You’ll only need 4 ingredients to make this delicious cheesy French bread! Whether you serve it with pasta, soup, salad, or meat, it’s sure to be the star of the meal.
When my mom would make this bread when we were younger she would always do one half with mushrooms and one half without. All of the kids hated mushrooms, so that meant we were left fighting over 5 pieces of this cheesy French bread.
It’s so good, we always wanted seconds!
This recipe works because it’s:
- Only 4 ingredients. Well 5 if you count the mushrooms, but you can leave those out, remember??
- The perfect side dish. This bread pairs well with so many different pasta and soup recipes because the flavor isn’t too overpowering.
- So tasty! Don’t let the absence of garlic fool you. This bread is absolutely delicious with every bite!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut 1 loaf of French bread in half along the middle to separate the top from the bottom (like you would cut a hamburger bun).
Spread each half of bread with 3 tablespoons of butter each, 6 tablespoons total.
Top each half with 8-9 fresh basil leaves cut into ribbons (chiffonade).
Add 4 ounces of canned mushroom pieces and stems to one half of bread, if desired.
Top each half with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 2 cups total.
Place the bread on a metal baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
Cut into pieces and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
This isn’t a true garlic bread, since there’s no garlic used, but it has a delicious flavor I think you’ll love.
This recipe calls for fresh basil, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can use dried basil. Start with 1 teaspoon and sprinkle it to just barely cover the bread. Dried basil has a more concentrated flavor than fresh, so you don’t want to overdo it.
The mushrooms are completely optional, but are great for any mushroom lovers out there!
Chiffonade is a technique for cutting basil that involves rolling the leaves together and cutting the leaves into small strips or ribbons. You can cut the basil this way, or I like to use my kitchen scissors to achieve the same effect.
More Like This
Looking for more delicious breads? You’ll love these!
- Mashed Potato Rolls
- Cheesy Drop Biscuits
- Rhodes Rolls Breadsticks
- Crescent Rolls
- Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Pairs Well With
And if you’re looking for ideas on what to serve with this cheesy French bread, try these:
- Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- Minestrone Soup
- Balsamic Bruchetta Chicken
- Healthy Lasagna Soup
- Creamy Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomatoes
- Authentic Spaghetti and Meatballs
FAQs
You should store this bread in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the refrigerator since it has cheese on it. It will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge, but it is best when eaten within 12-24 hours.
I’ve never frozen this bread before, but you can try! It does have fresh basil on it which may turn dark and change textures in the freezer. If you’d like to avoid that, you can use dried basil instead.
The quickest way to reheat one piece of bread is in the microwave for 10 seconds. If you’re reheating several pieces at once, you can wrap them in foil and heat them at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Once reheated, you should enjoy the bread right away or it could go crusty.
I hope your family loves this cheesy French bread! If you make it, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram with @ashcroftfamilytable and use the hashtag #ashcroftfamilytable!
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4 Ingredient Cheesy French Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 6 Tablespoons butter, divided
- 8-9 basil leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 6.5 ounces canned mushroom pieces and stems, optional
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the French bread in half along the middle to separate the top from the bottom (like you would cut a hamburger bun).
- Spread each half of bread with 3 tablespoons of butter.
- Top each half with an equal amount of basil leaves cut into ribbons (chiffonade).
- Add mushroom pieces and stems to one half of bread, if desired.
- Top each half with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Place the bread on a metal baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Cut into pieces and serve immediately.