This Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is an incredibly easy yet wonderfully flavorful appetizer or snack, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients. It’s the perfect recipe for busy days, potlucks, or any time you crave warm, garlicky, cheesy goodness without heating up your kitchen!
Garlic Cheese Bread Made with Refrigerated Biscuits
There’s a special kind of magic in transforming everyday ingredients into something extraordinary. This recipe harnesses the humble refrigerated biscuit and elevates it into a show-stopping, pull-apart garlic cheese bread. It’s one of my absolute favorite things to make because it’s deceptively simple but delivers such a comforting, homemade taste. The beauty of using refrigerated biscuits lies in their convenience and versatility; they absorb flavors beautifully, making them taste as if you spent hours preparing them from scratch. When those flavors are garlic and cheese, you know you’ve hit a culinary jackpot!
Imagine soft, fluffy biscuit pieces infused with rich garlic butter, generously coated in gooey melted mozzarella. Every bite is an explosion of savory flavor, perfect for dipping into your favorite sauces. This dish is designed for sharing, but don’t be surprised if it disappears faster than you can say “more garlic bread!” Whether you’re hosting a game night, needing a quick party appetizer, or just looking for a delightful side dish, this slow cooker recipe is sure to impress with minimal effort.
Why the Slow Cooker is Your Best Friend for Pull-Apart Bread
While pull-apart bread can certainly be made in the oven, utilizing a slow cooker offers distinct advantages, especially for this cheesy garlic version. The consistent, gentle heat of the slow cooker ensures that the biscuits cook evenly from the inside out, resulting in a supremely soft and tender texture that’s hard to achieve with conventional baking. It also prevents the bread from drying out, which can sometimes happen in a hot oven. Furthermore, using your slow cooker frees up valuable oven space, making it an ideal choice when you’re preparing a larger meal or during warmer months when you want to keep your kitchen cool.
The slow cooker method also allows the garlic butter flavor to deeply infuse into every part of the biscuit, creating a more pronounced and delicious result. The environment inside the slow cooker acts almost like a steamy oven, which helps the biscuits rise beautifully and become incredibly fluffy. Plus, once cooked, the slow cooker keeps your cheesy garlic bread warm and ready to serve for extended periods, making it perfect for entertaining or enjoying over time. It’s a truly hands-off approach that guarantees a delicious outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! This pull-apart bread can be baked in a 2-quart baking dish. Lightly spray the dish with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Keep an eye on it to prevent over-browning.
Placing a paper towel under the slow cooker lid is a crucial step for preventing excess moisture. Slow cookers tend to trap steam, and this moisture can condense on the lid and drip back onto the biscuits, making them soggy. The paper towel absorbs this condensation, ensuring your pull-apart bread stays light, fluffy, and perfectly cooked.
Our favorite way to serve this cheesy pull-apart bread is with warm pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping. You can also serve it with a side of extra garlic butter or homemade ranch dressing. It makes an excellent appetizer, a fun snack for movie night, or a perfect side dish for any Italian-inspired meal, soup, or salad.
I have tested this recipe multiple times, and cooking it on the HIGH setting in the slow cooker is not recommended. The higher heat can cause the bottom of the biscuits to burn before the rest of the bread is fully cooked and risen. Sticking to the LOW setting ensures a gentle, even bake and prevents scorching, resulting in a perfectly tender and delicious outcome.
If you happen to have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, you can warm them gently in the microwave for a few seconds, or for best results, wrap them in foil and reheat in a preheated oven (300°F/150°C) until warmed through and the cheese is soft again.
Essential Ingredients Needed:
One of the best aspects of this recipe is its simplicity, both in terms of method and ingredients. You only need a few pantry staples to create this delicious pull-apart bread. Here’s what you’ll gather:
- Refrigerated Biscuits: One 16-ounce can of flaky or homestyle refrigerated biscuits. These are the foundation of our easy pull-apart bread.
- Butter or Margarine: Half a cup (one stick) of unsalted butter or margarine, melted. This forms the rich, flavorful base for our garlic sauce.
- Minced Garlic: Two teaspoons of minced garlic. Freshly minced garlic offers the best flavor, but jarred minced garlic is a convenient alternative.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: One cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella works perfectly for its melting qualities.
