Guys, I’ve discovered the ULTIMATE comfort food! Picture this: homemade focaccia bread STUFFED with gooey mozzarella and topped with the most amazing garlic butter and even MORE cheese. I’m seriously obsessed.
If you end up loving this as much as I do (and trust me, you will), check out my Buffalo Chicken Focaccia and Jalapeño Honey Bread too – they’re just as addictive!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Is My New Obsession
I’ve tried countless garlic bread recipes over the years, but this one takes the crown! It starts with a fluffy focaccia base, then gets loaded with two types of cheese and a ridiculously good garlic-parmesan butter spread. The whole thing bakes up in a cast-iron skillet until everything gets all melty and bubbly. Pure heaven!
Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread Ingredients
For the Base: My go-to focaccia recipe creates this amazing pizza-like crust that’s both chewy and crispy.
For the Garlic Butter: I mix up butter with fresh garlic and parmesan (because honestly, is there such a thing as too much cheese?). This gets slathered on the top layer and creates this incredible flavor bomb.
For the Cheese Factor: I use a combo of mozzarella and cheddar, but feel free to experiment! Some provolone or fontina would be amazing too. The trick is layering – some cheese goes INSIDE the bread, and the rest goes on top!
Making the Focaccia Dough
First things first – let’s get that dough going! Mix your yeast with warm water and a pinch of sugar, then let it sit for about 5 minutes until it gets foamy (this is how you know your yeast is alive and kicking!).
While that’s doing its thing, whip up a flavor-packed oil mixture with olive oil, garlic, salt, and Italian herbs. I like to add extra basil because, well, I’m a basil fiend.
Pour half of this amazing oil into your yeast mixture, save the rest for later (trust me on this), then mix in your flour until you’ve got a soft dough. Pop it into an oiled bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise for about an hour until it’s doubled in size.
Assembling This Beast
Once your dough has puffed up, the fun begins! Mix up your garlic butter spread – melted butter, minced garlic (don’t be shy), parmesan, parsley, and a pinch of salt.
Grab your cast-iron skillet and brush the bottom with that reserved oil mixture. This is going to give your bread an incredible flavor from the bottom up!
Now take half your dough and press it into the skillet, stretching it to the edges. Use your fingertips to create those classic focaccia dimples. Layer on a cup of mozzarella – this is the INSIDE cheese layer that’s going to blow people’s minds when they bite into it.
For the top layer, stretch out the remaining dough on parchment paper, then flip it over onto the cheese layer. Peel off the paper and make more dimples. Now slather on that garlic butter and pile on the remaining mozzarella and all the cheddar.
Pop it in the oven for about 18-20 minutes until it’s golden and bubbly!
Pro Tip for Serving
Here’s a little trick I discovered: If you want to make this easy to share (and look super impressive), pull it out after about 16 minutes, slice it into strips, then return it to the oven for a couple more minutes. This creates these perfect pull-apart sections that are great for dipping!
I love serving this with marinara sauce for dipping, but honestly? It’s incredible all on its own. It’s become my go-to side for pasta nights, but I’ve definitely eaten it as a meal too (no judgment here!). If you’re looking for another amazing cheesy recipe to try, my Swiss Mushroom Melt Delight is another game-changer that uses simple ingredients to create something extraordinary.
If you’re as obsessed with focaccia as I am now, you’ve GOT to try my Focaccia Pepperoni Pizza version next!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does focaccia with cheese need to be refrigerated?
Absolutely! Any focaccia with cheese needs to be refrigerated after it cools down. The cheese makes it perishable, so to keep it fresh and safe to eat, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay good for about 3-4 days this way.
Does cooked cheesy garlic bread need to be refrigerated?
Yes, definitely refrigerate your cheesy garlic bread once it’s cooled down. The combination of cheese, butter, and garlic creates a perfect environment for bacteria if left at room temperature for too long. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, just reheat it in the oven for about 5-10 minutes at 350°F to bring back that melty cheese goodness.
Can I put cheese on focaccia before baking?
You sure can! In fact, adding cheese before baking is a fantastic idea – that’s exactly what makes this stuffed focaccia so amazing. You can add cheese in between layers like in this recipe, sprinkle it on top, or even mix small cubes of cheese directly into the dough. The cheese will melt beautifully during baking and create those irresistible pockets of gooey goodness.
How long can focaccia bread sit out?
Plain focaccia (without cheese) can sit at room temperature for about 1-2 days if properly covered to prevent it from drying out. However, this cheesy garlic focaccia bread should not sit out for more than 2 hours due to the cheese and garlic butter. The USDA recommends not leaving perishable foods out for more than 2 hours at room temperature (or 1 hour if it’s above 90°F) to prevent foodborne illness.
Enjoying Your Cheesy Garlic Focaccia
This Stuffed Cheesy Garlic Focaccia proves that simple ingredients, treated with care, can create an extraordinary meal. The contrast between the crispy, herb-infused exterior and the gooey, cheese-filled interior makes each bite a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
What I love most about this bread is how it transforms humble ingredients into something that feels special – perfect for a quick side that brightens your pasta night or a casual appetizer alongside a glass of wine. Don’t be surprised if this becomes your new favorite comfort food too!
Focaccia Cheesy Garlic Bread
Equipment
- Cast-Iron Skillet
- Mixing Bowl
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
Focaccia Dough
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil for dough and brushing
Garlic Butter Spread
- 4 tbsp butter melted
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tbsp parsley chopped
- 1 pinch salt to taste
Cheese Filling & Topping
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Mix yeast with warm water and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Combine olive oil, garlic, salt, and Italian herbs. Pour half into yeast mixture, reserve the rest.
- Mix in flour to form a soft dough. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
- Prepare garlic butter by combining melted butter, minced garlic, parmesan, parsley, and salt.
- Brush cast-iron skillet with reserved olive oil mixture. Press half the dough into skillet, creating dimples.
- Layer 1 cup of mozzarella over the dough.
- Stretch remaining dough on parchment paper and place over cheese layer. Dimple the top.
- Slather with garlic butter, top with remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18-20 minutes until golden and bubbly.