Introduction

This Garlic Bread Dip is a creamy, cheesy delight infused with the rich flavor of roasted garlic. Perfect as a warm appetizer, it pairs beautifully with crostini or crackers for a crowd-pleasing snack.

A white rectangular dish filled with a creamy baked dip that is golden brown and bubbly on top, with small green herb pieces scattered across the surface. A woman's hand is holding a toasted piece of bread that is covered in melted, stretchy cheese pulled from the dip, showing its gooey texture. The background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 heads garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley, as a garnish
Crostini or crackers, for serving

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400℉. Remove excess papers from the outside of garlic heads. Slice off ¼ inch from the top of each head to expose the cloves, discarding the sliced portion.
Step 2: Create a foil bowl to hold garlic heads upright. Drizzle tops with olive oil and cover completely with foil. Roast in the oven for 50 minutes or until garlic is soft and lightly browned. Remove and cool before handling.
Step 3: Lower oven temperature to 350℉ to prepare for baking the dip.
Step 4: Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a large bowl and mash with a fork until a paste forms.
Step 5: Add cream cheese and sour cream to the garlic paste, mixing until combined. Stir in shredded mozzarella, half of the parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until fully incorporated.
Step 6: Spread the mixture evenly into an 8×8 inch baking dish or an 8-9 inch pie pan. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese evenly on top.
Step 7: Bake for 28 minutes or until the center is hot and bubbling and the top is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 8: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the dip. Serve warm with crostini or crackers for dipping.

Tips & Variations

Use room temperature cream cheese for easier mixing and a smoother dip texture.
The garlic can be roasted a day ahead and refrigerated to save time before assembling the dip.
For a lighter version, substitute light sour cream and reduced-fat cheese options.
Crostini can be toasted slices of baguette brushed with olive oil and baked until crispy.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick if desired.

Storage

Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave until warmed through, stirring occasionally for even heat.

How to Serve

A white rectangular ceramic dish is filled with a creamy, golden-brown baked dip that has a bubbly, slightly browned top layer with small bits of green herbs sprinkled evenly across it. The dip looks thick and cheesy with a stretchy, melted cheese pull from a piece of toasted bread being lifted by a woman's hand from the corner of the dish. The bread slice is light brown with a crunchy texture. The background is a white marbled surface, and the lighting highlights the warm, gooey texture of the dip. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh garlic instead of roasted garlic?

Fresh garlic will have a much sharper, more pungent flavor that can overpower the dip. Roasting the garlic softens its taste, making it sweeter and milder, which works better in this recipe.

What can I serve with garlic bread dip besides crostini?

Vegetable sticks like carrot, celery, or bell pepper, pretzels, pita chips, or even tortilla chips all make great dippers for this creamy garlic bread dip.