Easy Italian Cheese Bread

User Reviews

5.0

102 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    15 mins

  • Additional Time

    1 hr 15 mins

  • Servings

    16 servings (1 loaf)

  • Course

    Bread

  • Cuisine

    Italian, American

Easy Italian Cheese Bread

This delightful recipe is easy to follow and perfect for any occasion.

I Made This!

76 people made this

Save this

61 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings

Dough:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the pan

Toppings:

  • cup bottled Italian salad dressing (see note)
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Pinch dried thyme
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (see note)
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (see note)
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add the water and the 2 tablespoons olive oil and mix until the dough starts to come together in a shaggy ball.
  2. Lightly grease your hands and continue mixing the dough, folding it over on itself and kneading it lightly (pressing it with the heel of your hand) 5 to 6 times, until the dough has formed a rough ball shape.
  3. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until noticeably puffy, 30 to 60 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Brush two tablespoons oil evenly across a half sheet pan.
  5. Lightly punch down the dough and turn it out onto the prepared pan. Press the dough lightly into a rough oval shape, about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. It won't cover the entire bottom of the pan. It's ok to flip the dough once or twice while shaping; add more oil to the pan, if needed.
  6. Brush the top of the dough evenly with the Italian salad dressing. In a small bowl, combine the basil, oregano, garlic, salt and thyme. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the dressing.
  7. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the top of the dough.
  8. If you have the time or want a slightly fluffier bread, let the bread rest for 10-20 minutes before baking. Otherwise, you can bake right away.
  9. Bake for 15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is sizzling. Let rest for about 5 minutes before cutting into squares and serving. The bread is delicious warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Salad dressing: use a brand of store bought Italian salad dressing you enjoy the taste of, and it will work fine in this recipe. Shake the dressing really well before using. The dressing in this salad recipe would make a great homemade option (leave out the Parmesan cheese in the dressing, if using for this recipe). 
  • Cheese: if you have the time, freshly grated mozzarella cheese from a block is best (it melts much better than pre-shredded cheese from the store). It isn't a deal breaker if you need to use pre-shredded mozzarella cheese; however, I highly recommend using freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the perfect cheesy crust (pre-shredded Parmesan is often dried out and won't melt as well as freshly grated Parm). 
  • mozzarella
  • Parmesan

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1 serving Calories 144kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 20g (7%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 7mg (2%) Sodium 374mg (16%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16servings (1 loaf)

Amount Per Serving

Calories kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 144kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 7mg 2%
Sodium 374mg 16%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

102 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Easy Italian Asiago Bubble Bread

Italian
5.0 (180 reviews)

Easy Italian Braided Easter Bread

Italian
5.0 (33 reviews)

Cheese Bread (Quick Bread)

American
5.0 (1,026 reviews)

Easy Garlic Bread with Sliced Bread

Italian
5.0 (24 reviews)

Easy Unleavened Bread (Communion Bread Recipe) + Video

Mediterranean, American, Middle Eastern
5.0 (9 reviews)

Italian Puff Bread

Italian
5.0 (6 reviews)

Everything Homemade Italian Bread

American
4.4 (15 reviews)

Homemade Italian Bread

Italian
5.0 (27 reviews)

Italian Easter Bread Rolls

American
4.9 (42 reviews)

Italian Bread Recipe

Italian, American
4.9 (276 reviews)