Name: Easy Parmesan Cheese Bread
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 baguette; 12 tbsp salted butter (softened); 1 cup grated parmesan cheese; ½ tbsp diced chives; Cracked black pepper

This parmesan cheese bread is a quick and easy way to turn a simple baguette into a savory, cheesy snack. With butter, grated parmesan, fresh chives, and a sprinkle of black pepper, this recipe is ready in minutes. This bread is crusty, cheesy, and oniony and a great appetizer or side dish for pastas, soups, or salads.

Sheet tray full of a quartered baguette cooked toasted with parmesan cheese, pepper, and chives.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Parmesan Cheese Bread

Quick and easy. This recipe is easy to make and comes together in under 15 minutes, including prep time.
Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor. It has only 5 ingredients, but this parmesan cheese bread tastes super savory and satisfying.
Crispy, cheesy, buttery goodness. Who doesn’t love cheese bread? The parmesan toasts up a nicely and blends with the butter to create a crispy, cheesy layer on top of the baguette.
A simple, staple side. Everyone needs a super simple side dish recipe, and this parmesan cheese bread fits the bill. It’s also sure to impress your dinner guests, so it’s a great recipe to keep in your back pocket.

Ingredients in Easy Parmesan Cheese Bread

Baguette – a classic baguette acts as the vehicle for the cheesy goodness.
Salted butter – the salt in salted butter gives this bread extra flavor. We like using European butter here for extra richness, but any salted butter will do.
Parmesan cheese – you can use store bought, pre-grated parm or grate it yourself on the small side of your box grater.
Chives – diced fresh chives add a subtle oniony flavor to the parmesan cheese bread.
Cracked black pepper – freshly cracked pepper gives this snack cacio e pepe vibes.

Close up of plate full of Parmesan Cheese Bread cut into pieces, ready to serve.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup later.
Slice the baguette in half lengthwise, then slice each of those in half widthwise, creating 4 separate baguette pieces.
On each baguette piece, spread 3 tablespoons of softened butter.
Sprinkle ¼ cup of grated parmesan onto each buttered piece of bread.
Top the cheese with a few turns of cracked black pepper and a sprinkle of chives.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and toasty.
Cut each baguette piece into 4 smaller pieces and serve warm.

Tips & Variations

Use a fresh baguette for best results and crispiness.
Don’t like or can’t find a traditional baguette? Use ciabatta! You just may need to use more butter and cheese as they are sometimes bigger.
Sprinkle on some garlic powder on top of the butter for garlic bread vibes.
Substitute fresh thyme or another herb for the chives.
Use a different cheese, if you don’t like parmesan. Just don’t skip the cheese altogether or it’ll just be chive bread and not cheesy bread, you know?

Hand holding a piece of parmesan cheese bread with a plate full of more cut up bread blurred in the background.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

Whip up this parmesan cheese bread and serve it alongside your favorite soups, like our Chicken Noodle Soup or our Lasagna Soup. It would also be a great appetizer or side next to a main dish salad, like Fall Salad with Apples and Bacon or our Blue Cheese, Walnut, and Pear Salad. You could also make this bread and serve it as part of a charcuterie board (it would be amazing topped with prosciutto) or as an extra carb accompaniment to your favorite pasta dish.

Store any leftover bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the toaster oven or bake in the regular oven at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes. If it’s getting too dark, you can wrap the bread in foil.