Parmesan bread bites are soft, cheesy, and buttery little bites of heaven—perfect for snacking, serving as a party appetizer, or pairing with your favorite pasta or soup. Brushed with garlic-herb butter and sprinkled generously with Parmesan, these golden bites are absolutely irresistible fresh from the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Cheesy and garlicky with a golden, buttery finish
- Bite-sized—ideal for sharing, dipping, or snacking
- Easy to make with pantry staples and simple steps
- Customizable with your favorite herbs and cheeses
- Pairs perfectly with marinara sauce, ranch, or pesto
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Dough
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp honey (or granulated sugar)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fine sea salt
Garlic Butter
6 tbsp unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
Directions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and honey. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour, salt, olive oil, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Knead for 8–9 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Shape into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 20–30 minutes, until doubled.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
- Roll dough into an 8×8-inch square. Cut into 8 strips, then cut each strip into 1-inch squares. Transfer to baking sheets, spacing apart.
- Make garlic butter: melt butter with garlic until fragrant. Stir in half of the thyme and sage.
- Brush bread bites with garlic butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan and remaining herbs.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until lightly golden.
- Once out of the oven, brush with more garlic butter and sprinkle with extra cheese.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce.
Servings and timing
Makes about 40 bread bites (serves 6–8).
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus rising)
Cook time: 10–12 minutes per tray
Total time: About 1 hour
Variations
- Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Use Italian seasoning instead of thyme and sage.
- Swap mozzarella with cheddar or provolone for a different cheese flavor.
- Top with sesame seeds or poppy seeds before baking.
- Serve with garlic butter dipping sauce instead of marinara.
Storage/reheating
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or in a 300°F (149°C) oven until warm and soft.
- Freeze baked bread bites for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen at 325°F until hot.
FAQs
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Yes, just mix it directly with the flour and skip the proofing step.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, refrigerate the dough overnight after the first rise and bake the next day.
How do I know if my yeast is active?
The mixture should look foamy after 5 minutes—if not, use a fresh packet.
Can I make these bites bigger?
Yes, cut into larger squares for mini rolls, adjusting bake time by 2–3 minutes.
What dipping sauces go best with these bread bites?
Marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or pesto all pair beautifully.
Can I air fry these instead of baking?
Yes, air fry at 375°F for 8–10 minutes until golden.
How do I keep them soft after baking?
Brush generously with garlic butter right out of the oven.
Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Yes, use about 1/3 of the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated.
Can I stuff them with cheese?
Yes, tuck a small cube of mozzarella inside each piece before baking for gooey centers.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely—just bake in batches.
Conclusion
Parmesan bread bites are the ultimate cheesy, garlicky snack that’s quick to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With their golden crust, fluffy centers, and irresistible garlic butter topping, they’re perfect for dipping, sharing, or enjoying straight from the tray.
Print
Parmesan Bread Bites
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 40 bread bites (serves 6–8)
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Golden, cheesy, garlicky bread bites brushed with herb butter and sprinkled with Parmesan. Perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish for dipping and sharing.
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1 tbsp honey (or sugar)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fine sea salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix warm water, yeast, and honey in a bowl. Let sit 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add flour, salt, olive oil, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Knead 8–9 minutes until smooth.
- Shape into a ball, place in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 20–30 minutes until doubled.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
- Roll dough into 8×8-inch square. Cut into strips, then 1-inch squares. Transfer to baking sheets.
- Melt butter with garlic until fragrant. Stir in half the thyme and sage.
- Brush bites with garlic butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan and remaining herbs.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until golden.
- Brush with more garlic butter and sprinkle extra cheese after baking.
- Serve warm with marinara.
Notes
- Add red pepper flakes for spice.
- Use Italian seasoning instead of thyme and sage.
- Swap mozzarella with cheddar or provolone.
- Top with sesame or poppy seeds before baking.
- Serve with garlic butter dip instead of marinara.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus rising)
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes per tray
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 bread bites
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
