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This garlic bread spread recipe is creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and so easy to make. With cheddar cheese, butter, mayonnaise, green onions, and garlic, it makes an extra-rich spread you can keep in the fridge and use whenever you need a quick side for dinner.
5-Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This bread was really amazing! My family loved it.” – Toni
“This is the best! And I love it with soup! – Rachael
I’ll Never Make Plain Garlic Butter Again
I love this recipe! Instead of just mixing butter and garlic to top French bread, this spread adds lots of cheddar cheese, a little mayonnaise, green onions, and garlic. The mayonnaise may seem a little unexpected, but it keeps everything creamy and helps all that cheese and butter come together. Trust me. It is so good.
I also like that I can mix the spread ahead of time and have it ready in the refrigerator. Then when we’re having lasagna, pasta, or soup, all I have to do is spread it over some French bread and put it under the broiler.
The optional Salad Supreme seasoning is another little extra I love. It adds more savory flavor and a little color to the top of the bread.
❤️ Echo
Table of Contents
- 5-Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- I’ll Never Make Plain Garlic Butter Again
- Ingredients
- Additions and Substitutions
- How to Make Garlic Bread Spread
- Recipe Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Pairing Ideas
- More Bread Side Dishes
- Have You Tried This Garlic Bread Spread Recipe?
- Garlic Bread Spread Recipe
Ingredients
- Cheddar cheese – Cheddar gives this spread lots of cheesy flavor and melts into the spread as it is heated.
- Butter and mayonnaise – Softened butter creates the base of the spread while mayonnaise makes it extra creamy and easy to spread.
- Green onions – Chop them very finely so you get a little onion flavor throughout the mixture without large pieces.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic gives the spread a stronger fresh garlic flavor, but garlic powder works well too and distributes evenly throughout the mixture.
- Salad Supreme seasoning – This is optional, but I like sprinkling a little over the bread before broiling for extra seasoning and color.
- Bread for serving – French bread is our favorite, but Italian bread, sourdough, ciabatta, rolls, or thick slices of bread all work well.
Additions and Substitutions
This garlic bread spread is easy to change depending on what you already have in your refrigerator.
- Try another cheese. Monterey Jack or mozzarella can replace some of the cheddar. You can also add a little Parmesan for a saltier, sharper cheese flavor.
- Use margarine instead of butter. The original recipe works with either butter or margarine, although I prefer the flavor of butter.
- Use garlic powder. If you don’t have fresh garlic, garlic powder works very well in this recipe.
- Swap the green onions. Finely chopped chives are a good substitute if that’s what you have.
- Add herbs. Parsley, basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning all work well with the garlic and cheese.
- Add some heat. Mix in a small pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little kick.
- Turn it into pizza bread. Once the spread is on the bread, add pepperoni, sliced olives, mushrooms, bell peppers, or other favorite pizza toppings before cooking.
How to Make Garlic Bread Spread
- Combine ingredients: Mix cheese, butter, mayonnaise, green onions, and garlic together.
- Divide and spread: Divide the spread mixture in half and spread on two halves of French bread.
- Chill: Place bread halves on a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Broil: Sprinkle each side with Salad Supreme (optional) and broil for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown.
Recipe Tips
- Soften the butter, don’t melt it. Soft butter mixes easily with the mayonnaise and cheese. Melted butter can make the spread oily instead of creamy.
- Finely shred the cheddar. Smaller shreds mix into the spread more evenly and melt more smoothly.
- Finely chop the green onions. You want them spread throughout the mixture rather than getting a large piece of onion in one bite.
- Spread it all the way to the edges. This keeps you from ending up with dry pieces around the outside of the loaf.
- Don’t skip watching the broiler. Broilers work fast. Once the cheese begins bubbling and browning, it can go from perfect to burned in less than a minute.
- Make a smaller batch if needed. This recipe makes enough spread for a large loaf of French bread, so feel free to cut the recipe in half for a smaller loaf or a few slices of toast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In fact, this is a great spread to prep before dinner. Mix everything together, cover tightly, and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it. I like making it a day or two ahead so dinner prep is even easier.
Yes, the recipe gives you both options. Fresh garlic has a stronger, slightly sharper garlic flavor, while garlic powder blends very evenly throughout the spread.
Yes. Pre-shredded cheese makes this recipe especially quick. Freshly shredded cheese tends to mix and melt a little more smoothly, but either will work.
Chilling the prepared bread for about 30 minutes firms up the spread before it goes under the broiler.
Of course! Try it on toasted sandwich rolls, baked potatoes, flatbread, or sliced baguettes. You can also add a spoonful to vegetables before broiling them or use it as a cheesy topping for an open-faced sandwich.
Make Ahead and Storage
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can make the spread ahead and then use it when you need it.
Store the garlic bread spread in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best flavor and freshness, I recommend using it within about 4 days.
When you’re ready to use it, let the spread sit at room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes so it is easier to spread.
Because this spread contains mayonnaise and cheese, I prefer making it fresh rather than freezing it. It comes together in just a few minutes, and the texture is much better when refrigerated instead of frozen.
Pairing Ideas
This spread makes the perfect cheesy garlic bread to serve alongside our Lasagna with Cottage Cheese, Shrimp Alfredo Pasta, Chicken Parmesan, or Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta. I also love serving it with Pasta e Fagioli Soup or cutting the bread into smaller pieces and pairing it with our Marinara Dipping Sauce for an easy appetizer.
More Bread Side Dishes
Have You Tried This Garlic Bread Spread Recipe?
This garlic bread spread recipe is one of those simple recipes that’s handy to have tucked away for pasta night, soup night, or anytime dinner needs a quick side. Mix it ahead, keep it chilled, and you’ll be just a few minutes away from hot, cheesy garlic bread.
If you make it, leave a rating and comment below and let me know what you served it with. I love hearing how our recipes turn out in your kitchen!
Garlic Bread Spread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 6 green onions, chopped fine
- 1 clove garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 loaf French bread, cut in half lengthwise
- Salad Supreme seasoning, optional
Instructions
- Combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions, and garlic together in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
To Make Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Divide garlic spread mixture in half and spread on the two halves of French bread.
- Place bread halves on cookie sheet and chill for 30 minutes.
- Take out of refrigerator and sprinkle with Salad Supreme (optional). Broil bread in oven on high for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread starts to brown.
- Cut each bread half into 8 slices. Serve hot right out of the oven.
Notes
- Use softened butter, not melted butter. This keeps the spread thick and creamy.
- Finely shred the cheese and chop the green onions so they mix evenly throughout the spread.
- If making ahead, let the spread sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before spreading.
- Watch the bread closely while broiling. The cheese can brown very quickly once it starts to bubble.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Hot cheesy garlic bread is my love language 🙂 Love this recipe!
This bread was really amazing! My family loved it.
This is the best! and I love it with soup!
Yum – thank you and Happy New Year!
Will include hot cheese bread for my media noche menu..love it.????