Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls

These Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls are a totally addicting appetizer to serve at a party or game day celebration. Each little roll is stuffed with mozzarella cheese, baked until golden and brushed with a garlic herb butter. Then, pull the rolls apart, dunk them in warm marinara sauce and enjoy!

Okay wow, where do I begin with these!? I don’t know how such simple ingredients can taste so good. I would actually be happy to watch football if it meant I could enjoy these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls every Sunday.

Also, I’m not even sure what my favorite component of these rolls are – is it the gooey, melty mozzarella cheese, the pillowy pizza dough or the drool-worthy garlic herb butter!? Every little bite is like heaven, and trust me you won’t be able to just stop at one.

This recipe will definitely wow all your guests with the cute football shape, delicious flavor, and overall just a really fun eating experience. I will certainly be bringing this to my Super Bowl watch party, and I hope you will too!

Why You’ll Love these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls

• They are always a crowd pleaser as an appetizer at any party!
• These Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls can be shaped into a football for the perfect Super Bowl/ game day recipe, or be transformed into a Christmas tree!
• They’re made with simple ingredients yet loaded with buttery, garlic herb flavor.
• This recipe uses short-cuts like pre-made pizza dough for convenience.
• These are a fun way to level-up the classic garlic bread.

What You Need to Make these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls

For the Rolls:

• Pizza Dough: Keeping it easy here and using store-bought pizza dough. Feel free to substitute a gluten free pizza dough (I know Trader Joe’s sells one).
• Mozzarella String Cheese Sticks: Feeling like a kid again lol. Cut each stick into 1 inch pieces for the perfect bite of cheese.
• Milk or Egg: You can either use milk or an egg wash to brush on top of the rolls prior to baking. This helps them get golden.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Optional, but I love a touch of flaky sea salt!

For the Garlic Herb Butter:

• Unsalted Butter: Melted and then cooled slightly so that the parmesan cheese doesn’t totally melt when you add it.
• Parmesan Cheese: Fresh and finely grated is best.
• Garlic: 2 small cloves of fresh minced garlic, or 1 large clove
• Basil: Fresh basil adds a ton of flavor to these rolls!
• Parsley: Don’t skip this or substitute with dried – it won’t be the same.
• Salt & Pepper: Season to taste.

To Serve:

• Sliced Cheese: This is totally optional but if you’re making this for the Super Bowl or football game day, it’s fun to add thin slices of cheese on top to mimic the laces of a football. Any cheese will work – mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, etc.
• Marinara: These are best served with some warm marinara…yum!

How To Make these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls

Cut Cheese Sticks & Pizza Dough into Pieces:

First, start by preheating your oven to 400F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Then, using a knife or bench scraper, cut the cheese sticks into 1 inch pieces (each cheese stick should yield about 4 pieces, and 32 in total). Similarly, use a knife of bench scraper to divide the pizza dough into 32 pieces. If you want to be precise, you can use a scale to make sure each is the same weight! Just divide the weight of your dough by 32 to find out how much each dough ball should weigh.

Stuff Pizza Dough with Cheese:

Next, use your fingers to press each piece of pizza dough into small rectangles. Then, add a chunk of cheese in the middle and wrap the dough around it. Pinch the dough closed and roll it into a ball.

Arrange in Football Shape on Baking Sheet:

Place dough balls seam side down on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a football. The outer rim of the football should use about 16 dough balls, and the remaining will go in the middle. Make sure they are touching but not too cramped.

Brush with Milk & Transfer to the Oven:

Then, brush milk (or whisked egg) over the top of the dough balls. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if you’re using it. Transfer baking sheet to the oven and bake for 18 minutes. Next, switch the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes until the tops of the rolls are golden. Let the rolls cool slightly.

Prepare the Garlic Herb Butter & Football “Laces”:

While the rolls are cooling, add melted butter, parmesan, garlic, parsley, basil, salt & pepper to a medium bowl and stir until combined. Then, brush this mixture over the top of the rolls.

Cut the slice of cheese into 7 thin rectangles. Arrange them on top of the rolls to mimic the look of football laces. Serve with some warm marinara and enjoy!

What Type of Pizza Dough Should I use for these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls?

Rather than making our own dough for this recipe, we’re keeping it simple and using store-bought pizza dough. Any brand should work, although the results will vary slightly with each brand.

I typically reach for a locally made, plain white pizza dough (unflavored) just because there is already plenty of flavor coming from the garlic herb butter that gets brushed on top!

Additionally, I have tried this recipe with the Trader Joe’s pizza dough and I don’t love the results as much. It’ll still workout it’s stickier so it’s harder to work with. Try to look for a dough that doesn’t seem to be sticking to the bag!

