By 
Parmesan bread bites are little bite-sized pieces of heaven doused in savory garlic herb butter and parmesan cheese. Oven baked until golden brown, these tasty bread bites are the perfect side for pizza, a party, or game day!
This easy parmesan bread bites recipe uses basic ingredients to come together in minutes. It's the perfect appetizer for a pizza night, a kids birthday party, or the holiday season.
Using my homemade pizza dough recipe, they are crisp on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. They also have the best garlic parmesan flavor!
These simple parmesan bread bites would be a delicious finger food served with pizza dip, chicken wings, or blue cheese chips.
Jump to:
🧀 Ingredient notes
- Dough - I like using my homemade pizza dough for this recipe. It's a simple pizza dough that works great for this and other pizza recipes. You can also use store-bought or refrigerated pizza dough or whatever your favorite pizza dough recipe is. You will need approximately 1 pound of pizza dough to make 36 bites.
- Butter - I recommend using salted butter for the best flavor. If you use unsalted butter, add a good-sized pinch of salt to the butter mixture along with the other seasonings.
- Garlic - Using garlic powder instead of minced garlic seemed to work out better for these bites. Minced garlic doesn't get as distributed on the bites. If you like a lot of garlic, add minced garlic to the butter mixture along with the other seasonings.
- Herbs - Use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs if you like. Make sure to mince them finely and double the quantity. You can also substitute the oregano and parsley for Italian seasoning.
- Cheese - Either grated parmesan cheese or shredded can be used. I prefer to freshly grate mine with a microplane for an even light dusting. Pecorino romano or asiago cheese are great substitutes for parmesan. A combination of any of those cheeses would make extra cheesy bread bites!
- Dip - Marinara or pizza sauce is my favorite dipping sauce for these bites. You can also make more garlic butter for dipping or try alfredo or pesto sauce!
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Spicy - Add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic herb butter.
- Cheesy - Wrap a small piece of mozzarella cheese in each dough ball when shaping them for some extra cheesy little nuggets!
- Shapes - Instead of shaping the dough into balls, cut them into larger strips or leave them in squares. They can be cut into ropes as well and shaped into garlic knots.
- Dairy Free - Use a dairy-free or plant-based substitute for both butter and parmesan cheese. Olive oil can also be used instead of butter for a dairy-free option.
🥣 Step by step instructions
First, roll out your pizza dough on a flat surface into a square that is approximately 8 inches by 8 inches. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 6 strips both horizontally and vertically for 36 total pieces.
Take each piece of dough and tuck the corners underneath itself. Pinch the bottom and twist it to shape it into small balls. Place each of the balls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
Place butter in a small saucepan or skillet with the garlic powder, oregano, and parsley. Heat over medium-low until the butter is completely melted.
Use a pastry brush to generously coat each little bread bite with the melted butter mixture. Then, sprinkle the tops with half of the parmesan cheese.
Bake the parmesan bites in a 350˚ oven for about 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Top with the remaining half of the parmesan cheese and serve warm with the marinara sauce.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to cut the dough into similar-sized pieces so they cook even in the oven.
- Generously coat the bread bites in the garlic herb butter so they get the best flavor.
- Don't forget to split the parmesan cheese and add half after baking. This gives it an extra cheesy flavor!
- Serve the bread bites with warm pizza sauce or marinara for the ultimate pizza flavor!
⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
These parmesan bread bites can be prepped right up to baking time and stored covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before baking. Take them out of the refrigerator while the oven preheats and bake as directed.
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and can be heated up in the oven or microwave. They can also be stored in a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Bake frozen bites in the oven until heated through.
🧀 More appetizer recipes
If you loved this parmesan bread bites recipe, check out these other easy appetizers that I know you will love too!
- Baked Brie with Jam
- Homemade Sriracha Hummus
- Bacon Wrapped Dates with Manchego
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
Recipe
Parmesan Bread Bites
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound pizza dough, homemade or store bought
- ½ stick salted butter
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Marinara or pizza sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Roll pizza dough out on a flat surface to a square that is approximately 8 inches by 8 inches.
- Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the square into 6 strips both horizontally and vertically for a total of 36 pieces.
- Take a piece of dough and tuck the corners underneath. Lightly pinch them together while twisting to form a ball.
- Place the dough ball on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium low heat with the parsley, oregano and garlic powder.
- Generously coat each piece of dough in the garlic herb butter mixture, using a pastry brush and then sprinkle them with half of the parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden brown. Sprinkle the bites with the remaining parmesan cheese and serve with the marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Make sure to cut the dough into similar-sized pieces so they cook even in the oven.
- Generously coat the bread bites in the garlic herb butter so they get the best flavor.
- Serve the bread bites with warm pizza sauce or marinara for the ultimate pizza flavor!
Substitutions and Variations
- Garlic - Add extra minced garlic to the butter mixture for an extra garlicky flavor.
- Spicy - Add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the garlic herb butter.
- Herbs - Fresh herbs cam be used instead of dried. Make sure to mince them finely and double the quantity. You can also substitute the oregano and parsley for Italian seasoning.
- Cheese - Either grated or shredded cheese can be used. Pecorino romano or asiago cheese are also great substitutes.
- EXTRA Cheese - Wrap a small piece of mozzarella cheese in each dough ball when shaping them for some extra cheesy little nuggets!
- Dairy Free - Use a dairy-free or plant-based substitute for both butter and parmesan cheese. Olive oil can also be used instead of butter for a dairy-free option.
- Dip - Double the garlic butter and use the extra for dipping. Also try alfredo or pesto sauce for dipping too.
- Shapes - Instead of shaping the dough into balls, cut them into larger strips or leave them in squares. They can be cut into ropes as well and shaped into garlic knots.
Comments
No Comments