This cheesy pesto pull-apart bread will be your most requested appetizer! It’s an easy crowd-pleaser with just 4 ingredients including fresh bread, basil pesto and mozzarella.
Pesto Pull-Apart Bread Recipe
One of our favorite Italian restaurants serves a cheesy pesto pull-apart bread that is to die for! It was easy to recreate at home and my whole family loved it! An easy pull apart bread recipe makes the best snack or appetizer in my opinion.
My favorite thing about this bread recipe is that’s it takes only 4 ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. Cheesy pesto bread may look super fancy, but there is absolutely no slaving away in the kitchen. It doesn’t get better than that!
Ingredients Needed
- Sourdough bread: The best bread for pull-apart bread is sourdough, although artisan bread and French baguette work well, too.
- Basil pesto: I love to use homemade pesto as it has the best fresh taste, but store-bought is great.
- Mozzarella cheese: You need cheese for cheesy pull apart bread! Mozzarella gives you that cheese pull but provolone cheese or any Italian melting cheeses will do.
- Italian seasoning: I make my own blend of Italian seasoning but the one you have on hand works!
How to Make Pesto Pull-Apart Bread
- Preheat oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice into squares. Slice bread vertically and then again horizontally several times so that you have one inch squares (see picture below). Make sure to not cut all the way through the loaf.
- Add pesto and cheese. Spread pesto sauce in between the sliced bread. Then combine cheese and Italian seasoning in a medium bowl and sprinkle mixture in between each square.
- Bake until bubbly. Cover with foil and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
Helpful Tips
- Sturdy breads works best!
- Be careful not to cut all the way through the bottom of the loaf, otherwise the cheese and pesto will ooze out.
- Bake on a parchment paper lined pan. This will help catch any accidental drippings.
- Use more or less of the cheese and pesto. It’s more about that your bread is delish with every pull apart bite!
Pull-Apart Bread Variations
There are SO many yummy combinations to try in addition to this pesto pull-apart bread! It’s literally fail-proof and so versatile.
- Pizza: French bread, butter, garlic powder, marinara sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella or pull apart Christmas tree.
- Buffalo chicken: Sourdough, buffalo sauce, cream cheese, chicken, pepper jack
- BBQ chicken: Sourdough, BBQ sauce, chicken, red onion and mozzarella
- Bacon ranch: Sourdough, butter, ranch seasoning, bacon, cheddar cheese
- Ham and cheese: Sourdough, poppy seed sauce, ham, swiss cheese
- Spinach Artichoke: Sourdough, butter, garlic, spinach artichoke cheese mixture
Looking for a sweet version? Check out my delicious caramel apple monkey pull-apart bread or apple pull-apart bread with caramel icing!
More recipes with pesto that we love include pesto chicken pasta salad, pesto pasta, white chicken lasagna with pesto, spinach pesto pizza and grilled caprese sandwich.
More Delicious Bread Recipes
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Pull-Apart Pesto Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sourdough bread
- 1/2-3/4 cup basil pesto
- 1-1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (can use Italian cheese too)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Optional: Fresh basil or parsley for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice bread vertically and then again horizontally several times so that you have one inch squares. Make sure to not cut all the way through the loaf.
- Spread pesto sauce in between the sliced bread.
- Combine cheese and seasoning in a medium-sized bowl. Place cheese in between each slice.
- Cover with foil and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Enjoy!!
Categorized as: Bread, Italian, Quick Bread, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This will go well with Italian Wedding Soup
Definitely! I make it with a lot of my Italian dishes and it adds the perfect touch! :)
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this :)
It is so yummy and easy to make, I hope you enjoy it! :)
its a lovely idea. Great recipe.
I loved this idea !
My loaf (and by that I mean my dinner!) just came out of the oven! It’s not pretty, but I it taste great! A little red sauce to dip it in, and I am all set to pig out on some carbs! Didn’t expect the process to be so messy, but I’ll happily make a mess for some yummy food!
Nom, nom, nom…… I will be trying this sooooon!!
This looks great! Thank you!
oh my, that looks delicious! How did I miss this post?!?
Just made this for dinner tonight, and it WILL be a repeat. I love pesto and pull-apart breads. Great idea to mix the two together.
I really need to try this!! Delicious!
Yum! Looks so easy too!
Oh yum, that looks delicious
Bread too is my not-so-good-for-you food weakness. I just ate lunch (which involved bread) and this still made my tummy grumble! I will be trying this very soon!
I bet that tastes so good – love the basil pesto you put in it!
My mouth is watering just looking at that. I *must* make that tomorrow … maybe alongside a white lasagna.
Holy smokes- that looks SO tasty… I can’t wait to try making it!!
I’m so a bread person too! And pesto. And now you put them together? Genius!
I totally agree with you. I would love to try this dish!!!
Oh my word!!!! Mouth-watering!!!!!!
Thanks for this delish recipe I’ll be “borrowing”.
:-)