Description
These easy cheesy breadsticks are made from simple homemade or store-bought pizza dough, layered with melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and generous mozzarella cheese. Baked to golden perfection in just 15 minutes, they make an irresistible side dish or snack. You can freeze the dough or leftover breadsticks for convenience, making this recipe both delicious and practical.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 lb store-bought or homemade pizza dough
Topping
- 2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend or dried basil
- 1 and 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional
- Sprinkle of cornmeal for dusting the pan
- Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Punch down the risen pizza dough to release air bubbles and divide it in half. Use one half to make these breadsticks and save the other half for another use or freeze it according to your dough recipe.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 425°F (218°C) to heat up while you prepare the breadsticks.
- Shape the dough: On a lightly floured surface or parchment paper/silicone mat dusted with cornmeal, roll out the dough into a 9×13-inch rectangle. It’s okay if it’s not perfectly rectangular as the dough tends to want to be round.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix melted butter with garlic powder (or minced garlic) and Italian seasoning. Brush this mixture evenly over the rolled-out dough.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the buttered dough.
- Bake: Place the dough on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges turn golden brown. For extra browning, switch your oven to broil mode for the last minute if desired.
- Slice and serve: Cut the baked dough into 16 small breadsticks. Serve warm plain or with marinara or pizza sauce for dipping.
- Store leftovers: Keep leftover breadsticks in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to three months. Reheat before serving as preferred.
Notes
- Dough can be homemade or store-bought; freezing instructions for dough depend on your dough recipe.
- Optional cornmeal dusting prevents sticking and adds texture but can be skipped.
- Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder for a stronger garlic flavor.
- Broiling at the end adds a nice golden-brown top but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Leftover breadsticks freeze well and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
