This easy Pull Apart Garlic Bread is a fun twist on classic homemade garlic bread. Squares of soft, chewy dough are brushed with homemade garlic butter and Parmesan, stacked in a baking dish, and baked until golden. Everyone can just pull off a piece!
It’s the perfect side for pasta night, soups, and holiday dinners. Try it with our Easy Baked Ziti, Chicken Alfredo, or Meat Sauce. Looking for more easy bread recipes? Try our Garlic Knots, Wheat Rolls, Olive Garden Breadsticks, or these simple Parker House Rolls.
Soft, Buttery Homemade Garlic Bread
This garlic pull-apart bread is easy to make and fun to eat. Once baked, it’s got big pieces of flakey, buttery garlic bread that can be pulled right off. Each bite is chewy on the inside with a little bit of crusty perfection on the outside.
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You can either use the dough included in this recipe, or your favorite homemade pizza dough. Feel free to adjust the seasoning and cheeses to make different flavor combinations. Serve as a side for soup, salad, and pasta, or as a fun appetizer along with warm marinara sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It has the best combination of soft, chewy, and crispy textures. The bread stays fluffy and chewy inside while the exposed edges bake up golden, buttery, and slightly crisp.
- Every piece is coated in homemade garlic butter and Parmesan. The dough is spread with a mixture of butter, garlic, parsley, and salt, then sprinkled with Parmesan before being cut and stacked, so you get plenty of garlicky flavor throughout.
- You can take a shortcut when you need one. Make the easy homemade dough from scratch, or use refrigerated pizza dough or frozen bread dough for an even quicker version.
The Best Dough To Use
- Pre-made pizza dough- You can usually find this in the supermarket’s refrigerated section by the pepperoni or other pizza toppings. This works great for a quick pull-apart bread assembly.
- Frozen Bread Dough– Rhodes Rolls has a bread dough that would work really well for this recipe. Just thaw the dough and then roll out and spread with garlic butter before baking.
- Make Your Own Dough- Included is a recipe for some amazing dough to make this pull-apart bread. It really is so easy and only takes a few minutes to make.
Key Ingredients
- Flour- regular all-purpose flour works great for making this dough. If you want to make it gluten free, you can try substituting your favorite gluten free flour mix.
- Yeast– this recipe uses active dry yeast which needs to be activated by mixing it with sugar and warm water first.
- Sugar– regular granulated sugar is great, or you can substitute honey.
- Water- the water needs to be warm—about the temperature of your wrist.
- Butter- Be sure to have this at room temperature. You can also soften it in the microwave for 20 seconds if needed.
- Parmesan Cheese– grated parmesan works great in this recipe. Shredded will also work, but the pieces won’t be distributed quite as evenly.
- Parsley– while I used parsley, you could try making this recipe with other fresh or dried herbs such as oregano, rosemary, or thyme.
- Garlic Powder- using garlic powder eliminates any little chunks of garlic. However, if you like the flavor of fresh roasted garlic better, you could finely mince it and use that instead.
How to Make Pull-Apart Bread
- Proof the yeast. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Mix and then let sit till frothy—about 10 minutes.
- Mix the dough. Add the salt and about 4 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture, kneading on low speed for about 1 minute, until combined. Slowly add the remaining flour a half cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the edges of the mixing bowl.
- Let the dough rest. Cover with a towel and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes
- Roll the dough out. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/2″ thick.
- Make the garlic butter. In a small mixing bowl, combine the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt. Mix until it’s all combined.
- Spread it over the dough. Spread the garlic butter over the entire dough and lightly sprinkle parmesan cheese over the butter. Cut into 3″ squares and stack them up in two rows in a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
- Brush with egg wash. Whisk the egg and milk together in a small bowl, then brush the egg wash over the bread with a pastry brush. Let the bread rise for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or till golden brown.
Tips for the Best Pull Apart Garlic Bread
- Use warm water, not hot. Water that’s too hot can kill the yeast. It should feel comfortably warm on your wrist.
- Use softened butter. Room-temperature butter spreads easily without tearing the dough.
