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There’s nothing quite like warm, cheesy bread fresh from the oven—especially when it’s made completely from scratch. This homemade cheesy bread starts with a soft, fluffy dough that’s topped with a gooey blend of melted cheeses and a secret ingredient. It’s the perfect side for pasta night, soup, or honestly, just about any meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Homemade dough magic: Soft, fluffy, and full of flavor—so much better than anything from a can.
Cheesy perfection: A golden, gooey blend of melted cheeses in every bite.
Versatile side dish: Pairs perfectly with pasta, soup, or your favorite salad—or enjoy it on its own!
Make-ahead friendly: The dough can be prepped in advance, so you can bake fresh cheesy bread anytime.
Crowd-pleaser: Simple ingredients, big flavor—everyone will be asking for seconds.
Ingredients Needed
- Pizza Dough, you can use a store bought dough or check out my pizza dough recipe
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian Salad Dressing, favorite brand store bought dressing.
- Olive Oil
- Dry Active Yeast
- Sugar
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Oregano
- Dried Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
How to Make Cheesy Bread
- Roll out pizza dough into about a 12 inch circle on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Combine salad dressing and seasonings.
- Brush dough with seasoning mixture.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over dough.
- Bake at 450 degrees F. until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes.
Tips from leigh Anne
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has added starch that can prevent smooth melting—freshly grated melts perfectly.
- Bake on parchment paper to makes cleanup easy. It will also help the bottom brown evenly without sticking.
- Try adding some red pepper flakes for an extra little kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store bought pizza dough instead of homemade dough?
If you are short on time, use your favorite store bought pizza dough. You will need 1 lb. of pizza dough. I prefer to make this recipe with my homemade pizza dough.
What kind of cheese is best for cheesy bread?
I like to use Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese but you can use your favorite. Other cheeses such as Cheddar Cheese, Provolone Cheese and Monterey Jack cheese will work too.
Can I make the pizza dough ahead of time?
Absolutely. You can prepare the dough up to 24 hours in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator, then let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.
How do I reheat cheesy bread?
Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until warm and melty again. Avoid the microwave—it can make the bread chewy instead of crisp.
Can I freeze cheesy bread?
Yes! Bake it completely, let it cool, then wrap tightly and freeze. Reheat straight from the freezer in the oven until warmed through.
There’s just something special about homemade cheesy bread—the aroma that fills your kitchen, the golden crust, and that first soft, gooey bite. Whether you serve it alongside a big bowl of pasta, a cozy soup, or enjoy it all on its own, this recipe is guaranteed to become a family favorite. Once you taste how easy and delicious it is to make from scratch, you’ll find yourself baking it again and again!
Check out some of my other cheesy bread recipes:
Be sure and follow me over on YouTube for weekly cooking demos.
Cheesy Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2.5 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp yeast
- 1 cup warm water 105-115 degrees F
- 1 Tbsp oil
Topping:
- 1/4 cup prepared Italian salad dressing
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- dash pepper
- 1-2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the first four ingredients.
- Combine water and oil; add to flour mixture.
- Add additional flour if needed to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
- Punch the dough down; place on a greased 16″ pizza pan and pat into a 16″ circle.
- Combine salad dressing and seasonings, brush evenly over dough, all the way to the edges. Sprinkle with cheeses.
- For a fluffier cheese bread, at this point, allow the bread to rest for 15 minutes or so. If you’re in a hurry, just skip this rise. (The bread will rise while it bakes, too.)
- Preheat the oven to 450*F. Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown. Slice. Serve warm.
Tips & Notes:
- Shred your own cheese: Pre-shredded cheese has added starch that can prevent smooth melting—freshly grated melts perfectly.
- Bake on parchment paper: Makes cleanup easy and helps the bottom brown evenly without sticking.
- Customize it: Try adding some red pepper flakes for an extra little kick.
Nutrition Facts:
Janell says
I can see from the other comments that we would all love a copy of the chicken salad that is posted in the picture with the bread! It looks like a delicious summer meal! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy ideas! My daughter is in high school and adores your cookie recipes! The other day she made your almond and also your lemon cookies. They were so good we told her she could open her own bakery…
Marjorie Farquharson says
Leigh Anne, I’ll definitely try the bread recipe, but what about the recipe for that gorgeous salad that you paired with it? Thanks for all of your sharing and the inspiration that you provide to me!
Leigh Anne says
OK – recipe coming soon!!!
Hannah says
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try this out!
Crystal says
This looks so good! I’ve seen many people attempt to make their own pizza or cheesy bread before but none of theirs ever turned out as pretty as yours! 🙂
Lisa Klett says
Yum, what a great dinner! Would you please share how you make your BBQ chicken chopped salad too? My daughter had that at Panera Bread the other day, I had a taste, it was delicious! And yes, having your children around you is such a blessing! Thanks and hugs!