Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe 2025

Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread is everything you crave in one bite—fluffy, cheesy, garlicky, and baked to golden perfection. Whether you’re serving it as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a cozy side dish, this recipe combines homemade focaccia with melted mozzarella and a savory garlic butter that’s downright addictive. We’ll walk through each step to help you make it from scratch, with tips to customize, bake without a skillet, and pair it with your favorite meals. Looking for inspiration? Try our bread bowl recipe to round out your table with more homemade classics.

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Why Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread Is So Good

Better than regular garlic bread?

This version takes garlic bread to the next level. Instead of a basic loaf, we use fluffy, dimpled focaccia that’s rich with olive oil and Italian herbs. The bread alone is soft inside and slightly crisp on the outside—but when stuffed and topped with cheese and garlic butter, it transforms into a deeply flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Traditional garlic bread is often a sidekick. Focaccia cheesy garlic bread steals the spotlight.

That bold flavor and soft pull-apart texture

Here’s the thing: the layering of cheese inside the focaccia creates gooey, stretchy bites in the middle, while the top gets bubbly and golden with mozzarella and sharp cheddar. And that garlic butter? It seeps into the dimples of the dough, making every bite juicy and bold.

Plus, it’s baked in a skillet for maximum crisp edges—though we’ll show you how to make it even if you don’t have one. Discover great ideas like our fluffy French bread if you’re a carb lover exploring more variations.

This dish isn’t just “bread”—it’s the cheesy centerpiece your dinner table needs.

Ingredients for Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread

What you need for the bread dough

The secret to great focaccia starts with the dough. You’ll need:

• Warm water – activates the yeast
• Active dry yeast – gives the bread that signature rise
• Granulated sugar – feeds the yeast
• All-purpose flour – the structure of your bread
• Olive oil – adds moisture and rich flavor
• Garlic & Italian seasoning – for that fragrant, herby touch
• Kosher salt – to balance the flavors

This focaccia base becomes the canvas for cheesy, garlicky perfection.

Cheese selection matters

We’re going with two cheeses here—mozzarella for the gooey middle, and cheddar for the melty, tangy top. Here’s the breakdown:

Cheese	Quantity	Use
Mozzarella	1½ cups	1 cup for inside, ½ cup for topping
Cheddar	1 cup	Sprinkled on top with mozzarella

Feel free to mix in your favorites—fontina, provolone, or even pepper jack can work wonders. Don’t miss our blueberry butter if you’re into creative bread spreads.

Garlic butter sauce: flavor overload

The garlic butter sauce gives this recipe its punch. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Melted butter
• Grated parmesan
• Minced garlic
• Chopped parsley
• Kosher salt

Once mixed, this is brushed generously over the top layer of dough right before baking.

How to Make Cheesy Focaccia Garlic Bread

Step 1: Prep the dough

Start by blooming your yeast in warm water with sugar. Let it sit for five minutes. In the meantime, mix olive oil, garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning. Add half of that oil mix to your yeast mixture.

Stir in the flour and knead until it comes together. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise for about an hour. It should double in size and become soft and pillowy.

Step 2: Shape and stuff the dough

Preheat your oven to 450°F. Oil a 12-inch cast-iron skillet (or baking dish if you don’t have one). Press half the dough into the skillet and dimple it with your fingers. Top with 1 cup mozzarella.

Roll out the second half of the dough into a round. Place it on top of the cheese, remove parchment if used, and again—dimple that top layer.

Check out our no-knead bread if you’re new to bread making and want something simpler to practice.

Step 3: Add garlic butter and bake

Brush the garlic butter sauce over the top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar evenly. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Want easy pull-apart pieces? Pull it out after 16 minutes, slice into strips, and pop it back in for a final 2–3 minutes.

Bonus: No cast-iron? No problem.

You can use a 9×11″ or 9×13″ baking dish instead. The crust will be slightly thinner, but still delicious. Adjust the baking time by a few minutes and keep an eye on that golden top.

Pro Tips to Level Up Your Cheesy Focaccia

Make it ahead for stress-free prep

Short on time? Prepare the dough the day before and refrigerate overnight. It actually helps develop deeper flavor. Just let it come to room temp before assembling and baking.

To reheat leftovers, pop them in a hot oven or air fryer for 3–4 minutes. They’ll crisp right up without drying out.

Fun twists and flavorful upgrades

Want to spice things up? Add crushed red pepper, chopped jalapeños, or sun-dried tomatoes into the dough or over the top.

Try these variations:

• Pepperoni slices for a pizza-style twist
• Rosemary and thyme for herbal depth
• Goat cheese or provolone for a creamy bite

Learn more about artisan bread with our easiest rustic bread recipe.

How to make it crisp or soft

If you like it soft, slightly underbake it by a minute or two. Prefer a crispy edge? Bake it closer to 25 minutes and use a well-oiled cast-iron pan.

What to Serve with Cheesy Garlic Focaccia

Perfect pasta partners

This bread pairs beautifully with saucy dishes like:

• Baked ziti
• Spaghetti with meatballs
• Creamy chicken Alfredo

Or dip it in a bowl of rich marinara or tomato basil soup.

Light salads and soups that balance it out

For a lighter combo, try:

• A Caesar salad with shaved parmesan
• Creamy tomato or potato soup
• Minestrone or lentil soup

Turn it into a meal

You can stuff it with roasted veggies, meats, or pesto to make it a focaccia melt or savory sandwich. It’s also great with fried eggs for brunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion: A Must-Make Cheesy Bread Recipe

Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread is way more than just a side—it’s a comfort food star that hits every note: fluffy, cheesy, crispy, and garlicky. Easy to customize and even easier to love, this skillet-style focaccia will earn a permanent place on your dinner rotation.

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