Cheesy Garlic Monkey Bread

Cheesy garlic monkey bread, or garlic cheese pull-apart bread, made with Rhodes frozen dinner rolls, is soft, buttery, and cheesy. Each roll is dipped in garlic butter and then topped with gooey, melted mozzarella cheese that bubbles as it bakes. The result is a pull-apart bread that’s golden on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and has cheesy, garlicky goodness in every bite.

My weakness is garlic cheese bread and chocolate chip cookies. Give me warm, soft, buttery, cheesy garlic cheese bread all day long and I am in heaven.

I was trying to come up with a different way of serving garlic cheese bread and since my family LOVES rolls, I thought I would experiment with a cheesy garlic monkey pull apart bread. I was blown away by how delicious these are!

If you’re looking for a fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish, cheesy garlic monkey bread is a must-try! This recipe uses Rhodes frozen dinner rolls, making it super convenient and easy to prepare.

The rolls are dipped in garlic butter, arranged in a circular pattern, and baked until golden brown and bubbly with gooey mozzarella cheese. Serve it with warm marinara sauce for dipping, and you’ve got a dish that will have everyone coming back for more!

Cheese Pull-apart Bread Ingredients:

The beauty of this recipe is that it starts with Rhodes frozen rolls. It makes these extra easy!

• Rhodes Dinner Rolls or Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe: I love the convenience of using Rhodes frozen dinner rolls but you can also make homemade.
• Butter: Make a garlic butter mixture by mixing salted butter, garlic, and parsley.
• Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic or jarred garlic. If you need to substitute garlic powder, use 1/2 teaspoon.
• Parsley: I use dried Italian parsley.
• Mozzarella Cheese or Italian Cheese Blend: I prefer to use freshly grated mozzarella cheese as it melts better than pre-shredded cheese.
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional): For a touch of spice, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
• Marinara Sauce (for dipping): My favorite jarred sauces are Rao’s and Carbone. Here is a homemade marinara recipe.

How to make Garlic Cheese Monkey Bread:

Whether you use Rhodes frozen dinner rolls or make your dough from scratch, this cheesy garlic monkey bread is bound to be a hit. The combination of soft, buttery rolls, gooey cheese, and flavorful garlic is simply unbeatable.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Garlic Butter:
   • Begin by melting the salted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the minced garlic to the butter and dried parsley (if using) and mix.
2. Dip the Rolls:
   • Take each frozen dinner roll and dip it into the garlic butter, ensuring it’s fully coated. The butter not only adds flavor but also helps create a golden, crispy crust.
3. Arrange in a Circular Pattern:
   • Arrange the dipped rolls in a circular pattern on your chosen pan (pizza stone, cast iron skillet, baking sheet, etc) making two rows. This layout ensures even baking and makes the monkey bread easy to pull apart when it’s time to serve.
4. Let the Rolls Rise:
   • Cover the rolls with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rise in a warm place until they have doubled in size. This usually takes about 2-3 hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. This takes about 90 minutes in a hot location.
5. Add the Cheese:
   • Once the rolls have risen, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the rolls, making sure each one is covered in cheesy goodness. For a touch of spice, sprinkle with pepper flakes.
6. Bake Until Bubbly:
   • Bake the monkey bread for 18-24 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning.
7. Serve with Marinara Sauce:
   • Serve the garlic pull apart bread warm with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.

Choosing the Right Pan:

The pan you choose can affect the texture and appearance of your monkey bread. Here are a few options:

• Pizza Stone: Using a pizza stone gives the rolls a crispy bottom and helps them bake evenly.
• Cast Iron Skillet: A cast iron skillet is perfect for this recipe because it retains heat well, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.
• Cookie Sheet: You can also use a large baking sheet. The rolls will spread out more so make sure to put them close together.

What to serve this Garlic Monkey Bread with:

Here are some pasta dishes that pair perfectly with this garlic cheese pull apart bread:

Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta

“Date Me” Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Pasta

Cheese Tortellini with Sausage Ragu

The Best Lasagna Recipe

Homemade Bread Recipes:

The Best Homemade Dinner Rolls

Homemade Garlic Butter Rolls

Golden’s Garlic Parmesan Cheese Rolls

Easy Garlic Cheese Bread