Hawaiian rolls make the easiest garlic bread ever. Stuffed with garlic butter and gooey cheese, then baked until golden, this pull-apart bread is the viral TikTok recipe everyone loves. Serve it for parties, pasta night, or anytime you want a side that disappears fast.
Make this to take to that last-minute party!
While any type of bread makes delicious garlic bread, you reach a new level of flavor when you create it with soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls.
The sweetness of the rolls is balanced perfectly by the buttery, garlicky topping and the blend of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses that are melted on top.
I cut slits into the rolls so that the garlic butter gets into every bite! This simple step creates an easily shareable pull-apart appetizer.
Ingredient Notes
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Hawaiian Rolls: King’s Hawaiian Rolls are the classic choice here, and some supermarkets have their own similar brands that might be less expensive. Go for the standard “Hawaiian Sweet Rolls”, rather than other varieties. Don’t separate the rolls, leave them as one rectangular piece!
- Garlic: Use plenty of fresh garlic cloves in this recipe. Pre-cut garlic that comes in a jar could technically be substituted, but the flavor isn’t going to be quite as good.
- Butter: I like to use unsalted butter so that I can control the saltiness of the bread. If you only have salted butter, leave out the additional salt called for in the recipe.
- Cheese: Use both shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese in these garlic bread Hawaiian rolls. It’s cheaper and more flavorful to grate your cheeses from blocks rather than buy them pre-shredded.
More Savory Appetizer Recipes
Smoky Caramelized Onion Dip
Italian Hoagie Dip
Sloppy Joe Garlic Bread
Garlic Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread Appetizer
Recipe Tips and Options
- Fill the Spaces with butter and cheese! Ensure that the garlic butter and cheese are evenly distributed inside every cut in the rolls. A pastry brush or a small flexible spatula will help you do this easily.
- For Easy Clean Up, line the pan with foil.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the garlic butter mixture and pre-slice the rolls several hours in advance. Store the butter at room temperature. Assemble the garlic bread just before you’re ready to bake.
- Optional Add Ins: Try a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, or swap the mozzarella with provolone, cheddar, or Italian blend cheese. Pepperoni folded into the rolls is another fun twist that will turn these into a different version of Pepperoni Pizza Sliders.
- For Crispier Tops: Broil on high for 1 or 2 minutes after baking to crisp the cheese on top of the bread. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Serve these with a side of marinara sauce for dipping if they’ll be an appetizer, or serve garlic bread rolls as a last-minute side dish with your favorite pasta dishes.
- Storage: If you don’t eat them all in one sitting, you can store leftover cheesy Hawaiian roll garlic bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5–10 minutes.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread
Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread is a simple appetizer of stuffed sweet rolls with savory garlic butter and melted cheeses. It also makes the perfect side dish for pasta night!
Servings
Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread is a simple appetizer of stuffed sweet rolls with savory garlic butter and melted cheeses. It also makes the perfect side dish for pasta night!
Recipe Video
Equipment
- 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish or larger
- Small mixing bowl
- Pastry brush or spoon
- Foil
Ingredients
- 1 12 or 16 roll package Hawaiin sweet rolls do not slice
- 1 cup (50 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup (20 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish.
- Place the rolls in the dish and carefully slice through each row twice lengthwise and twice crosswise, creating deep cuts without slicing all the way through the bottom.
- Stuff shredded mozzarella cheese into the cuts, sprinkling any remaining cheese evenly over the top.
- In a small bowl, mix softened butter, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and ground black pepper until smooth.
- Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the tops of the rolls, pressing it into the cuts as much as possible.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 12 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 3 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the tops are lightly golden.
- Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes:
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F (180°C) for 5–10 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the garlic butter mixture and pre-slice the rolls several hours in advance. Store the butter at room temperature and assemble before baking.
- For Crispier Tops: Broil on high for 1-2 minutes after baking to crisp the tops. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Optional Add-ins: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter for heat, or swap mozzarella with provolone, cheddar, or Italian blend cheese.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 2rolls, Calories: 166kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 45mg, Sodium: 296mg, Potassium: 32mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.5g, Vitamin A: 561IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 106mg, Iron: 0.2mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Leave a Review!