Crispy Hasselback Cheesy Bread Recipe

Golden Hasselback Cheesy Bread Recipe: Crispy Bliss in Slices

Bread lovers swoon over this crispy hasselback cheesy bread that combines golden-brown edges with gooey, melted cheese in every delectable slice.

Layers of sliced and seasoned bread create a stunning presentation that’s sure to impress at any gathering.

Each carefully cut section becomes a crispy, cheesy vessel bursting with incredible flavor.

The aroma of herbs and melting cheese will draw everyone to the kitchen, eager to sample this irresistible treat.

Minimal ingredients and simple techniques make this recipe accessible to home cooks of all skill levels.

Prepare to be the star of your next meal with this crowd-pleasing side dish that transforms ordinary bread into an extraordinary culinary experience.

Grab a slice and watch as your guests request seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 290 kcal

Servings: 8

Hasselback Cheesy Bread Ingredient Checklist

For Bread Base:
  • Loaf of Bread: Sturdy artisan or French bread provides the perfect canvas for cheesy goodness, select a dense loaf that can hold multiple cuts without falling apart.
For Cheese Filling:
  • Mozzarella Cheese, Cheddar Cheese: Melty cheeses create irresistible stretchy texture, choose high-quality block cheeses and shred them fresh for maximum flavor and smoothness.
For Flavor Enhancers:
  • Butter: Adds rich, golden complexity and helps distribute seasonings throughout bread.
  • Olive Oil: Provides smooth, silky coating and helps crisp bread edges.
  • Garlic: Delivers robust, aromatic punch that complements cheese perfectly, use fresh minced garlic for most intense flavor.
  • Italian Seasoning: Introduces herbaceous Mediterranean notes, ensures balanced and complex taste profile.
  • Parsley: Adds fresh, bright green color and subtle herbal undertone.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Optional ingredient that introduces gentle, warming heat for adventurous palates.

Essentials to Bake Hasselback Cheesy Bread

  • Serrated knife: Essential for cutting precise, clean slits in the bread without crushing it.
  • Cutting board: Sturdy surface for safely slicing the bread.
  • Small bowl: Perfect for mixing garlic butter ingredients.
  • Baking sheet: Provides even heat distribution for baking the bread.
  • Aluminum foil: Used for wrapping bread and lining the baking sheet.
  • Spoon or brush: Helps drizzle garlic butter into bread slits evenly.
  • Cheese grater (optional): Useful if shredding cheese from blocks.

Steps to Craft Hasselback Cheesy Bread

  • Slice Bread Creatively

Use a sharp serrated knife to make deep, precise cuts across the loaf. Slice almost through but keep the bottom intact, creating an accordion-like pattern with connected sections.

  • Prepare Cheesy Filling

Gently separate bread sections and generously tuck shredded mozzarella and cheddar between each slice. Ensure cheese is evenly distributed throughout the loaf.

  • Craft Flavor Boost

Whisk together melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, and herbs in a small bowl. Carefully drizzle this aromatic mixture between bread cuts, allowing flavors to seep into every crevice.

  • Bake to Perfection

Cover bread loosely with aluminum foil and place in a preheated 375F oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove foil and continue cooking until cheese melts and edges turn golden brown, approximately 10-15 additional minutes.

  • Serve and Enjoy

Transfer cheesy bread to a beautiful serving platter. Allow it to cool briefly, then invite guests to pull apart the gooey, crispy sections and savor the delicious creation.

Cheesy Bread Tweaks Worth Trying

  • Cheesy Bread Mastery Tips
  • Choose a sturdy artisan or sourdough loaf with a thick crust to prevent falling apart during slicing and stuffing.
  • Grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded varieties for smoother, more even melting and better flavor blending.
  • Use a sharp serrated knife and move slowly when making crosshatch cuts to maintain bread's structural integrity without accidentally slicing through.
  • Swap regular bread with a gluten-free artisan loaf and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified for celiac-friendly version.
  • Replace dairy cheese with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese alternatives and use plant-based butter for a completely dairy-free experience.

Serve Hasselback Cheesy Bread Fresh and Hot

  • Party Platter Perfect: Slice the cheesy bread and arrange on a rustic wooden board with small bowls of marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or herb-infused olive oil for dipping.
  • Appetizer Companion: Pair this bread with a fresh garden salad or serve alongside classic Italian pasta dishes like spaghetti or lasagna for a complete meal experience.
  • Movie Night: Cut into smaller sections and serve as a shareable snack during game nights, movie marathons, or casual gatherings with friends and family.
  • Game Day Crowd-Pleaser: Break apart the bread and place on a large platter surrounded by crispy chicken wings, vegetable sticks, and different dipping sauces for a winning sports viewing spread.

