The warm scent of garlic, butter, and herbs hits your senses the moment these rolls come out of the oven. Crispy on the outside, pillowy inside, and bursting with gooey mozzarella each bite is a savory explosion of comfort. Perfect for dipping in marinara, these rolls aren’t just an appetizer; they’re the highlight of the party spread.
Whether you’re prepping for game day or just craving a cozy weekend snack, these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls offer a fun and foolproof way to please a crowd. Simple ingredients and effortless steps mean even beginner cooks can impress. And let’s be honest who can resist melty cheese inside warm garlic bread?
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
For the Rolls:
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16–19 oz store-bought pizza dough
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8 mozzarella string cheese sticks (cut into 1-inch pieces) OR 32 creamy cheese cubes
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½ tbsp milk OR 1 whisked egg
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Flaky sea salt (optional)
For the Garlic Herb Butter:
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4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
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¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
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2 small cloves garlic, minced
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1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
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1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
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Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve:
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1 slice cheese (mozzarella, provolone, or cheddar) cut into strips for garnish
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Warm marinara sauce for dipping
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Cut cheese sticks into 1-inch pieces (or use pre-cut cubes). Divide pizza dough into 32 equal pieces.
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Flatten each dough piece into a small rectangle, place a cheese piece in the center, wrap, pinch to seal, and roll into a ball.
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Arrange dough balls seam side down on the baking sheet in a football shape or desired arrangement.
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Brush with milk or egg wash. Sprinkle with flaky salt if using.
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Bake for 18 minutes, then broil for 2–3 minutes until golden brown.
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While rolls cool slightly, mix melted butter with parmesan, garlic, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Brush generously over the rolls.
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(Optional) Cut cheese into 7 strips and lay them over the rolls to resemble football laces.
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Serve warm with marinara sauce.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes
Kcal: 54 kcal per roll | Servings: 32 rolls
Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls: The Ultimate Party Appetizer Everyone Will Love
When it comes to crowd-pleasing recipes, nothing quite hits the spot like warm, buttery bread stuffed with gooey melted cheese. Add in a brush of garlic herb butter, a crispy golden crust, and a side of warm marinara for dipping, and you’ve got a snack that disappears in seconds. Enter: Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls a true showstopper for game days, potlucks, family nights, or just when you’re craving a next-level comfort food fix.
This appetizer has been making waves across food blogs and social media for good reason. It takes the beloved flavors of garlic bread, elevates them with a stuffed cheese center, and makes the experience fun, interactive, and deeply satisfying. These rolls are everything we love about finger food: easy to grab, fun to eat, and packed with flavor in every bite.
Why Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls Are So Popular
At the heart of these rolls is simplicity. They use easy-to-find, everyday ingredients pre made pizza dough, string cheese or cubed cheese, fresh herbs, butter—and turn them into something magical. There’s no complicated dough to make, no fermentation or resting time to wait through. From start to finish, the whole recipe takes about 35 minutes, yet the result looks (and tastes) like something straight out of a bakery window.
What makes this recipe especially appealing is its versatility. Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, contributing to a holiday buffet, or preparing a cozy movie night snack, these garlic bread rolls rise to the occasion. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to serve and share, making them a favorite for gatherings where people want to nibble and mingle.
The Wow Factor: Melty Cheese and Garlic Butter
What really sets these rolls apart is the experience of pulling them apart soft dough giving way to a stretch of molten mozzarella. That cheese pull is not just satisfying to watch; it’s comforting and craveable. Add to that a final brush of melted butter infused with garlic, parsley, basil, and parmesan, and you’ve got layers of flavor and texture in every roll.
The garlic herb butter is essential. It’s brushed over the rolls once they’re out of the oven, soaking into the warm dough and infusing each bite with rich, savory flavor. The butter also helps elevate the humble ingredients into something gourmet-tasting. It’s the kind of finishing touch that makes guests pause mid-bite to ask, “Wait, did you make this?”
