Get ready to score big with your guests this game day! This cheesy garlic pull-apart bread, shaped like a football, is not only adorable but also absolutely delicious. It’s the perfect marriage of gooey mozzarella, aromatic garlic, and fresh herbs that will have everyone reaching for more. Each bread ball is stuffed with melted cheese and arranged to create a stunning football shape that’s almost too cute to eat—almost.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Football-shaped cheesy bread

makes a festive centerpiece

for game day gatherings

Creative bread arrangement

forms impressive edible

football shape for parties

Keep pets away from

garlic bread as

garlic can be toxic

Easy pull-apart bread

is perfect for casual

serving on any table

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Whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party, a college football watch party, or just a casual get-together with friends, this appetizer is guaranteed to be the MVP of your spread. The presentation alone will have your guests pulling out their phones for photos, but it’s the incredible flavor that will keep them coming back for seconds and thirds. The crispy, golden exterior gives way to warm, stretchy mozzarella inside, while the garlic herb butter adds layers of savory goodness to every bite.

The best part? It’s surprisingly easy to make and looks incredibly impressive on your game day table. You don’t need any special baking skills or fancy equipment—just pizza dough, mozzarella, and a few pantry staples. Each bite-sized ball is stuffed with melted mozzarella and coated in a savory garlic herb butter that will have your guests asking for the recipe. Serve it with warm marinara sauce for dipping, add those adorable mozzarella “laces” on top, and watch it disappear before halftime!

Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Ingredients

• Dough: 1-2 pizza dough balls.
• Cheese:8-10 mozzarella sticks, cut into 4 pieces each.
• Sliced mozzarella: for football laces.

For the Garlic Herb Topping:

• 4 tbsp melted butter (slightly cooled)
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped basil

For Serving:

• Marinara sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut the mozzarella sticks into 4 pieces each. You should have about 32-40 pieces of cheese.
3. Cut the pizza dough into small pieces. You’ll want to make 35-40 pieces total.
4. Take each piece of dough, flatten it slightly, place a piece of cheese in the center, and roll it up into a ball, sealing the cheese completely inside.
5. Arrange the dough balls on the parchment paper in the shape of a football.
6. Bake at 400°F for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.
7. While baking, prepare the topping: Mix together the melted butter, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and chopped basil.
8. Once the bread is baked, remove from oven and switch to broil.
9. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the top is nicely browned (watch carefully to avoid burning).
10. Remove from oven and immediately brush with the garlic herb butter mixture.
11. Use sliced mozzarella to create “laces” on top to complete the football look.
12. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.

Recipe c/o of @chayse.carmichael

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