Store Your Hasselback Cheesy Bread the Right Way

  • Keep leftover bread wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to maintain freshness for 2-3 days. Refrigeration prevents cheese from spoiling quickly.
  • Revive cold bread by wrapping in foil and warming in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes. Crispy edges and melty cheese return like fresh-baked goodness.
  • Slice bread into individual portions before freezing. Wrap each section separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in refrigerator for easy snacking.
  • Prepare bread slits and cheese stuffing up to 24 hours in advance. Store prepared, uncooked bread in refrigerator, covered. Bake just before serving for maximum flavor and texture.

FAQs

  • Can I use different types of cheese?

Yes, you can swap mozzarella and cheddar with monterey jack, gruyere, or provolone. Just ensure the cheese melts well and complements the garlic flavor.

  • How do I prevent the bread from getting soggy?

Make sure to not cut through the bottom of the bread completely and distribute the cheese and butter evenly. Baking with foil initially helps prevent drying out while ensuring proper melting.

  • Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?

Absolutely! This Hasselback Cheesy Bread is vegetarian-friendly. It contains no meat products and can be easily prepared with basic ingredients like bread, cheese, butter, and seasonings.

  • Can I make this bread ahead of time?

You can prepare the bread and stuff it with cheese up to 2 hours before baking. Keep it refrigerated and bring to room temperature before placing in the oven. For best results, bake just before serving to maintain crispiness.

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Crispy Hasselback Cheesy Bread Recipe

Crispy Hasselback Cheesy Bread Recipe


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4.8 from 36 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Swedish Hasselback Cheesy Bread combines crispy potato-like slicing with melted cheese and herbs. Garlic butter and sharp cheddar create a mouthwatering side dish you can enjoy alongside favorite meals.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large crusty loaf (sourdough or Italian bread)
  • 1 cup / 100 grams shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup / 50 grams shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 tbsps / tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsps / tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp / teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 2 tbsps / tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for spicy kick)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 375F (190C) and position rack centrally. Line baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and optimal heat circulation.
  2. Bread Transformation: Slice bread loaf with precision, creating parallel cuts approximately 1 inch apart while maintaining the bottom base intact. These cuts will become flavor channels for cheese and seasoning.
  3. Flavor Infusion: Whisk melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and red pepper flakes into a harmonious aromatic liquid. This mixture will elevate the bread’s taste profile.
  4. Cheese Integration: Carefully separate bread cuts and nestle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese into each intricate crevice. Ensure even distribution for consistent melting and flavor.
  5. Butter Saturation: Drizzle the garlic butter mixture generously throughout the bread’s architectural cuts, coating every layer with robust flavors and ensuring cheese is thoroughly embraced.
  6. Strategic Baking: Cover bread with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, allowing initial cheese melting and flavor development. Remove foil and continue baking for additional 10-15 minutes until exterior turns golden and cheese becomes perfectly molten.
  7. Resting and Serving: Allow bread to rest briefly, enabling flavors to meld and structure to stabilize. Serve as an irresistible, pull-apart appetizer or side dish that promises communal enjoyment.

Notes

  • Slice Carefully: Make precise, even cuts without slicing through the bread’s bottom, using a sharp knife and gentle hand to maintain loaf structure.
  • Cheese Distribution: Push shredded cheese deeply into cuts for even melting and maximum flavor coverage throughout the bread.
  • Butter Balance: Don’t oversaturate bread with garlic butter; drizzle sparingly to prevent soggy texture while ensuring rich, aromatic flavor.
  • Temperature Timing: Watch bread closely during final uncovered baking stage to achieve golden-brown exterior without burning cheese or edges.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Snacks, Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Swedish

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 252
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 430 mg
  • Fat: 16 g
  • Saturated Fat: 8 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 9 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Emily Lawson

Emily Lawson

Content Creator & Culinary Specialist

Expertise

  • Creative Content Writing and Blogging​
  • Plant-Based and Alternative Grilling Recipes​
  • Food Styling and Visual Storytelling​
  • Nutritional Analysis and Healthy Cooking

Education

Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on farm-to-table cooking, sustainable practices, and the fusion of global flavors with traditional grilling methods. ​


Emily Lawson is the content creator at Daves Grill, turning tasty ideas into clear, easy recipes. Based in Portland, she trained at the Oregon Culinary Institute and loves cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients, especially grilled veggies and global flavors.

Emily mixes food writing with hands-on cooking to bring you recipes that feel fun, not stressful. Her goal is to make every dish simple, flavorful, and worth coming back to. Together, she and Dave serve up real food, one recipe at a time.

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