- Dried Parsley Flakes: One teaspoon of dried parsley flakes, for topping (optional, but adds a nice pop of color and subtle herb flavor).
- Pizza or Marinara Sauce: For serving and dipping.
These simple ingredients combine to create a deeply satisfying and incredibly addictive cheesy garlic bread. Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to your taste – if you’re a garlic lover, a little extra never hurts!
How to Make Crock Pot Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread:
Making this delectable pull-apart bread in your slow cooker is a breeze. Follow these simple steps for a truly irresistible treat:
Step 1: Prepare the Biscuits
Begin by opening your can of refrigerated biscuits. On a clean cutting board, cut each biscuit into four equal pieces. For those who prefer smaller, bite-sized pieces, you can cut each biscuit into eight pieces instead. This step creates the individual “pull-apart” segments that will absorb all the delicious flavors.
Step 2: Coat with Garlic Butter
Place all the cut biscuit pieces into a large mixing bowl. Pour the melted margarine or butter over the biscuits, followed by the minced garlic. Using a spatula or your hands, gently toss everything together. Ensure that each biscuit piece is thoroughly coated in the fragrant garlic butter mixture. This step is key to infusing every bite with rich garlic flavor.
Step 3: Line the Slow Cooker
Prepare your 5-6 quart oval slow cooker by lining the bottom with a sheet of parchment paper. This parchment paper serves two purposes: it prevents the biscuits from sticking to the bottom of the slow cooker and makes it incredibly easy to remove the finished pull-apart bread later.
Step 4: Arrange Biscuits in Slow Cooker
Carefully pour the garlic-butter-coated biscuit mixture into the lined slow cooker. Arrange the biscuits evenly in a single layer. Spreading them out ensures that they cook uniformly and rise properly without clumping together too much.
Step 5: Control Moisture
Before placing the lid on, position a paper towel over the slow cooker opening but under the lid. This simple trick is essential for absorbing any excess moisture and condensation that builds up during cooking, preventing your biscuits from becoming soggy.
Step 6: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker and cook the biscuits on the LOW setting for approximately 1 ½ hours. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your slow cooker, so keep an eye on them. The biscuits are ready when they have risen significantly and are firm to the touch. Unlike oven-baked biscuits, they will not turn golden brown in the slow cooker, so rely on texture and doneness indicators rather than color. To check for readiness, you can insert a toothpick into one of the center biscuits; if it comes out clean, they are perfectly cooked. Be mindful of the edges to ensure they don’t scorch.
Step 7: Add Cheese and Parsley
About 5-10 minutes before you plan to serve, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the cooked biscuits. If desired, also sprinkle with dried parsley flakes for an extra touch of color and herb flavor. This short window ensures the cheese melts beautifully without overcooking the biscuits.
Step 8: Melt the Cheese
Cover the slow cooker again for a few minutes, just long enough for the mozzarella cheese to melt into a warm, gooey layer. This usually takes only about 3-5 minutes. Once the cheese is bubbly and melted, your cheesy garlic pull-apart bread is ready!
Step 9: Serve and Enjoy
Once the cheese is perfectly melted, carefully remove the entire pull-apart bread from the slow cooker. This is easiest by gently lifting it out using the sides of the parchment paper. Transfer it to an oval plate or serving platter. Serve immediately with warm pizza or marinara sauce for dipping. Encourage everyone to pull off their own cheesy, garlicky pieces and savor the moment!
There’s nothing quite like pulling apart a warm, fragrant piece of this cheesy garlic bread. It’s comforting, satisfying, and always a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy every delicious bite!
Tips for Success and Delicious Variations
While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, a few tips can ensure perfect results every time. Additionally, don’t hesitate to get creative with variations to tailor it to your taste!
Tips for Success:
- Even Biscuit Cutting: Try to cut your biscuits into roughly equal pieces. This ensures they cook evenly and rise uniformly. If some pieces are significantly smaller, they might cook faster and become tough.
- Thorough Coating: Take your time to toss the biscuits with the garlic butter. Every piece should be coated, as this is where all the flavor comes from.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Slow Cooker: Arranging the biscuits in a single, even layer is crucial. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking, with some biscuits remaining doughy in the center.
