Why this recipe Matters
This ciabatta garlic bread bakes up with crisp edges, a soft center, and layers of garlic butter and melty cheese. It’s simple, reliable, and one of those sides that works just as well for a weeknight dinner as it does alongside a full pasta spread.
Who doesn’t love garlic bread? Growing up, my mom would buy a loaf of French bread from the bakery, slice it thick, slather it with margarine, and sprinkle it with garlic salt. It went into the oven until just lightly toasted, and she always served it alongside her lasagna. Seeing that loaf on the counter meant a good dinner was coming.
If she wasn’t making her version, we had frozen Texas toast—or the five-cheese garlic bread, which felt like a step up at the time.
As an adult, I still make my mom’s version, and I still occasionally grab the frozen kind. But when I want something homemade, I reach for a fresh loaf of ciabatta. It’s perfect for garlic bread, with all its little pockets soaking up the garlic butter in every bite.
Prepare your Taste Buds
A fresh loaf of ciabatta is sliced in half and spread with a generous layer of homemade garlic butter. Butter is melted gently with olive oil, fresh garlic, and a pinch of crushed red pepper until the kitchen smells rich and fragrant. Parsley and scallion greens are stirred in at the end for a fresh finish.
The garlic butter is brushed across the ciabatta, soaking into all the airy pockets of the bread. A layer of sharp white cheddar and salty parmesan is added before it goes into the oven, open-faced. As it bakes, the edges turn crisp, the center stays soft, and the cheese melts until lightly golden on top.
If you can find ciabatta from a local bakery, it’s worth it—the texture and flavor make a noticeable difference. I like to serve this alongside Lasagna Bowls or Baked Meatballs, but it pairs just as well with grilled chicken or any pasta dinner.
Ciabatta Garlic Bread
Crispy, golden ciabatta garlic bread brushed with garlic butter and topped with cheddar and Parmesan. Easy to make, perfectly toasted, and the ideal side for pasta, soup, or salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
•1 loaf ciabatta
•4 tablespoons unsalted butter
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•2 teaspoons scallion greens, minced
•1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, minced
•1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, finely grated
•1/2 cup parmesan, finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a large serrated knife, slice the ciabatta loaf in half lengthwise. Place two halves cut side up on the baking sheet.
- In a small saucepan or skillet, melt the butter over low to medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the olive oil, garlic and red pepper. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant and tender, but not browned.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the scallions, parsley and salt. Using a pastry brush, spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the two halves. Next, sprinkle the cheeses evenly over each half.
- Transfer the prepared bread to the oven and bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown, rotating the tray halfway through baking.
- Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes and slice into 2″ thick slices. Serve and garnish with a sprinkle of extra parmesan and crushed red pepper, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Stick to the green scallion tops for this recipe. They add a gentle, herb-like onion flavor, while the white portion is sharper and more intense.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 thick slice
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 163.4 mg
- Fat: 9.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.4 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 21.6 mg
Handy Hints
- No pastry brush? Use a spoon. Dip it in the melted garlic butter, then use the back of the spoon to spread the butter over the bread.
- Tool tip: If you want a pastry brush, I like this silicone pastry brush. It comes in two sizes and is easy to clean.
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