Jalapeño Pull Apart Bread features French bread stuffed with diced jalapeños and a flavorful creamy cheese mixture, then basted with garlic butter before baking to melty perfection. A game day hit and perfect as an appetizer for any meal.
Easy Jalapeño Pull Apart Bread Recipe
Pull apart bread is something I’ve made a few different versions of before, like my Italian pull apart bread made with sourdough bread and provolone cheese and my garlic parmesan pull apart bread made with biscuit dough. Today’s jalapeño pull apart bread is my latest rendition, made with French bread and what is essentially a jalapeno popper filling.
It’s gooey, cheesy, and filled with just the right amount of heat. This one is a huge hit on game day and I think it’s way easier to make than jalapeno poppers but has a lot of the same flavors. Plus you can even prepare it up to 2 days in advance, so all you need to do is pop it in the oven!
Why You’ll Love This Jalapeño Cheese Pull Apart Bread
- Perfect combo of two appetizers. This recipe is the perfect combination of cheesy pull apart bread and classic jalapeño poppers. The best of both worlds!
- Easy to make. This bread may look complicated but it’s really as easy as slicing the bread and stuffing it with a cream cheese mixture.
- Super cheesy and flavorful. This jalapeño pull apart bread is stuffed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese for a gooey, cheesy filling. Not to mention the heat from the jalapeños and the garlic butter on top. Yum!
Ingredients Needed
This pull apart bread recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients.
(Scroll down to the recipe card below for details and measurements.)
- French bread – French bread is sturdy enough to hold the cheese mixture and creates plenty for sharing.
- Cream cheese – The base of the cheesy filling.
- Shredded cheese – You’ll want both cheddar and mozzarella cheese for this pull apart bread.
- Garlic powder & onion powder – For extra flavor.
- Jalapeños – Remove the seeds before dicing for less heat.
- Scallions – For a slightly peppery onion flavor and pop of color.
- Butter – Melted.
- Garlic – Minced garlic adds extra garlic flavor.
How to Make Jalapeño Pull Apart Bread
Here’s an overview of how to make this jalapeño cheese pull apart bread.
(Scroll down to the recipe card below for details and measurements.)
- Prepare the bread. Cut the bread at an angle every inch then again at an opposite angle to create a crosshatch pattern. Be sure to not cut all the way through. Place on a sheet pan lined with foil.
- Make the cream cheese mixture. Combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, seasonings, jalapeno, and scallions.
- Assemble. Spread the cream cheese mixture between all cuts of the bread. Combine the butter and garlic in a bowl then brush over the top of the bread. Use half of the mozzarella to fill in the cracks.
- Bake. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, and return to the oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your jalapeño pull apart bread.
- Do not cut all the way through the bread. When slicing the crosshatch pattern, be sure to only go about 1/2 to 2/3 through the bread. If you cut all the way through, the cheese filling will come out the bottom.
- You can use this recipe with any type of crusty bread. If you’re going to make it with a smaller loaf like a sourdough, make half of the cream cheese filling.
- Try it with pickled jalapeños. You can substitute the fresh jalapeños with a quarter cup of pickled jalapeños or candied jalapeños if you would like. Just try to drain them out before mixing.
- Add bacon. If you love bacon and bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers, feel free to add in cooked crispy chopped bacon to the cheese mixture.
- Make traditional garlic bread instead of pull-apart bread. If you want, just cut your bread in half lengthwise and smear on both sides of the bread, and bake in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
This jalapeño popper pull apart bread makes an excellent party appetizer. It’s an especially huge hit on game day! It also works as an appetizer to any dinner or you can serve it as a dunker for your favorite soup and chili recipes, like tomato soup and classic homemade chili.
Make Ahead and Proper Storage
- Prep in advance. You can assemble the bread, wrap it in aluminum foil, and place it in the refrigerator for up to two days. Before you want to bake it, let it come to room temperature for 10 minutes, and then bake it off for 15 minutes before adding your second batch of mozzarella cheese.
- Store. Jalapeño pull apart bread is best enjoyed right away warm from the oven but leftovers can be wrapped in foil and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat. The best way to reheat the bread is in the oven, though you can reheat small servings in the microwave too.
More Bread Recipes To Try
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Jalapeño Pull Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 8 ounce brick cream cheese , softened
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 jalapeños , diced
- 1 scallion , diced
- 4 tablespoons butter , melted
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with foil.
- Using a serrated knife, cut your loaf of bread at an angle every inch, ensuring it does not cut through to the bottom. Cut the bread on the opposite angle to create a crosshatch pattern in the bread. Transfer the bread to the sheet pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, jalapeños, and green onion.
- Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture in between all the cuts of the bread.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix the butter and garlic. Brush it over the top of the bread.
- Take half the mozzarella cheese and stuff it in the cracks of the bread.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove bread from the oven and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Transfer back to the oven for about 5 minutes and bake until the cheese is golden brown.