- Monitor Cooking: Slow cookers can vary. While 1.5 hours on low is a good estimate, check for doneness by touch and with a toothpick. If your slow cooker runs hotter, it might be done slightly sooner.
- Patience with Melting Cheese: Once you add the cheese, resist the urge to peek too often. Let the lid stay on for those 3-5 minutes to create a perfectly melted, gooey layer.
- Consider Fresh Garlic: While jarred minced garlic is convenient, fresh garlic will always offer a more pungent and vibrant flavor.
Delicious Variations:
- Herb Explosion: Amp up the herbaceous notes by adding a teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning, oregano, or basil along with the garlic butter.
- Spicy Kick: For a touch of heat, sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
- Deluxe Cheese Blend: Instead of just mozzarella, try a blend of shredded cheeses. Provolone, Parmesan, or an Italian blend can add depth and different melting textures.
- Pizza Inspired: Before adding the cheese, you could layer in some mini pepperoni slices or cooked, crumbled sausage for a heartier, pizza-like pull-apart bread.
- Garlic Lover’s Dream: If you truly adore garlic, feel free to increase the amount of minced garlic by another teaspoon or two.
- Ranch Twist: Mix a packet of dry ranch seasoning into the melted butter for a savory, tangy flavor profile before tossing with the biscuits.
Experiment with these suggestions to make this slow cooker cheesy garlic pull-apart bread truly your own. It’s a versatile recipe that’s hard to get wrong!
Craving More Easy Bread Recipes?
If you loved the simplicity and deliciousness of this slow cooker pull-apart bread, you’re in for a treat! There are countless ways to transform simple biscuit dough or bread into incredible appetizers and side dishes. Here are some related recipes that are equally easy to make and bursting with flavor:
- Pizza Pull-Apart Bread: A fan favorite, combining the best of pizza and pull-apart bread.
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pull-Apart Bread: The ultimate savory combination for an irresistible snack.
- Taco Pull-Apart Bread: A zesty, flavorful twist that’s perfect for game day or a fun dinner.
- Pepperoni Pizza Bread: A classic comfort food elevated.
- Spinach Artichoke Pull-Apart Bread: Creamy, cheesy, and packed with everyone’s favorite dip flavors.
- The Best Cheese Toast: Simple, yet perfectly satisfying.
- Cheesy Garlic Bread: A foundational recipe for any garlic bread enthusiast.
- Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits: Another incredibly easy biscuit recipe bathed in flavor.
Crock Pot Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
This Crock Pot Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is an easy but super tasty appetizer or snack and it only requires four ingredients!
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ounce can refrigerated biscuits
- ½ cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes (optional)
- Pizza or marinara sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Cut each biscuit into 4 equal pieces, then place them in a large bowl. Note: if you would like smaller bites, cut each biscuit into 8 pieces.
- Pour melted margarine or butter on top of biscuits in the bowl, followed by the minced garlic.
- Toss everything together, making sure to coat each biscuit piece thoroughly in the garlic butter mixture.
- Place parchment paper into the bottom of a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker to line it.
- Pour in the biscuit mixture and arrange the biscuits evenly in a single layer so they will cook up evenly.
- Place a paper towel under the lid to absorb excess moisture.
- Cover and cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours until biscuits have risen.
- The biscuits will not turn golden brown like they would when you cook them in an oven, so keep an eye on them so the edges don’t burn. Biscuits are done when they are firm to the touch. You can stick a toothpick into one of the center biscuits. If it comes out clean, they are ready!
- About 5-10 minutes before serving, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the biscuits. Then sprinkle with dried parsley (optional). Cover to allow the cheese to melt. This won’t take long.
- Once mozzarella is melted, carefully remove the biscuits from the cooker. It’s easiest just to pull it up using the parchment paper.
- Serve with pizza or marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Serve it as an appetizer or snack with pizza sauce, marinara sauce, garlic butter sauce, or Ranch Dressing.
- This pull-apart bread makes an excellent side dish for any Italian meal, soup, or salad.
- This recipe can also be baked in a 2-quart baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving:
- Calories: 226kcal
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 17g
- Sodium: 457mg
- Sugar: 1g
Nutritional Disclaimer
The nutritional information provided is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on specific brands and ingredients used.
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Originally published: March 2018
Updated & republished: June 2021