Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots: Buttery, Cheesy Perfection

There’s something irresistible about warm bread brushed with garlic butter — but when you tuck a molten pocket of cheese inside? That’s next-level delicious.

These Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots take everything you love about garlic bread and pizza night, then wrap it up (literally) into bite-sized bundles of joy. Each knot hides a gooey center of melted mozzarella, baked to golden perfection, and finished with garlicky butter and a dusting of parmesan.

Perfect as an appetizer, party snack, or cozy side dish, they’re fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• 🧈 Buttery, garlicky, cheesy — in every bite!
• 🧀 That cheese pull – the kind that stretches across the plate.
• 🍞 Simple dough or shortcut-friendly – use homemade or store-bought pizza dough.
• ⏱️ Quick to make – ready in under 30 minutes.
• 🥖 Perfect for dipping – marinara, ranch, or garlic butter sauce.

Whether you’re hosting game night, serving pasta, or just craving something warm and savory, these Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots hit all the right notes of comfort, flavor, and fun.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
• All-purpose flour, for dusting

For the Filling:

• 12–16 mozzarella cubes (about 1-inch each)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing)

For the Garlic Butter:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)

For Serving:

• Marinara sauce or pizza sauce, for dipping

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly dust it with flour to prevent sticking.

2. Divide the Dough

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a 10×12-inch rectangle.
Cut it into 12–16 even strips, depending on how big you want your garlic knots.

3. Add the Cheese

Place one mozzarella cube in the center of each strip.
Wrap the dough around the cheese, pinch the ends to seal, and gently roll into a rope shape. Tie each rope into a loose knot, tucking ends underneath so the cheese stays sealed inside.

4. Bake

Arrange knots on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart.
Brush lightly with olive oil.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly puffed.

5. Make the Garlic Butter

While the knots bake, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
Add minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant (don’t brown it).
Stir in salt, pepper, parsley, Italian seasoning, and half the parmesan.

6. Brush and Finish

Remove knots from the oven and immediately brush with the warm garlic butter mixture.
Sprinkle remaining parmesan on top.
Serve warm with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.

Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots

Golden garlic knots stuffed with gooey mozzarella, brushed with garlic butter, and sprinkled with parmesan — the perfect cheesy side or appetizer.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 12 knots

Course: Appetizer, Side

Cuisine: Comfort Food, Italian-American

Calories: 230

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Dough and Filling

• 1 lb pizza dough store-bought or homemade
• 12 pieces mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Garlic Butter

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese grated
• 0.25 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning optional

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Pastry brush
• Small saucepan

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Roll out pizza dough and cut into 12 strips.
3. Place mozzarella cube in the center of each strip, wrap and tie into knots.
4. Brush knots with olive oil and bake 12–15 minutes until golden.
5. Melt butter with garlic, parsley, and seasoning. Brush over hot knots.
6. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve warm with marinara sauce.

Notes

Use chilled mozzarella to prevent leaks. Add pepper flakes for heat.

Tips for Success

• Seal the dough well: Make sure there are no gaps, or the cheese might ooze out during baking.
• Use cold mozzarella: Chilled cheese cubes hold their shape better while baking.
• Avoid overbaking: Too long in the oven and the cheese may harden or leak.
• Homemade dough hack: If making dough from scratch, let it rest at least 30 minutes before shaping.
• Brush twice: Once before baking for color, and again after for shine and flavor.

Variations

🧀 Triple Cheese Garlic Knots

Mix mozzarella with a bit of cream cheese and shredded parmesan inside each knot for extra creamy filling.

🌶 Spicy Pepper Jack Knots

Swap mozzarella for pepper jack cheese and add red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a kick.

🌿 Pesto Garlic Knots

Brush knots with basil pesto before baking, then finish with garlic butter and parmesan for an herby twist.

🧄 Stuffed Pizza Knots

Add mini pepperoni slices or cooked sausage bits inside the dough before tying for pizza-flavored knots!

Serving Suggestions

Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots are incredibly versatile — they go with almost anything savory:

• 🍝 With pasta: The perfect sidekick for spaghetti, lasagna, or baked ziti.
• 🍕 With pizza night: Serve instead of (or alongside) traditional breadsticks.
• 🥣 With soup: Pair with tomato soup or creamy mushroom soup.
• 🧀 As an appetizer: Serve with marinara, ranch, or spicy garlic aioli for dipping.

They also make a great snack for parties, game nights, or cozy movie evenings.

Storage & Reheating

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4.
• Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 5–8 minutes, or air fry at 350°F for 3 minutes.
• Freeze: You can freeze baked knots for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat in the oven for best texture.

Homemade Pizza Dough Option

If you prefer making your own dough, here’s a quick version:

Ingredients:

• 2¼ tsp instant yeast
• ¾ cup warm water
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp salt

Directions:

1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar; let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Stir in olive oil, flour, and salt until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead for 5–7 minutes, then let rest covered for 30 minutes before rolling out.

Why These Garlic Knots Are So Addictive

It’s that combination of soft bread, gooey cheese, and buttery garlic flavor that makes it impossible to stop at one. The moment you tear one open and the melted cheese stretches out, you know you’ve hit comfort-food heaven.

The best part? They’re baked, not fried — so they’re golden, fluffy, and perfectly indulgent without being greasy.

Plus, making them from scratch (or semi-scratch using store-bought dough) makes your kitchen smell amazing — like a pizzeria crossed with grandma’s kitchen.

Make Ahead Tips

• Prep and chill: Assemble the knots and refrigerate (covered) for up to 24 hours before baking.
• Freeze unbaked: Place shaped knots on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 3–4 extra minutes.

Fun Fact

Did you know garlic knots originated in New York pizzerias in the 1970s? They were originally made from leftover pizza dough to reduce waste — and they became an instant hit!

This recipe takes that classic pizzeria snack and transforms it into a cheesy, stuffed version that’s practically irresistible.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 230
• Fat: 11g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Protein: 8g
• Sodium: 280mg
• Sugar: 1g

Conclusion

If you love garlic bread, you’ll fall in love with these Cheese-Filled Garlic Knots. Crispy on the outside, soft and cheesy inside, and brushed with garlicky butter — they’re everything a snack or side dish should be.

Perfect for sharing (or not!), these golden, cheesy knots bring instant smiles and make any meal feel special.

Next time you’re craving something warm, savory, and undeniably comforting, skip the takeout — grab some dough and make these irresistible garlic knots right at home.