Crispy Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Pull-Apart Bread
A quick and easy pull-apart bread loaded with melted mozzarella, Parmesan, and crispy pepperoni, brushed with garlic butter for a crispy, cheesy, and irresistible snack or casual dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 round sourdough or crusty Italian loaf (about 10–12 oz / 280–340 g)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (blend of dried oregano, basil, and thyme)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese (about 8 oz / 225 g)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 20–25 thin-cut pepperoni slices
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Place the round loaf on a cutting board. Using a sharp bread knife, cut the bread into a grid pattern about 1 inch apart vertically and horizontally, being careful not to slice all the way through the bottom crust (about 1 inch deep).
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir well.
- Brush the garlic butter mixture generously over and inside all the cuts in the bread.
- Stuff shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese into the cuts, alternating with folded pepperoni slices. Fill each pocket without overstuffing.
- Brush the entire loaf once more with the garlic butter mixture.
- Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the crust is crisp and golden brown.
- Let the bread rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top if desired.
Notes
If the bread browns too quickly before the cheese melts, tent it loosely with aluminum foil halfway through baking. Use a serrated bread knife and cut gently to avoid squishing the loaf. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread. For dairy-free, substitute vegan cheese. Serve warm for best texture. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the loaf
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 14
Keywords: pull-apart bread, pepperoni pizza, cheesy bread, party snack, easy recipe, comfort food, pizza bread