Parmesan Bread Bites with Garlic Butter and Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe

Introduction

Parmesan Bread Bites are a delightful, savory snack featuring soft, chewy pizza dough bites topped with aromatic garlic butter and melted Parmesan cheese. Perfect as an appetizer or party treat, they pair wonderfully with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Ingredients

• Homemade pizza dough (use your favorite recipe or store-bought in a pinch)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic salt as substitute)
• ⅜ teaspoon salt (adjust if using garlic salt)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced)
• 4 to 6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil, for greasing the baking sheet
• Warm marinara sauce, for serving

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Generously grease a large baking sheet with olive oil or a non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
2. Step 2: Prepare your pizza dough according to your chosen recipe. Once doubled in size, gently punch down the dough and transfer it to a floured surface.
3. Step 3: Cut the dough into roughly 1-inch bite-sized pieces, aiming for uniformity to ensure even baking.
4. Step 4: Arrange the dough pieces about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let them rest in a warm spot for about 30 minutes to rise slightly again.
5. Step 5: While the dough rests, combine the room temperature butter, minced garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and parsley in a small bowl. Mix well until creamy.
6. Step 6: Remove the kitchen towel and brush the dough bites generously with most of the garlic butter mixture, reserving some for later.
7. Step 7: Bake the bites in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
8. Step 8: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Immediately brush the hot bread bites with the remaining garlic butter. If the butter has thickened, warm it briefly to soften before brushing.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese generously over the bites. The residual heat will slightly melt the cheese.
10. Step 10: Serve the Parmesan Bread Bites warm with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping.

Tips & Variations

• Use bread flour in your dough for a chewier texture, or all-purpose flour for a softer bite.
• Substitute fresh parsley for dried parsley for a brighter flavor—use double the fresh amount.
• If using garlic salt instead of fresh garlic, reduce the added salt accordingly to avoid oversalting.
• Make the dough ahead and refrigerate for up to 3 days, bringing it to room temperature before shaping.
• Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for a spicy kick.

Storage

Store leftover Parmesan Bread Bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm them in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5–7 minutes until heated through and crisp on the outside. Avoid microwaving as it can make them soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought pizza dough for this recipe?

Yes, store-bought dough works fine in a pinch. However, homemade pizza dough offers better flavor and texture that really enhances the bread bites.

How do I prevent the bread bites from sticking to the baking sheet?

Grease the baking sheet generously with olive oil or use a non-stick spray. This will help create a slightly crisp bottom and prevent sticking.

Parmesan Bread Bites with Garlic Butter and Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 57 reviews

These Parmesan Bread Bites are soft, fluffy, and infused with aromatic garlic butter, Italian herbs, and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Made with homemade pizza dough, they bake to golden perfection and serve as an irresistible appetizer or snack when paired with warm marinara sauce for dipping.

• Author: Caleb
• Prep Time: 20 minutes (including dough cutting and resting)
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes (excluding initial pizza dough making and rising time)
• Yield: Approximately 30-35 bread bites
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Homemade Pizza Dough

• Flour (bread or all-purpose) – as needed for dough (about 3 to 3 ½ cups)
• Water – about 1 cup, warm
• Active dry yeast – 2 ¼ teaspoons (1 packet)
• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
• Salt – 1 teaspoon

Garlic Butter

• Unsalted butter, room temperature – ¼ cup (4 tablespoons)
• Minced fresh garlic – 2 cloves (or 1 teaspoon garlic salt as substitute)
• Salt – ⅜ teaspoon (¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon)
• Italian seasoning – ½ teaspoon
• Dried parsley – 1 teaspoon (or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley minced)

Additional Ingredients

• Grated Parmesan cheese – 4 to 6 tablespoons (freshly grated recommended)
• Olive oil or non-stick cooking spray – for greasing the baking sheet
• Marinara sauce – for serving/dipping, warmed

Instructions

1. Prepare the Baking Sheet: Generously grease a large sheet pan with olive oil or use non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Ensure the entire surface is coated and set aside.
2. Prepare the Pizza Dough: Make your homemade pizza dough by combining flour, warm water, yeast, olive oil, and salt. Knead until smooth, then let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Once risen, gently punch down the dough and transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
3. Cut the Dough into Bite-Sized Pieces: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into roughly 1-inch pieces sized evenly to ensure uniform baking.
4. Arrange Dough Bites on Baking Sheet and Rest: Place the dough pieces spaced about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let them rest in a warm spot for about 30 minutes to rise again (proof).
5. Prepare the Garlic Butter and Preheat Oven: In a small bowl, combine room temperature unsalted butter, minced garlic (or garlic salt), salt, Italian seasoning, and dried or fresh parsley. Mix well until creamy. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
6. Brush with Garlic Butter and Bake: Remove the towel from the baking sheet. Generously brush the tops of the dough bites with garlic butter. Reserve remaining butter. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes until golden brown and slightly crisp on top.
7. Second Butter Brush and Parmesan Sprinkle: Remove bread bites from oven and place on a wire rack. Immediately brush the tops with the remaining garlic butter (re-melt if thickened). Then sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese while hot to allow slight melting.
8. Serve Hot: Serve the Parmesan Bread Bites warm with a side of warm marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy their soft, garlicky, cheesy goodness fresh from the oven.

Notes

• Homemade pizza dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for longer storage. Bring to room temperature before shaping.
• Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese substantially improves flavor and texture compared to pre-shredded.
• If substituting garlic salt for minced garlic, adjust the additional salt to prevent oversalting.
• For fresh parsley substitute, double the amount called for dried parsley to maintain flavor intensity.
• Maintain spacing on the baking sheet to ensure even baking and prevent sogginess.
• Warm marinara sauce enhances the dipping experience by balancing rich buttery flavors.

Keywords: Parmesan bread bites, garlic bread bites, homemade pizza dough, appetizer, Italian appetizer, easy snack, cheesy bites, garlic butter bread