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Easy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread Recipe

Easy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread

A crusty Italian or French loaf is crosshatched, filled with garlic butter, and baked until crisp on top and soft inside. It makes a warm, shareable side dish for 8–10 servings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 loaf, about 16 ounces (450 g) Large crusty Italian or French loaf
Garlic Butter
  • 1/2 cup (113 g; 1 stick) Unsalted butter, melted
  • 3–4 cloves Garlic, finely minced or grated
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon, or to taste Kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup, optional Finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon, optional Black pepper

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the loaf on a large sheet of foil set over a baking sheet.
  2. Using a serrated knife, cut the loaf into approximately 1-inch squares, slicing almost to the bottom without cutting all the way through. Repeat the cuts in the opposite direction to create a crosshatch pattern while keeping the base intact.
  3. Stir together the melted butter, minced or grated garlic, parsley, kosher salt, and optional black pepper. Mix in the Parmesan if using.
  4. Spoon or brush the garlic butter into several cuts and layers of the loaf, working it down between the sections. Spread any remaining butter across the top.
  5. Wrap the loaf loosely in the foil and place it on the baking sheet. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until the butter has melted throughout and the bread is heated.
  6. Open the foil and continue baking for another 5–10 minutes, until the top is crisp and golden. Serve warm, allowing guests to pull apart the buttery sections.

Notes

Do not slice completely through the loaf. For even flavor, work the garlic butter into several layers instead of pouring it only over the surface. Wrapping first keeps the bread from drying out, while uncovering it at the end crisps the top. For a variation, add 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or shredded mozzarella. If using salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt.