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The Best Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread

May 24, 2023
Shanika | Orchids + Sweet Tea
This ultra savory, flavorful Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread is an over-the-top delicious recipe inspired by our classic love for a good piece of garlic bread!

The Best Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread

This Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread is the best homemade garlic bread in the oven you'll ever eat and it's a guaranteed winner for both adults and kids! Made with crusty french baguettes that come topped with herbs + seasonings, tons of garlic, chopped kale for some greens, and melty gooey cheese----this bread is the star of any table whether as a side dish to your fave pasta, soup or pizza or as an appetizer as a delicious handheld food for the crowd. Vegan + Gluten-free options.

Two garlic breads on a white plate on a white wood table with two forks and a glass of juice.

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When it comes to garlic bread in general, I am one of the biggest fans. There's just something about a perfectly crispy, flavorful, and garlicky bread that makes everything taste better. Growing up in the South, I loved indulging in cheesy garlic bread from Pizza Hut, which was the most gooey, flavor packed bread I've tasted. Then after moving to Brooklyn, I found myself loving the one from Dominoes, but of course, I always love a good homemade bread especially when it comes to having more control over the ingredients. Hence, the Best Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread was born!

This mouth-watering cheesy bread recipe in the oven makes for the perfect side dish to a good bowl of comforting Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta or Weeknight Tomato Kale Ravioli Bake for the perfect soak up of sauce. Of course, I enjoy a good side of crispy bread with my soups as well, especially this Creamy Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup and Easy Flavorful Rigatoni Meatball Soup.

Either way, you're sure to love having this cheesy garlic bread in tow and the family will thank you for it too! Plus, it's a trillion times better than store-bought garlic bread and it's so easy to make, only uses a handful of ingredients, complete in just 20 minutes or so, can be personalized based on your preferences, and comes with a vegan and gluten-friendly option. Also, spruce things up by adding a bit of Homemade Pesto Sauce as the base of this garlic bread!

What is Cheesy Garlic Bread Made of?

This homemade cheesy garlic bread recipe in the oven is made with a homemade "garlic butter" mixture which consists of softened butter, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and thyme which is mixed together to form a butter paste. Then it's spread a top the halved french bread, followed by the chopped kale and two cheeses.

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Ingredients on a white wood table including chopped kale, garlic, cheese, and herbs and seasonings.

How to Make The Best Garlic Cheese Bread

The first step in this delicious garlic cheese bread recipe is to cut the breads in half, lengthwise. Once those are set, simply mix together the "garlic butter" for an easier topping, and assemble! Then you bake everything for 10-15 minutes until crisp and golden and wallah!

Ingredients for The Best Homemade Garlicky Bread

The delicious savory flavor of this cheesy garlic bread comes from a handful of simple ingredients. Here's what you need to make them the best bread:

  • French bread. You can also use baguettes or a loaf of French bread or Italian bread for thicker slices. For a GF-friendly option, just substitute with a GF version of this bread.
  • Olive oil. You can also use avocado oil, coconut oil, or Grapeseed oil, if you prefer.
  • Kale. I love adding greens to this bread, however, you can totally omit the chopped or frozen kale for a more traditional recipe or substitute with your favorite veggie like broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc.
  • Garlic. I prefer to use 1 bulb of fresh garlic, but you could substitute with 1 Tablespoon garlic powder in a pinch for a bold flavor. You can also roast a garlic bulb for greater flavor or reduce the amount of garlic to 4-6 cloves.
  • Butter. Use unsalted butter to control the flavor of this garlic bread. For a vegan version, substitute with vegan butter.
  • Mozzarella + Mild Cheddar. I love to freshly-grate my cheese, however, you can use your favorite shredded brand---quality does matter! Also, this bread tastes amazing with grated parmesan. For a vegan option, there are great premium dairy-free shreds that taste great.
  • Herbs + seasonings. You can use fresh herbs, but you'll need a teaspoon of each: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and thyme.
Two slices of french bread on a cutting board with a knife on a white wood table.

How Long Does Garlic Bread Take in the Air Fryer?

If you're thinking of making this delicious garlic bread in an air fryer, it's definitely an easy task! To do so, simply spray the air fryer basket with oil and once your garlic bread is assembled with the toppings, place each bread inside of your air fryer and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-6 minutes or until golden at the edges and the cheese has melted.

How to Freeze for Longer

If you're thinking of making this cheesy garlic bread in batches so that you can easily pull them out of your freezer and heat up when ready to enjoy, no worries! It's so simple to do so. They last for up to 3 months. Here's how to freeze garlic bread for longer in a few steps:

  • After making your garlic butter and spreading it on each bread, simply place the breads (in a single-layer) in a freezer-friendly ziplock or resealable bag and store them in the freezer.
  • When ready to use, simply remove the amounts needed and bake it in the oven on a baking sheet lined with parchment for the full 10-15 minutes. NOTE: You may need an extra 3-5 minutes since they're frozen, but always keep an eye on them to ensure that they don't toast too much.
Two slices of French bread topped with cheese and chopped kale on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Which Olive Oil is Best?

