Warm, aromatic mayo garlic bread is so good and so easy to make in just 20 minutes! French bread is slathered with mayonnaise, garlic, and cheese, then baked until soft and golden brown. A great side dish or appetizer!

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Can you make garlic bread with mayonnaise?
Yes! Although mayonnaise isn’t an ingredient you’d typically find in most garlic bread recipes, you can make incredibly delicious garlic bread with mayo! I know it sounds weird, but trust me on this.
Mayonnaise creates a creamy, rich garlic spread that makes every bite irresistible. It ensures that the center of the bread is soft and tender, while the crust bakes up golden-brown and slightly crispy.
Mayo garlic bread makes a great appetizer and side for your favorite pasta dish. Or use it to scrape up the sauce from a bowl of warm soup.
I’m also the first to confess that I’ve “accidentally” munched a whole loaf of garlic bread in place of an actual meal. You have to treat yourself every now and then, amirite?
In a hurry? CLICK HERE to go to the recipe card right away or tap the Jump-To-Recipe button at the very top of this page.

Reasons to love mayonnaise garlic bread
- Seriously simple: It couldn’t get any easier than this mayo cheese bread recipe. Especially when you’re in a hurry and need a quick snack or appetizer.
- Easy ingredients: Most ingredients are probably already waiting in your pantry and fridge. And the great thing is that you can use any bread you desire.
- Crowd pleaser: Cheesy garlic bread with mayo is such a crowd pleaser and perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients
Whether you eat it as an appetizer or side, you’ll love mayo garlic bread because it’s packed full of garlicky, cheesy goodness. Let’s find out what goes into it! Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Mayonnaise: Make homemade mayonnaise or grab your favorite store brand. Kraft, Duke’s, Trader Joe’s, and Hellman’s are best, according to an article from Serious Eats.
- Garlic: I love freshly minced garlic for this homemade garlic cheese bread, but if you want to keep it simple, just add some garlic powder.
- Butter: Both salted and unsalted butter will work. Keep in mind that some cheeses are pretty salty too. The butter needs to be softened at room temperature to mix smoothly into the garlic bread spread with mayo.
- Cheese: I used a combination of freshly grated Gruyere and parmesan cheese, but use whatever you like and have. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and asiago cheese are all good options.
- Bread: I love to use French bread because it has a soft texture with a crispy crust. Italian bread, baguette, ciabatta, or a nice crusty bread are also great.
- Scallions (optional) accentuate the garlic flavor. I like adding some to the topping as well as for garnish.

How to make mayo garlic bread
The thing I love most about garlic bread with mayonnaise is how easy it is to put together, and then you just have to roast in the oven until crisp and golden.
Step 1: Prep for baking
Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C / gas mark 6 and line a baking sheet (tray) with parchment (baking) paper. Set aside.

Step 2: Cut bread
Take your loaf of bread and split it into halves lengthwise. Alternately, cut the bread into slices if preferred.

Step 3: Make garlic mayo spread
To a medium mixing bowl, add the softened butter, minced garlic, scallions, shredded Gruyere, and parmesan cheese. Mix will a spoon or spatula until well combined. The butter needs to be well softened for this to mix easily.

Step 4: Assemble
Place the bread halves on the prepared baking sheet (tray). Spread the garlic mayo mixture generously over the bread.

Step 5: Bake
Bake the may garlic bread for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the bread turns golden brown on the edges.
Step 6: Broil
If you’d like the bread more golden brown, broil it for 2 minutes.
Step 7: Serve
Let the bread cool down for a few minutes, then slice and serve. Optionally garnish with scallion rounds.

Tips & tricks
- Use fresh ingredients: Freshly baked bread and fresh garlic are best for this mayo cheese garlic bread. Old, brown garlic can taste bitter or sour – not something you want in homemade garlic bread!
- Soften the butter: Room temperature butter will incorporate more easily with the mayonnaise and cheese and give the spread a smoother texture.
- Don’t skimp on the butter: 1/2 cup may seem much, but you want enough butter to melt into every nook and cranny of the bread, making it tender and buttery.
- Keep a close eye on the oven: Every oven bakes differently, and garlic bread with mayo and butter burns quickly.
- Allow the bread to cool down for a few minutes before serving. This gives everything a chance to settle and makes slicing so much easier.

Variations & substitutions
Feel free to play around with the herbs, spices, and types of garlic, and customize this creamy cheesy garlic bread to your liking. You really can’t go wrong with the following ideas!
- Sliced bread: Only have sliced bread? Not a problem! Slathered it up with the mayonnaise garlic spread, and in the oven it goes.
- More garlic: If you prefer a strong garlic aroma, use 3 to 4 cloves.
- Garlic powder: Feel free to substitute 1 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder for fresh garlic cloves.
- Roasted garlic: Another idea is to add roasted garlic instead of raw for a more complex garlic flavor.
- Herbs: Instead of scallions (green onion), season the garlic mayo spread with 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning or 1 tablespoon of each fresh chopped parsley, basil, and oregano.
- Chili Flakes: For a kick of heat, sprinkle your mayo garlic bread with red pepper flakes or chili flakes before serving.

