Description
A delicious and easy-to-make Cheesy Pesto Garlic Bread featuring a crispy French or Italian bread base topped with savory garlic butter, flavorful basil pesto, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This Italian-inspired appetizer is perfect as a side dish to pasta, soups, or grilled meats and is garnished with fresh parsley for an added touch of color and freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread or Italian bread (halved lengthwise)
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the bread.
- Prepare garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter with the minced garlic until thoroughly mixed to create a fragrant garlic butter spread.
- Spread garlic butter: Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over both halves of the halved bread, ensuring full coverage for maximum flavor.
- Apply pesto: Carefully spread a layer of basil pesto over the garlic butter on each bread half for a fresh, herby taste.
- Add cheese: Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese followed by grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the pesto layer on the bread.
- Bake the bread: Place the prepared bread halves on a baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted completely and is bubbly.
- Broil for golden top (optional): To achieve a golden, slightly crispy cheese topping, broil the bread for an additional 1–2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the bread from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, slice into 8 pieces, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can use homemade or store-bought basil pesto depending on your preference or convenience.
- For an extra flavor kick, add sun-dried tomatoes or sprinkle a pinch of red pepper flakes over the pesto before adding the cheese.
- This cheesy pesto garlic bread makes a perfect side dish for pasta meals, hearty soups, or grilled meats.