When it comes to using olive oil, it's always important to use a high-quality oil which gives you the most robust flavor. I love using EVOO (aka Extra virgin olive oil) for the best chemical stability when it comes to baking or cooking, however, you can also use artisan-style oil for even more flavor. Personally, I enjoy using Brightland's oils which come in various flavor profiles like basil, chili oil, etc. which adds so much flavor to this garlic bread as well.

Best Types of Cheese to use

Even though this cheesy garlic bread is based on using mozzarella and mild cheddar cheese, you can also switch things up and add a new flare in it's flavor profile by adding any of the following (feel free to mix and match):

  • Provolone
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • Gouda
  • Muenster, etc.

Easy Homemade Bread in Under 5 Minutes

Prep your pan + bread. It's best to have a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper for an easy bake without the bread sticking to the pan. For the bread, you'll want to slice the baguettes (if using) in halves, lengthwise.

Make the garlic butter. This butter mixture adds all the flavor to the entire garlic cheesy bread. You'll stir together the softened butter, oil, minced garlic, and seasonings.

Bake + Serve. Now, you'll add everything to the oven to bake and once golden at the edges and the cheese is nice and bubbly, remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and slice to serve. Enjoy!

Baked French bread with garlic and herbs on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Tips to Making the Best Garlic Bread in Oven

  • For extra crispy garlic bread, it's best to keep it in the oven for an extra 2-3 minutes while watching to make sure that it doesn't burn.
  • You can cover the tops with foil for the first 5 minutes to prevent the bread from toasting too quickly before the cheese fully melts. Then remove the foil for the remaining minutes of baking.
  • When serving, it's best to allow the bread to cool a bit and for the cheese to "set" before slicing.
  • It's always best to use a really good sharp knife to cut your garlic bread to keep things in tact.

Common Q + A's for this Bread Recipe

How to store leftovers garlic bread?

Leftover bread is best kept tightly wrapped in foil paper or plastic wrap, refrigerated for 3-5 days for optimal freshness. To extend its shelf life, you can also freeze garlic bread. When frozen, garlic bread will last for 2-3 months. 

Can you heat up garlic bread in an air fryer?

Absolutely! You can reheat garlic bread in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees or in the oven for about 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees.

How to make garlic bread more or less crispy?

It's so easy! If you like crispier garlic bread, bake it for 3-5 minutes more, watching it carefully so that it doesn't burn or get too crispy. However, If you like it softer, take it out closer to 10 minutes or wrap the bread in aluminum foil before baking it so that it remains soft while baking.

How do you store garlic bread so it doesn’t get soggy?

To prevent garlic bread from getting soggy, be sure to wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap before adding it to the fridge. You can also store it in a resealable ziplock bag and ensure that the air is squeezed out.

Do I have to use kale? Can I add other veggies?

Not at all. You can totally omit the kale and make this a more traditional cheesy garlic bread. In addition, you can always substitute the kale for your fave veggie like spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc.

Baked french bread sliced on a baking sheet on a parchment paper with garlic and herbs.

What Goes Best with this Bread?

Now that you're on a cheesy kick with this cheesy garlic bread recipe, give these recipes that your entire family will love a try for a complete meal:

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If you tried The Best Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.

Baked French bread on a white plate with garlic and herbs.
Baked french bread sliced on a baking sheet on a parchment paper with garlic and herbs.

The Best Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread

May 24, 2023
5 from 3 votes
This ultra savory, flavorful Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread is an over-the-top delicious recipe inspired by our classic love for a good piece of garlic bread!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

GARLIC BREAD:

  • 1 lb. French bread or Italian loaf (I love using French baguettes)
  • 1 garlic bulb, minced (You can reduce it to 4-6 garlic cloves, if desired)
  • 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 Tbsps unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup Mild cheddar cheese, shredded or grated
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded or grated
  • 2 cups chopped kale
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions

CUT THE BREAD:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  • Cut the french bread in half, length-way and Place each halved french bread unto the prepared baking sheet, insides facing upward.

TO MAKE THE "GARLIC BUTTER":

  • In a bowl, add the softened butter, olive oil, minced garlic, and seasonings: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and thyme, stirring everything together until combined and smooth.

ASSEMBLY:

  • Spoon generous amounts of garlic butter unto each halved french bread evenly followed by chopped kale and cheeses.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes or so, or until the cheese has melted (and becomes bubbly), and the edges are slightly golden brown. For a bit of extra crispiness, bake for another 3-5 minutes, but watch it carefully to avoid burning.
  • Remove from oven and let it cool slightly. Slice and serve.
  • Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

  • STORAGE: Leftover bread is best kept tightly wrapped in foil paper or plastic wrap, refrigerated for 3-5 days for optimal freshness. To extend its shelf life, you can also freeze garlic bread. When frozen, garlic bread will last for 2-3 months. 
  • GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this garlic bread GF-friendly, be sure to substitute the french bread or baguettes with a gluten-free version. 
  • VEGAN OPTION: This garlic bread can definitely be enjoyed vegan by substituting three things: the butter, the cheese and ensuring that the bread is vegan-friendly. For a vegan option, So Delicious Dairy-Free or Violife cheese shreds tastes great.

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1947IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg

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