Serving ideas
Mayo garlic bread can really be served with anything! Feel free to hand it on its own as an appetizer next to a side of marinara sauce for dipping. We also love it as a side for pasta or use it as a vessel to scoop soup and dips. Here are some of my favorite dishes:
- Creamy Alfredo Pasta
- Simple Mac and Cheese
- Meatballs with Alfredo Sauce
- Evaporated Milk Mac and Cheese
- Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Ham and Pea Pasta
- Tortellini Soup
- Curried Zucchini Soup
- Tomato Soup

Mayo Garlic Bread Recipe
Warm, aromatic mayo garlic bread is so good and so easy to make in just 20 minutes! French bread is slathered with mayonnaise, garlic, and cheese, then baked until soft and golden brown. A great side dish or appetizer!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread
- 1 stick / 1/2 cup / 115 g / 4 oz salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup / 225 g / 8 oz mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (or more to taste)
- 1 cup / 100 g / 3.5 oz shredded Gruyere (can sub for sharp cheddar or Lack cheese)
- 1 cup / 115 g / 4 oz shredded parmesan (can sub for Asiago)
- 1/2 cup / 60 g / 2 oz sliced scallion (green onion), plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Prep for baking. Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C / gas mark 6 and line a baking sheet (tray) with parchment (baking) paper. Set aside.
- Cut bread. Take your loaf of bread and split it into halves lengthwise. Alternately, cut the bread into slices if preferred.
- Make garlic mayo spread. To a medium mixing bowl, add the softened butter, minced garlic, scallions, shredded Gruyere, and parmesan cheese. Mix will a spoon or spatula until well combined. The butter needs to be well softened for this to mix easily.
- Assemble. Place the bread halves on the prepared baking sheet (tray). Spread the garlic mayo mixture generously over the bread.
- Bake. Bake the may garlic bread for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the bread turns golden brown on the edges.
- Broil. If you’d like the bread more golden brown, broil it for 2 minutes.
- Serve. Let the bread cool down for a few minutes, then slice and serve. Optionally garnish with scallion rounds.
- Store. Keep leftover bread covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 374Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 609mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 10g
Storage instructions
How to store mayo garlic bread
Garlic bread with mayo tastes best right away. Still, leftovers will last at room temperature for a day or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let the bread come to room temperature first, then keep it in airtight containers or bags.
If you place the bread into containers/bags before cooling down, you will get condensation, which makes the bread soggy.
Reheating mayo garlic bread
- Microwave: Place the garlic bread in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds only. That’s all it takes to heat the bread through. If heated longer, it will become hard.
- Oven: Wrap cold garlic bread loosely in aluminum foil, then lay on a baking sheet (tray). If the bread is sliced, make sure to keep the pieces in a single layer. Bake in a 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 oven for 10 minutes or until warm.
Making mayo garlic bread ahead of time
It’s possible to make the cheese bread topping up to 2 days in advance and store it refrigerated until ready to use. You can also assemble the garlic bread 1 day ahead of time and keep it loosely covered with plastic wrap (cling film) in the fridge.
Can you freeze garlic bread with mayo?
Yes, mayo garlic bread is perfect to freeze and save for later. Here’s what you want to do:
- Prepare the garlic bread following the recipe instructions.
- Arrange the bread on a lined baking sheet (tray) and put it in the freezer to flash-freeze until solid, about 1 hour.
- Remove the frozen garlic bread from the baking sheet (tray). Wrap the loaf tightly with plastic wrap, then tin foil.
- Freeze for 3 to 4 months.
- When ready to eat, take off the foil and plastic wrap. Put it on a baking sheet and bake from frozen at 400°F / 200°C / gas mark 6 for about 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Broil for a few minutes if desired.

FAQ
Can I make this with Miracle Whip?
Yes, you can substitute miracle whip in this garlic bread recipe with mayonnaise. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture will be a bit different.
Miracle whip shares similar ingredients with mayo but also contains sugar or corn syrup and water. It was developed in the 1930s as a more affordable alternative to mayonnaise.
What is the best bread for garlic bread with mayonnaise?
I prefer to use French bread or Italian bread for this recipe. When baked, they have a slightly crispy, flaky crust and take on a buttery, soft center.
If you like a heartier, chewier texture, you can use baguette or sourdough bread instead. Note that different types of bread will bake differently, so you may have to adjust the cooking time.

More delicious garlic bread recipes to try
If you are drooling over how delicious garlic bread tastes and want to try more, then don’t worry. You can start right here! I’ve gathered up a few more scrumptious garlic bread recipes that I think you’ll love!