Cheesy Breadsticks
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These cheesy breadsticks are golden, flaky and tender. Brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with herbs, they’re stuffed with gooey melted cheese! The perfect comfort food. Make this easy garlic bread recipe in 25 minutes.
Like pizza and air fryer chicken wings, cheese-stuffed breadsticks are a game day staple. Ideal for serving a crowd, they’re perfect for tamping down ravenous hunger during half-time. Get ready to double this recipe!
Planning weekday dinners? This cheesy garlic bread will round out any meal. Think crisp garden salads, grilled chicken, shrimp, steak, or pasta. This easy Italian recipe is the perfect side for a whole variety of dishes!
🛒 INGREDIENTS
At the market there’s 2 types of refrigerated crescent dough in cardboard tubes. One has perforations (scoring or holes) for separating into triangles. We want the “crescent dough sheet” for this cheesy garlic bread.
CHEESY BREADSTICKS
- Crescent dough sheets
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Butter
- Garlic powder
- Sea salt
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
- Cornmeal (for added texture)
- Red pepper flakes (for garnishing)
- Marinara sauce (for dipping)
🍞 easy ingredient swaps
Missing an ingredient for these cheesy breadsticks? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the store. Instead, head to your pantry and fridge. Check for these easy ingredient substitutions!
It’s convenient to use what you already have on hand!
- CRESCENT DOUGH SHEETS: Use tubes of perforated crescent dough instead. More options include refrigerated pizza dough or homemade pizza dough. Just note: the cooking time may be longer.
- BUTTER: Use margarine instead.
- GARLIC POWDER: Substitute with granulated garlic or fresh minced garlic. Do not sub with garlic salt as the breadsticks will be too salty.
- MOZZARELLA CHEESE: Swap with a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese (shredded).
- ITALIAN SEASONING: Use a combination of these dried spices: oregano, basil, thyme, sage and rosemary. Or garnish the cheesy bread with fresh Italian parsley, chopped.
📖 RECIPE STEPS
RECIPE PREP: Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Adjust oven rack to center position. Preheat oven to 400°F.
- STEP 1: If you have cornmeal on hand, lightly sprinkle an even layer on the parchment paper. Open one tube of crescent dough. Lay it flat on the prepared baking tray. Evenly sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese over the surface. Leave a 1/4 inch border around the sides.
- STEP 2: Open the second tube of crescent dough. Lay it directly on top of the cheese. Pinch together the top and bottom layers of dough on all 4 sides. We’re making one single loaf of cheesy bread.
- STEP 3: In a ramekin, melt butter in the microwave. Stir in garlic powder and sea salt. With a pastry brush, spread butter mixture over the loaf. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, plus the parmesan cheese.
- STEP 4: Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges of bread are golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a wooden board. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
GARNISH AND SERVE CHEESY BREADSTICKS: Let loaf cool for 3 minutes. With a pizza cutter, score or slice into breadsticks. If desired, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
👩🏻🍳 RECIPE FAQ
These are the most frequently asked questions about making cheesy breadsticks, and the most helpful answers for recipe success!
If using a tube of crescent dough that’s perforated with holes for separating into triangles, pinch the dough together. Use a rolling pin to smooth it out into a single sheet of dough.
Add 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese to the middle layer, and sprinkle 1/4 cup Colby Jack cheese on top! Alongside the mozzarella and parmesan, this delicious mix will deliver excellent results!
Sprinkle cornmeal over the parchment paper or baking mat before placing the dough on top. This dusting of cornmeal is an easy way to give the bottom of the breadsticks a crisp restaurant texture.
Everything bagel seasoning, black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, ranch seasoning mix, dried parsley mixed with garlic powder and parmesan, or sour cream and onion seasoning mix. Before sprinkling on seasonings, brush the top of the loaf with melted butter.
In the middle layer of the cheesy bread sticks, add mini pepperoni, salami, or cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage.
Marinara sauce, buttermilk ranch dressing, garlic aioli, tzatziki sauce, and melted butter with garlic.
Enjoy with pesto chicken bake, macaroni and cheese, chicken piccata, Italian wedding soup, and spaghetti. Serve alongside chicken wings, a fresh garden salad, roasted veggies, tender leafy greens, or steak.
