Copycat Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes)
This copycat Little Caesars Italian cheese bread is made with refrigerated pizza dough, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic butter, and Italian seasoning — ready in 20 minutes and significantly cheaper than the real thing.
Little Caesars Italian cheese bread has no business being as good as it is. It’s literally just bread, cheese, and garlic butter. And yet it’s one of the most crave-worthy things in the fast food universe and I refuse to spend $5 for a small order of it when I can make a full sheet pan at home in 20 minutes.
The secret is the double garlic butter. Brushed on before baking so it soaks into the dough as it cooks, and brushed on again immediately after so it glosses the hot cheese and fills your kitchen with a smell that will cause people to appear from other rooms. You’re welcome.
Love cheesy appetizers? Also try my Air Fryer Tortilla Garlic Bread and my Healthy Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 20 minutes using refrigerated pizza dough — no yeast, no rise time, no waiting around.
- Cheaper than Little Caesars — a full sheet pan for the price of one small order.
- Those crispy cheese edges — push the cheese all the way to the edges of the pan and you get that signature crunchy cheese crust that makes every corner piece worth fighting for.
- 5 simple ingredients you can grab at any grocery store.
Ingredients You’ll Need
(Full measurements are in the recipe card below.)
- Refrigerated pizza dough — the shortcut that makes this a 20-minute recipe instead of a 2-hour one. Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust works great. Fresh dough from the grocery store deli counter is even better. Homemade pizza dough works too if you have it, but the whole point here is that you don’t need to.
- Parmesan cheese — finely grated, not the shaker bottle kind. Parmesan adds a salty, nutty sharpness that gives the bread its depth of flavour and helps the top get those golden crispy bits.
- Mozzarella cheese — low-moisture part-skim, shredded. The base of the cheese blend. Use the block and shred it yourself if you can — pre-shredded bags have an anti-caking coating that affects how the cheese melts.
- Butter — melted. Used both under the dough (to crisp the bottom) and brushed on top immediately after baking (for that signature shiny, garlicky finish).
- Garlic — freshly minced or garlic powder both work. Fresh gives a stronger, more authentic flavor.
- Italian seasoning — sprinkled on top with the cheese before baking and again after with the final butter brush.
- Salt — a light sprinkle over the cheese before baking. Don’t skip it — it brings out the cheese flavor significantly.
How to Make Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking pan — get the corners and edges well coated. This is what crisps the bottom of the bread.
- Spread the dough. Press the refrigerated pizza dough out to fill the pan evenly. Use your fingertips and stretch it gently to the edges and corners. Let it rest for 5 minutes if it keeps springing back.
- Mix the garlic butter. Combine the melted butter and minced garlic in a small bowl. You’ll use half before baking and half after.
- Brush with garlic butter. Brush half the garlic butter evenly over the surface of the dough.
- Add the cheese. Spread the shredded mozzarella evenly over the dough then sprinkle the parmesan on top. Push the cheese all the way to the very edges of the pan — this is how you get the crispy cheese crust around the border that makes every corner piece the best piece.
- Season. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and a light pinch of salt evenly over the cheese.
- Bake for 18–22 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling and the edges are deeply browned and crispy. The bottom should be golden — check by lifting a corner with a spatula.
- Finish with garlic butter. Immediately after pulling from the oven, brush the remaining garlic butter generously over the hot cheese. Sprinkle with a little extra Italian seasoning.
- Rest for 3 minutes then slice into breadsticks with a pizza cutter. Serve immediately with marinara sauce.
Push the cheese to the very edges. This is the most important tip. The crispy browned cheese around the border is what makes people fight over the corner pieces — and it only happens if the cheese actually reaches the edge of the pan.
Butter the pan generously. Don’t just spray — use actual melted butter on the pan bottom. This is what gives the bread its crispy, almost fried bottom.
Double butter is non-negotiable. Brush before AND after baking. The second brush soaks into the hot cheese and gives the surface that glossy, garlicky finish. Do it within 30 seconds of pulling from the oven.30 seconds of pulling it from the oven.
What to Serve With It
- Marinara sauce — the classic pairing. Little Caesars uses a chunky pizza sauce — store-bought marinara with tomato chunks is the closest match.
- Ranch dressing — creamy and great for dipping.
- Extra garlic butter — make a double batch of the garlic butter and serve it warm on the side for dipping.
- Caesar salad — because obviously.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat: air fryer at 375°F for 3–4 minutes is the best method — gets the bottom crispy again. Oven at 350°F for 8–10 minutes also works. Microwave makes it soft and sad — avoid it.
Copycat Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 1 can pizza dough
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 ½ tbsp minced garlic
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. If you're using store-bought dough, follow the package instructions. If you're feeling adventurous, try making your own pizza dough.
- Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Roll out the pizza dough approximately the size of your baking sheet. Poke holes in it all over with a fork and bake in preheated oven for 7 minutes.
- In a microwave, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and mix well.
- Spread evenly over the dough. Then add the parmesan cheese and top with grated mozzarella cheese. Finish with italian seasoning.
- Bake for another 8 minutes and broil for 2 minutes until you yield a golden brown crust.
- Serve with marinara sauce and enjoy!
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.
Other Appetizer Recipes You May Like To Try!
- Strawberry Balsamic Whipped Feta
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
- Easy Pepperoni Pizza Dip Recipe
- Low Carb Spinach Dip
- Easy Baked Brie With Apricot Jalapeño Jam
If you tried this copycat Little Caesars Italian cheese bread, I’d love to hear how it went! Leave a comment and star rating below — and tag me on Instagram @basicswithbails or save it for later on Pinterest using #basicswithbails.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
