Cheesy pesto bread recipe

Homemade Cheesy Pesto Bread

prep time
cook time
total time
makes
6 slices

Three words—bread, cheese, pesto. If we haven’t gotten your undivided attention now, then just wait until you sink your teeth into our fresh baked cheesy pesto bread!

Pre-made dough and pesto from the supermarket make this recipe ridiculously easy to prepare. Everyone at the dinner table will think you’re a rock star because it tastes to darn good! You can get creative with your cheese of choice. We used mozzarella for it’s stretch factor! But other easily melted cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack or muenster will also do the trick.

You can make homemade pesto or, if you’re short on time, buy it pre-made. We love the homemade stuff, especially with our recipe for grilled salmon with Asiago pesto. Yum!

Cheesy Pesto Bread Recipe

what you'll need
  • 1 loaf bread dough, frozen
  • 1/2 cup pesto, prepared
  • 8 oz block mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tsp unsalted butter
Nutrition Facts
Cheesy Pesto Bread Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 367 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 640mg 27%
Potassium 57mg 2%
Total Carbohydrates 39g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 3g
Protein 14g 28%
Vitamin A 5%
Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 25%
Iron 15%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
let's do it
  1. Defrost dough according to directions on package. Roll dough into a rectangle that is 14" long and as wide as your bread pan (usually 8"–9"). With the short side of the rectangle facing you, spread pesto evenly on dough leaving a 1" border all the way around.
  2. Cut the mozzarella cheese block into finger-shaped pieces then line the pieces down the center of the dough over the pesto. Roll dough tightly into a cylinder. Pinch the seam and sides together to seal in the pesto and cheese. Coat bread pan with non-stick spray then place dough seam side down into pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel then let it rise for about 1–1½ hours until doubled in size.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees then bake bread 40–45 minutes or until top is golden brown and the bread is cooked through. Remove from oven then brush with butter. Let bread cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan. Transfer to cooling rack for 10–15 more minutes, then slice and serve nice and warm. Enjoy!
Cheryl Says

This bread recipe goes well with just about anything, but it’s a fun alternative to garlic bread when serving an Italian-inspired feast!

Cheesy pesto bread recipe