- Roll the dough evenly. Keeping it about ½ inch thick helps every square bake evenly.
- Let it cool a few minutes. The pieces pull apart more cleanly once the bread has rested briefly out of the oven.
Yes! Refrigerated pizza dough or thawed frozen bread dough both work great for a quicker version. Just roll it out, spread with the garlic butter, and follow the recipe from there.
A 9×13-inch baking dish. Stack the squares on their sides in two long rows.
Yes, but it will take longer to bake since the pieces are packed tighter. Bake until the top is deep golden brown and the center is cooked through.
Absolutely. Sprinkle extra Parmesan or shredded mozzarella over the top during the last 5 minutes of baking.
Yes. Once it’s cooled, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2–3 days.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Room Temperature: store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: wrap in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and store frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight or pull out to room temperature for at least 1-2 hours.
- To reheat: place in a low oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed. A smaller portion can also be reheated in the microwave.
Easy Pull Apart Garlic Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- 2½ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6½ cups all-purpose flour
Homemade Garlic Butter
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Mix and then let sit till frothy—about 10 minutes.
- Add the salt and about 4 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture, kneading on low speed for about 1 minute, until combined. Slowly add the remaining flour a half cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the edges of the mixing bowl—you may need up to ½ cup more.
- Cover with a towel and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes. While you are waiting, combine the butter, garlic, parsley, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Mix until it's all combined.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/2" thick. Spread the garlic butter over the entire dough and lightly sprinkle parmesan cheese over the butter. Cut into 3" squares and stack them up in two rows in a 9" x 13" baking dish.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a small bowl and brush the wash the egg mixture over the bread with a pastry brush. Let the bread rise for 10-15 minutes.
- Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shortcut: Use refrigerated pizza dough or thawed frozen bread dough in place of the homemade dough
- Room Temperature: store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: wrap in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and store frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight or pull out to room temperature for at least 1-2 hours.
- To reheat: place in a low oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed. A smaller portion can also be reheated in the microwave.
Nutrition
Did you make this?
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More Homemade Bread Recipes
- Whipped Garlic Butter
- Garlic Knots
- Breadsticks
- Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Herb Focaccia Bread
- Christmas Tree Garlic Pull Apart Rolls
- Garlic Herb Twist Bread
- More Bread Recipes
- More Holiday Recipes
Whether you’re serving it with spaghetti on a weeknight or setting it out with Thanksgiving dinner, this pull apart garlic bread always disappears fast. Soft, buttery, garlicky, and so fun to share!
Hi ,
I baked the bread at 180 C for 30 minutes , it has a slight yeast taste. is that normal?
or should I have baked it longer.? I am from South Africa so the yeast might be different. We have anchor instant yeast available and I used Sasko all purpose flour. Ofher than that it came out great.
Thank you.
I am not familiar with your specific type of yeast but a slightly yeasty flavor is normal. Did you by chance let the dough raise for longer than the specified time? If the dough is allowed to rise overnight, it creates a stronger yeast flavor which is not harmful and is actually preferred in some instances, like pizza dough. Thanks for sharing, so glad it came out great.
10/10 amazing! I made this for my family and shared it with a friend. I’m now regretting sharing half. I could have had half the bread all to myself. I added fresh parmesan to the top as it baked. It was a nice crispy layer.
So Good!!! ??
I made it in a regular Loaf pan. It did take longer to bake & get it to 200°F internal temp but so worth it. Thank you! ??
Can I use einkorn flour?
Sure but keep in mind, when using Einkorn flour, you will need to reduce the liquids by 1/3. Give it 2 rising cycles. Best of luck!
So what does one do with the other 1\3 of butter? Or is it supposed to be 1\2? I believe a 9×13 pan by picrures?
Hi! There’s no oil in the dough recipe. Is that correct? Thank you!
yes, no oil needed. It makes a very crusty top and chewy inside!
Can you freeze this and reheat? I’m planning a large family gathering and want to make as much as possible in advance!
Hi Kylie! Thanks for your question – we’ve updated the recipe with an answer.
What size pan do you use??
I was hoping to find out the same thing.