Yes, it is! Assemble the loaf a few hours in advance. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When you’re ready to enjoy the cheesy garlic bread, unwrap the tray, bake the loaf, and slice the breadsticks.
Yes, you can. A baked or unbaked loaf made with crescent rolls can be frozen for later. You may need to slice the loaf in half so it fits well inside 2 zip-top freezer bags. Expel as much air as possible from the bags. Leftover breadsticks that have been baked can also be frozen for later.
Use only 1 sheet of crescent dough. Cut it in half. Prepare the recipe with half the ingredients. Small batches are ideal for singles, couples or small families.
more easy BREAD RECIPES
If you love cheese-stuffed breadsticks, you’ll also enjoy these easy cookbook favorites. Print out the recipes and save them for later.
- Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Jiffy Cornbread
- White Bread
- Baking Powder Biscuits
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- Whipping Cream Biscuits
rate this recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Friends say this Italian recipe for cheesy breadsticks is one of their favorite Game Day appetizers! They love how easy it is to make, and that it’s guaranteed crowd pleaser. Guests always look forward to eating it.
If you’ve tried this cheesy garlic bread recipe and think it’s amazing, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend.
cheesy breadsticks
- Total Time: 25 Minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Description
These cheesy breadsticks are stuffed with melted cheese, brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with herbs. They’re irresistible! Make this easy garlic bread recipe in 25 minutes.
Ingredients
CHEESY BREADSTICKS
- 2 (8-oz tubes) Pillsbury Crescent Dough Sheet*
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch sea salt, if desired
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS
- Cornmeal (for added texture)
- Red pepper flakes (for garnishing)
- Marinara sauce (for dipping)
*NOTE: At the market there’s 2 types of refrigerated crescent dough. One has perforations (scoring or holes) for separating into triangles. We want the other kind: the “crescent dough sheet.”
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Adjust oven rack to center position. Preheat oven to 400°F.
- If you have cornmeal on hand, lightly sprinkle an even layer on the parchment paper. Open one tube of crescent dough. Lay it flat on the prepared baking tray. Evenly sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese over the surface. Leave a 1/4 inch border around the sides.
- Open the second tube of crescent dough. Lay it directly on top of the cheese. Pinch together the top and bottom layers of dough on all 4 sides. We’re making one single loaf of cheesy bread.
- In a ramekin, melt butter in the microwave. Stir in garlic powder and sea salt. With a pastry brush, spread butter mixture over the loaf. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, plus the parmesan cheese.
- Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and edges of bread are golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a wooden board. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
GARNISH AND SERVE CHEESY BREADSTICKS: Let loaf cool for 3 minutes. With a pizza cutter, score or slice into breadsticks. If desired, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
HOW TO USE SCORED CRESCENT DOUGH FOR THIS RECIPE: If using a tube of crescent dough that’s perforated with holes for separating into triangles, pinch the dough together. Use a rolling pin to smooth it out into a single sheet of dough.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE MORE CHEESY: Add 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese to the middle layer, and sprinkle 1/4 cup Colby Jack cheese on top! Alongside the mozzarella and parmesan, this delicious mix will deliver excellent results!
HOW TO HALVE THIS RECIPE: Use only 1 sheet of crescent dough. Cut it in half. Prepare the recipe with half the ingredients. Small batches are ideal for singles, couples or small families.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Bread
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
CHEESY BREADSTICKS > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What are your favorite occasions for making cheese-stuffed breadsticks? What dipping sauces do you pair them with? Share your thoughts on cheesy garlic bread in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Enjoyed these with dinner last night and they were a hit all around the table! Loved all the cheesy goodness; my kind of comfort food!
OMG these cheesy breadsticks were sooooo addictive! The flakey crescent dough with butter, cheese and the spices! Love em!
These are a must side dish with pasta. So deliciously indulgent.
So tasty and easy cheese breadsticks. One of the best bread recipes i ever tried! Will make these again and again!
These might have been the best homemade breadsticks I’ve ever made! They’re cheesy and delicious!