I have not tried this with the Pillsbury pizza dough that comes in a can. However, it may work…I just can’t say for sure! I fear it would be a little too sticky and hard to work with when rolling into balls. Let me know if you try it though.

Can I Make these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls Gluten Free?

Yes! It’s as easy as swapping out the pizza dough for a gluten free kind. Luckily, gluten free pizza dough is pretty widely accessible these days, including at Trader Joe’s.

Do I Have to Make this in the Shape of a Football?

Nope! Since the Super Bowl is right around the corner, I wanted to make a fun appetizer to enjoy on game day. So, of course I decided to arrange these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls into the shape of a football. However, if that feels too complicated for you or you just want to make this recipe for another occasion, you can definitely arrange them in whatever shape you’d like.

Actually, for a Christmas party this past year, I made this recipe and arranged it in the shape of a Christmas tree instead. The options are endless and it’s delicious no matter what!

Expert Tips:

• Weigh out each piece of pizza dough: This is not necessary at all, but if you have a digital kitchen scale on hand and want to make sure each roll is the same size, this is the easiest way to do so! Just divide your dough weight by 32 and that’s how much each ball should weigh.
• Brush the rolls with milk or an egg wash: This is key to helping them get that beautiful golden finish! Another way to help that is to switch the oven to broil at the very end for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Let the butter cool slightly: Cooling it down slightly ensures that the grated parmesan doesn’t melt entirely when you add it.
• Enjoy fresh with warm marinara: These are best eaten fresh so that the cheesy centers are still gooey! Even better when dunked in some warm marinara.

How Do the Leftovers Store?

Of course, these Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls are best fresh out of the oven for the ultimate cheese pull! However, if you aren’t able to eat them all in one sitting, you can certainly transfer the cooled rolls to an airtight container and store them in the fridge.

Finally, when you’re ready to eat them, add the rolls to a plate and microwave for about 1-1.5 minutes, or until the outside is warm and the cheese is melty again.

Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.

Looking for more Game Day Recipes?

• Healthy BBQ Chicken and Cheesy Cauliflower Steaks
• Creamy Buffalo Chicken Casserole
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Buffalo Chicken Chili
• Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
• Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

5 from 4 votes

Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls

These Cheesy Stuffed Garlic Bread Rolls are a totally addicting appetizer to serve at a party or game day celebration. Each little roll is stuffed with mozzarella cheese, baked until golden and brushed with a garlic herb butter. Pull the rolls apart, dunk them in warm marinara sauce and enjoy!

Servings 32 rolls

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Equipment

• cutting board
• knife or bench scraper
• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• medium bowl
• Pastry brush

Ingredients

For the Rolls:

• 16-19 oz pizza dough – see note
• 8 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• ½ tbsp milk OR 1 egg
• flaky salt (optional)

For the Garlic Herb Butter:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted & 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 & pepper to taste

To Serve:

• 1 slice cheese of choice (mozarella, provolone, cheddar)
• marinara sauce

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using a knife or bench scraper, cut the cheese sticks into 1 inch pieces (each cheese stick should yield about 4 pieces, and 32 in total). Then, use a knife or bench scraper to divide the pizza dough into 32 pieces (if your dough is 16oz, you will probably only get 30 pieces out of it). If you want to be precise, you can use a scale to make sure each is the same weight!
• Use your fingers to press each piece of pizza dough into small rectangles. Then, add a chunk of cheese in the middle and wrap the dough around it. Pinch the dough closed and roll it into a ball.
• Place dough balls seam side down on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a football. The outer rim of the football should use about 16 dough balls, and the remaining will go in the middle. Make sure they are touching but not too cramped.
• Brush milk (or whisked egg) over the top of the dough balls. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using. Transfer baking sheet to the oven and bake for 18 minutes. Then, switch the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes until the tops of the rolls are golden. Let the rolls cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, parmesan, garlic, parsley, basil, salt & pepper. Then, brush this mixture over the top of the rolls.
• Cut the slice of cheese into 7 thin rectangles. Arrange them on top of the rolls to mimic the look of football laces.
• Serve with some warm marinara. Enjoy!

Notes

NOTE: Try to use a pizza dough that doesn’t seem too sticky, as it’ll be easier to work with. If your dough is super sticky, you may need to brush your cutting board and hands with flour. 

Calories: 54kcal

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Appetizers, Cheese, Football Food, Game Day Recipes, Garlic, Garlic Bread, Pizza Dough, Pull Apart Rolls, Rolls

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 123mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.