Loading component...
Loading component...
Loading component...
Family-friendly meals made easy!
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Barbara Jones
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Bake Off
Bake-Of
This Zesty Cheese Bread recipe, a finalist in the 38th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest, is a simple, crowd-pleasing bake with big flavor and minimal prep. Best of all, this zesty appetizer can be made in just 45 minutes! Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust wraps around melty cheddar and pepper Jack, with Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles adding just the right amount of heat. It’s the kind of recipe that works just as well for casual dinners and game day parties as it does as a side for soups, salads, or chili. Serve it warm, sliced thick, and watch it disappear fast.
This recipe is ridiculously simple, made with only a few ingredients—but it’s full of irresistible flavor. Here’s what you need.
Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust: The easiest way to make a crust! It rolls out easily and bakes up golden on the outside, soft and chewy inside.
Old El Paso™ Chopped Green Chiles: These add mild heat and a tangy, zesty Tex-Mex flavor that balances the richness of the cheese without overpowering it. If you’re not a fan of spice, you could sub in the same amount of chopped roasted red peppers instead.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Shredded sharp cheddar cheese brings bold, classic cheesy flavor, and pepper Jack cheese adds melty creaminess with gentle heat. Regular Mexican-blend shredded cheese would be a good substitute for the pepper Jack if you’re trying to avoid spice altogether. Garlic powder gives the whole thing delicious “garlic bread” vibes without overwhelming the other flavors.
This easy cheese bread comes together with just a few simple steps. Here’s a quick overview—keep scrolling for the full recipe directions!
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, then place the Pillsbury™ Classic Crust Pizza Crust on it, without unrolling it. Starting at the center of the dough roll, press it out with your hands to form a 14x5-inch rectangle.
Sprinkle the green chiles and both cheeses evenly over the dough, leaving about 1/2 inch clear along the long edges.
Bring the long sides of the dough up over the filling and pinch firmly to seal—this will hold all the fillings inside so they get nice and gooey and melty. Pinch the ends closed, too, then sprinkle the top with garlic powder for extra savory flavor.
Bake on the highest oven rack in a 375°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. You’ll find that the top seam will open up a bit as it cooks—this is normal. Cool for 15 minutes, then slice and serve warm.
Leftover cheese bread stores well and reheats easily, making it just as tasty the next day as it is fresh from the oven.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to store leftovers within 2 hours of finishing preparation.
We don’t recommend keeping leftovers in the freezer, as the crust may get dense and soggy when thawed.
Reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then in additional 30-second intervals as needed, until heated through. Using this method will make the bread nice and hot in seconds, but it will be a bit soft/soggy. To avoid this, reheat the bread in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes until heated through—it will taste practically fresh-baked again!
Move oven rack to highest position. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Do not unroll dough. Place dough on sprayed baking sheet. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to form 14x5-inch rectangle. Sprinkle chiles and cheeses over dough to within 1/2 inch of long sides.
Bring long sides up over cheese; pinch to seal. Pinch ends to seal. Sprinkle with garlic powder.
Bake at 375°F on highest oven rack for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Cut into slices. Serve warm.
You can use a rolling pin instead of your hands to roll the dough out into a rectangle.
If you're having trouble with the top seam sticking together, it may be because some nonstick cooking spray is on the dough. Don’t worry, your Zesty Cheese Bread will taste just as good—it’s a happy little accident! If you want to prevent this from happening next time, you can try skipping the cooking spray and using parchment paper on your baking sheet instead.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 280mg | 12% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 14g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugars | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 5g | % Value Not Available |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 4% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
