Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls Recipe
These Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls are a fun and delicious appetizer perfect for game day or any casual gathering. Soft pizza dough is stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese, baked to golden perfection, then brushed with a savory garlic herb butter and topped to look like football laces. Serve them warm with marinara sauce for a crowd-pleasing treat that’s both flavorful and visually fun.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 32 rolls 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Cheese
- 16–19 oz pizza dough
- 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks (or 32 Land O Lakes Creamy Italian Blend Cheese Cubes)
- 1 slice cheese of choice (mozzarella, provolone, cheddar)
Egg Wash
- ½ tbsp milk (or 1 egg)
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Garlic Herb Butter
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 small cloves of garlic (minced or 1 large clove)
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Marinara sauce, warmed
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare cheese and dough pieces: Cut the mozzarella string cheese into 1-inch pieces, yielding about 32 pieces total. If using Land O Lakes cheese cubes, skip this step. Then divide the pizza dough into 30-32 equal pieces, using a knife or bench scraper. Use a kitchen scale for uniform sizing, if desired.
- Shape rolls: Flatten each dough piece into a small rectangle with your fingers. Place a piece of cheese in the center, wrap the dough around it, pinch closed to seal, and roll into a smooth ball.
- Arrange dough balls: Place the dough balls seam side down on the parchment-lined baking sheet, shaping them into a football shape. Use about 16 balls for the outer rim and the rest for the interior. Make sure the balls are touching but have some space.
- Apply wash and bake: Brush the top of the dough balls with milk or whisked egg. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over them, if using. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes. Then switch to broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Remove and allow to cool slightly.
- Make and brush garlic herb butter: In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Brush this flavorful mixture evenly over the hot rolls.
- Add cheese laces: Cut the slice of cheese into 7 thin rectangular strips. Arrange these strips on top of the rolls to mimic the lace pattern on a football.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy stuffed garlic bread rolls warm with marinara sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy your delicious, game-day inspired appetizer!
Notes
- If you don’t have string cheese, small cubes of any melty cheese like mozzarella or a creamy Italian blend work well.
- For a richer wash, use the egg instead of milk for a beautiful golden shine.
- Make sure to seal the dough tightly around the cheese to prevent leaks during baking.
- These rolls are best served warm on the same day but can be reheated in the oven for a few minutes.
- Fresh herbs add bright flavor, but dried herbs can be used if fresh isn’t available—just reduce quantity.
Keywords: stuffed garlic bread, cheesy bread rolls, game day appetizer, football bread rolls, baked cheese rolls