Tips for Making Them Perfect Every Time
Although this recipe is beginner-friendly, there are a few tips and tricks that can help make your rolls look and taste bakery-worthy.
1. Use good-quality dough.
Not all store-bought pizza dough is created equal. Some can be overly sticky and tough to work with. Look for fresh dough from your local grocery store’s deli or bakery section. If it feels overly wet or sticks to your fingers, a light dusting of flour can help.
2. Don’t overstuff.
Even though it’s tempting to add more cheese, doing so might cause the rolls to burst open while baking. A small cube or 1-inch piece of cheese is the perfect amount for gooey centers without a mess.
3. Arrange them closely together.
Whether you’re forming them into a football shape (for game day) or a simple circular pull-apart bread, make sure the rolls are touching slightly. This ensures they bake together and stay soft and pillowy in the center.
4. Don’t skip the broil.
After baking, a few minutes under the broiler gives the rolls a beautiful golden color. Just be careful not to step away—this step goes fast!
5. Cool slightly before brushing with butter.
Letting the rolls sit for just a minute or two ensures the butter doesn’t completely evaporate on contact. The cheese inside stays hot and melty, while the garlic butter can soak in properly.
Perfect for Every Occasion
While the original idea behind these rolls was a Super Bowl snack complete with a football shape and cheese “laces” on top they’ve proven themselves to be much more than just seasonal fun.
For holidays, try arranging the rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree and decorating with little pimentos or cherry tomatoes as “ornaments.” For birthdays or casual dinners, a circular pull-apart arrangement works beautifully and is easy to grab and share.
For kids, these rolls are a huge hit. You can stuff them with different types of cheese cheddar, provolone, or even mini pepperoni for a pizza roll twist. Since they’re bite-sized, they’re perfect for lunch boxes or after-school snacks too.
For gluten-free eaters, the recipe adapts easily by substituting in gluten-free pizza dough, which is becoming more accessible at stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
Add-Ons and Variations
Once you’ve nailed the basic version of these rolls, it’s hard not to start imagining the possibilities. Here are a few flavor variations to inspire your next batch:
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Add a slice of pepperoni inside each roll for cheesy pizza bites.
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Mix chili flakes into the garlic butter for a little heat.
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Use herbed goat cheese or a mozzarella and feta mix for tangy flair.
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Serve with different dipping sauces like ranch, pesto, or garlic aioli instead of just marinara.
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Sprinkle the top with everything bagel seasoning before baking for a bold flavor twist.
You can also turn these into a full meal by pairing with a hearty salad or soup, or serve them alongside a main dish like lasagna or roasted chicken. The possibilities really are endless.
Storage and Reheating Tips
If you somehow manage to have leftovers (which is rare!), they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 10–12 minutes, or microwave for about a minute to bring back that gooey center.
They’re best fresh, of course, but even the reheated version is miles better than anything from the freezer aisle.
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
What makes Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls stand out is their universal appeal. Everyone loves garlic bread. Everyone loves cheese. And when you put those two together in a soft, golden bite-sized form, it’s magic.
This is the kind of recipe that doesn’t just get eaten it gets remembered. Friends will ask for it again. Family members will text you for the recipe. It’ll become part of your party rotation, your comfort food arsenal, your go-to when you need something guaranteed to make people smile.
And perhaps most importantly it’s fun. There’s joy in rolling dough, in tucking away little cubes of cheese, in watching them puff and brown in the oven, and in seeing the look on someone’s face as they bite into the warm, melty center. That’s what cooking should be.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a dish that checks all the boxes easy to make, quick to prep, made with simple ingredients, and endlessly customizable Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls might just become your new favorite. It’s one of those recipes that looks impressive but requires very little effort, making it ideal for home cooks at any level.
Whether you’re baking them for the big game, a cozy night in, or a holiday feast, these rolls are guaranteed to steal the show. And let’s be honest: there’s something about warm bread, melted cheese, and garlic butter that just makes life a little better.
So next time you’re wondering what to bring to the potluck or how to wow your guests bring the bread. The cheesy, garlicky, pull-apart kind.