Go Back
+ servings
Garlic parmesan bread bites on a metal tray served with marinara sauce.

How to make Garlic Parmesan Bread Bites

Garlic Parmesan Bread Bites are the perfect appetizer for almost any occasion.  Pizza dough is brushed with garlic oil, topped with parmesan cheese, cut into 1-inch pieces, and then baked to a perfect golden brown and served with a side of marinara sauce or garlic butter for dipping.
5 from 5 votes

Click the stars to rate.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Proofing time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 27 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 36 bites
Calories 61 kcal

Equipment

  • Cookie Sheet or baking sheet
  • Pizza Cutter or sharp knife

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Pound Fresh Pizza Dough store-bought or homemade
  • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil plus some to proof dough and grease baking sheet
  • 2-3 Cloves Fresh Garlic
  • ½ Cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese grated
  • ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes optional - if you like some heat
  • Marinara or Garlic Butter for dipping

Instructions
 

To Proof the dough

  • Pull the fresh pizza dough out of the package. With clean hands, fold the dough over itself a few times and roll it into a ball. Until I get my how-to video made, please check out this video for detailed instructions.
  • Drizzle some olive oil in a medium mixing bowl, then place the dough ball in the bowl and roll around the oil to coat. Using your hands, be sure the entire dough ball is coated in olive oil.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then cover with a clean kitchen towel or tea towel. Store in a warm place for 4-8 hours until risen. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days at this stage). When the pizza dough has doubled in size and is soft to the touch, it's ready to use.

To Make the Parmesan Bread Bites

  • Preheat the oven to 450F degrees.
  • Using a microplane or fine grater, grate garlic into olive oil.
  • Mix until well combined and set aside.
  • Lightly brush a cookie tray or baking sheet with plain olive oil (not garlic oil).
  • Carefully remove the risen dough from the mixing bowl and place on the cookie sheet. Using your hands, gently press the dough into an even layer about ½" thick.
  • Brush the dough with ½ of the garlic oil.
  • Evenly sprinkle with parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Gently press cheese and seasonings into the dough with your hands.
  • Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, horizontally cut the dough into 1-inch strips.
  • Then vertically cut dough into 1-inch pieces.
  • Bake on the center rack for 10 minutes. Rotate 180 degrees and bake another 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and immediately brush with bread bites with the remaining ½ of the garlic oil.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Slice bread bites again with a knife or pizza cutter. They are ready to serve and eat!

Notes

  • Allow your dough to rise at room temperature for a few hours - overnight before making the bread bites.  Dough rise is important because the soft dough will give you a crispy crust with a soft middle.  Using cold dough will result in harder bread bites with hard middle.
  • Coat the dough ball in olive oil or cooking spray to prevent cracks as it rises.
  • Place the dough ball in an oiled medium bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a tea towel or kitchen towel, and place it in a warm spot to rise.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After 3 days they will start to get tough.
  • The perfect compliment for these parmesan bread bites is with warm pizza sauce, marinara, or a healthy dose of garlic butter. Ranch Dressing, Blue Cheese Dressing, and Caesar Dressing were also very popular dips at the pizza parlor.

  • Fast dough proofing methods:

    Oven - How to proof dough in an oven
    Instant Pot - Proofing bread in an Instant Pot

Nutrition

Serving: 6bitesCalories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 120mgPotassium: 4mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!