Easy Homemade Cheesy Breadsticks

These Easy Homemade Cheesy Breadsticks are soft, golden, and loaded with garlic butter and melty cheese. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, this family favorite is ready in 40 minutes and perfect for making sweet kitchen memories together.

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Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired

Keyword: cheesy appetizer, easy breadsticks recipe, garlic cheese bread, Homemade Cheesy Breadsticks, pizza dough breadsticks

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Dough Rest Time: 10

Total Time: 40

Servings: breadsticks

Calories: 220kcal

Cost: $8

Equipment

1 Large mixing bowl
1 Measuring cups and spoons
1 Wooden spoon
1 Rimmed baking sheet Lined with parchment paper or lightly greased
1 Pastry brush
1 Pizza cutter or sharp knife

Ingredients

For the Dough

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water About 110°F
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Garlic Butter Topping

4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt

For the Cheese Topping

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy. I always tell my daughter this is the yeast waking up. She loves checking if it looks bubbly enough.
Make the Dough: Add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. This is where little hands can help stir, even if flour ends up on the counter.
Knead Until Soft: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. My daughter likes to poke it and see it bounce back.
Rest the Dough: Place the dough back in the bowl, cover, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425°F while you wait.
Shape the Dough: Press the dough into a rectangle about 12 by 8 inches on the prepared baking sheet. It does not have to be perfect. Rustic is part of the charm.
Make Garlic Butter: Stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. My daughter always insists on smelling it first.
Assemble: Brush half of the garlic butter over the dough. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. This is when the kitchen starts smelling like our favorite pizza place.
Finish and Slice: Brush with remaining garlic butter, cool for 2 minutes, then slice into breadsticks. We always fight over the corner pieces.

Notes

For faster prep, use 1 pound store-bought pizza dough.
Bread flour can be used for extra chewiness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for best texture.
These breadsticks freeze beautifully before baking.

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