This easy recipe for no-knead cheesy garlic bread is perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re looking for a delicious and low-effort side dish. It comes together quickly with minimal prep work, requiring only a single rise for the dough.
Ingredients:
For the Bread:
160 ml milk
4 g (1 tbsp) instant dry yeast
30 g (3 tbsp) sugar
200 g (1 1/2 cups) bread flour (strong flour) or all-purpose flour
4 g (1 tsp) salt
25 g (2 1/2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
160 g mozzarella cheese
For the Garlic Sauce:
20 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter
7 g (1/2 tbsp) minced garlic
15 g (1 1/2 tbsp) sugar (optional, adjust to taste)
1/2 tbsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp salt
40 g mozzarella cheese
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, instant dry yeast, and sugar. Mix well and let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
Add the bread flour and salt to the mixture. Stir until combined.
Add the softened butter and knead the dough until no flour is visible.
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough ferment in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
After the dough has doubled, divide it into 16 equal pieces. Shape them as desired and let them rest for 10 minutes.
Flatten each piece of dough and stuff with a portion of the 160 g mozzarella cheese. Shape into balls or any desired form.
Place the shaped dough on a baking tray and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Brush the dough with milk if desired.
Bake the bread for 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
For the Garlic Sauce:
In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Stir in the sugar (if using), dried parsley, and salt.
Remove from heat and mix in the 40 g mozzarella cheese until melted and combined.
Final Steps:
After baking the bread, brush or drizzle the garlic sauce over the top.
Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes at 180°C (350°F).
Serve warm and enjoy!
Easy Weeknight Meal: This recipe comes together quickly, making it a perfect side dish for busy weeknights. From start to finish, it requires less than 2 hours, with most of that time being the rising time for the dough.
Substitutions:
- Bread Flour: If you don’t have bread flour, all-purpose flour can be used. The bread may not be quite as chewy, but it will still be delicious.
- Milk: You can substitute water for the milk in the recipe. However, milk will add a richer flavor to the bread.
- Cheese: Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese for the filling or the garlic sauce. Gruyere, parmesan, or cheddar would all be delicious options.
- Fresh Herbs: If you don’t have dried parsley, you can substitute fresh parsley. Use about 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley.
Tips for Shaping the Bread:
This recipe is very flexible when it comes to shaping the bread. Here are a few ideas:
- Individual Rolls: Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces, shape them into balls, and place them on a baking sheet.
- Braid: Divide the dough into 3 long ropes. Braid the ropes together and place on a baking sheet.
- Loaf: Shape the dough into a long loaf and place it on a baking sheet.
Serving Suggestions:
This cheesy garlic bread is delicious served warm on its own, but it can also be enjoyed with a variety of dipping sauces, such as marinara sauce or pesto. It’s also a great accompaniment to soups, stews, or pasta dishes.