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I always end up ordering Domino’s stuffed cheesy bread as a “just one more thing” add-on to my pizza order, so I created this copycat version at home. It’s pizza dough folded over melty mozzarella, brushed with garlic herb butter, topped with more cheese, and baked until golden. In about 30 minutes, you get crispy edges, a soft pull-apart center, and strings of cheese in every bite, perfect for game day, pizza night, or whenever you’re craving something warm and dunked in marinara.
What Makes This Stuffed Cheesy Bread So Good
I skip the fuss of a copycat sauce or a long ingredient list here and focus on getting the technique right, because that’s really what separates good stuffed cheesy bread from great stuffed cheesy bread. I’ve made this both with the cheese folded inside a single layer of dough and sandwiched between two separate pieces, and the fold-and-pinch method wins every time. It seals in the cheese so it melts into the bread instead of leaking out onto the pan. I also found a layer of garlic herb butter under the cheese (not just on top) to be non-negotiable. It’s what gives me that craveable, slightly crisp edge on every breadstick. This is my go-to fun, family-style appetizer, and it comes together with pantry staples and store-bought dough (or my Homemade Pizza Dough if you’d rather make it from scratch).
The biggest mistake I made the first time I tried this was skipping the pinch. Without sealing the edges firmly with my fingers, the cheese oozed out during baking and left a puddle of grease on the pan instead of a stuffed loaf. Now I press the edges firmly all the way around before slicing it into breadsticks, until I can feel the dough stick to itself. That one step is what keeps every bite intact and cheesy instead of hollow.
Tips for Beginners
- Don’t skip brushing butter on before you add the cheese. I tested a batch without it, and the bottom layer of dough baked up noticeably drier and paler. The butter underneath is what helps the inside stay soft while the outside crisps up.
- Roll your dough thin and even, especially in the center. A thicker center takes longer to cook through, so by the time it’s done, the thinner edges can overbake and dry out. Aim for an even 10×12-inch rectangle so the whole loaf bakes at the same rate.
- Seal the edges well. This is the step that determines whether your cheese stays inside the bread or ends up on the pan. Press firmly all the way around.
Domino’s Stuffed Cheesy Bread
Ingredients
- 16 oz store-bought or homemade pizza dough
- 3 tbsp butter
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped fresh parsley
- marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle at least 10 inches by 12 inches. Transfer the dough to a large piece of parchment paper.16 oz store-bought or homemade pizza dough
- Melt the butter in a small dish. Stir in the garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brush half of the butter over the pizza dough.3 tbsp butter, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Spread 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the bottom half of the dough.1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fold the top half down over the cheese. Pinch the edges together with your fingers to seal.
- Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 8 breadsticks.
- Brush the remaining butter on the top of the dough.
- Top with cheddar cheese and the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the bread is golden brown.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley
Becky’s Tips
- Add toppings before you fold. Pepperoni or your favorite pizza toppings can go in with the mozzarella in Step 4 for a stuffed pizza bread twist.
- Pinch the edges tightly so the cheese stays inside instead of leaking onto the pan.
- Rolling the dough evenly matters. An uneven center needs extra bake time and can look doughy if you pull it too soon.
- Brush the butter under the cheese, not just on top. It’s what keeps the inside soft while the outside crisps up.
- No store-bought dough on hand? Homemade pizza dough works just as well.
- Ranch dressing is an easy swap for marinara, or double the garlic herb butter to serve on the side.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Domino’s Stuffed Cheesy Bread Step by Step
Gather all the ingredients together.
Preheat and roll out the dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Roll the pizza dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle at least 10×12 inches. Transfer it to a large piece of parchment paper. This makes it much easier to move once it’s stuffed.
Make the garlic herb butter: Melt 3 tbsp butter in a small dish, then stir in ¼ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp Italian seasoning. Brush half of this butter mixture evenly over the entire surface of the dough.
Add the first layer of cheese: Spread 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the bottom half of the dough only, leaving the top half bare. That’s the flap that will fold over to seal everything in.
Fold and seal: Fold the top half of the dough down over the cheese. Pinch the edges together firmly with your fingers all the way around. The dough should feel sealed, not just resting on top of itself. This step is what keeps the cheese from leaking out as it bakes. Brush the remaining garlic herb butter over the top.
Slice into breadsticks: Use a pizza cutter to slice the stuffed dough into 8 even pieces. Don’t worry about separating them completely. They’ll bake as one piece and pull apart easily once done.
Add cheese: Sprinkle ½ cup cheddar cheese and the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella evenly over the surface.
Bake the cheesy bread: Transfer the loaf (still on the parchment) to a baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese on top is fully melted and bubbly and the edges of the bread are golden brown. The dough should sound slightly hollow when tapped, a good sign it’s cooked through.
Finish and serve: Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer
Wrap individual breadsticks tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating
For the best texture, reheat in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes, until warmed through and the cheese is melty again. The microwave works in a pinch, but the crust will turn soft instead of staying crisp.
Make Ahead
You can assemble the loaf through Step 6 up to a few hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake straight from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
Serving Suggestions
Marinara sauce is my go-to dip here, and I always keep a batch on hand for a reason. The acidity cuts through the richness of all that melted cheese. When I want to turn this into more of a meal, I’ll serve it alongside a shaved Brussels sprout salad, the honey lemon Dijon vinaigrette is light enough to balance out all that cheese. I also love pulling out a batch of this bread next to a big pot of minestrone soup on a cold night. It’s perfect for soaking up the broth. And when I’m putting out spread for game day, I set this out next to crispy baked buffalo wings so guests have something cheesy to reach for between the spicy bites.
More Recipes for Your Pizza Night Rotation
- Homemade Pizza Dough: If you’d rather build this from scratch, homemade pizza dough is the base I use for this recipe and most of my pizza night meals. It’s only 7 ingredients and takes it to the next level.
- Olive Garden Breadsticks: For another buttery, garlicky bread to add to the table, Olive Garden breadsticks are just as easy to pull apart and share, and they disappear just as fast at my house.
- Garlic Bread Pizza: When I want the cheesy bread and the pizza in one dish, I turn to garlic bread pizza. It’s ready in 25 minutes, which makes it perfect for a fast weeknight dinner.
- Savory Monkey Bread: Savory Monkey Bread is another pull-apart favorite I make for parties. It’s loaded with herbs and cheese and is always the first thing gone at a gathering.
