first time. I also included some easy variations.

Start with the right bread. This is key! A round, crusty loaf like sourdough or Italian bread works best. Avoid anything super soft that won’t hold the cheese.
Avoid cutting through the bread. When slicing the diagonal pattern, be sure to slice most of the way through the bread but not all the way. If it’s sliced all the way, it will just fall apart.
Try other cheeses. Feel free to mix in other cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or gruyère for added flavor.
Customize the garlic butter. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick or a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the garlic butter mixture for extra flavor.
Assemble in advance. You can assemble the bread up to 4 hours in advance. Wrap it tightly in foil and refrigerate until ready to bake.

A hand dipping a piece of cheesy pull apart bread in marinara sauce

What To Serve It With

This pull apart bread pairs perfectly with marinara sauce for dipping. It also makes a great side dish for pasta, soup, or salad. Some of my favorite things to serve it with include marry me chicken pasta, chicken parmesan, and vegetable soup.

How To Store & Reheat Leftovers

Fridge. Store leftover pull apart bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat. To reheat leftovers, wrap the bread in foil and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
Freezer. Wrap the baked bread tightly in foil and freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-25 minutes.

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