Last week, I came across this post for cheesy bacon bread and just knew I had to recreate it. The bread looked really cool, with its accordion shape and generous bacon spread.
It’s actually really easy to make and is a nice party appetizer.
If I had an Oscar viewing party this past weekend, I totally would have made it then. Luckily, I didn’t have to host my own party. Our friends hosted a party and we got to watch the show on their giant TV and play Oscar bingo.
This was actually the first time I’ve played Oscar bingo, and I have to say, it makes watching the show so much more fun and forces you to pay attention. I never thought I could get so excited by “someone flubs a line” or “winner thanks their parents in the acceptance speech.”
For my hasselback bread, I decided to make a pesto and cheese version because I’ve been on a pesto kick lately. I sliced the bread, spread generous amount of pesto and put slices of cheese in between each slice. Then I briefly heated the bread in the oven and it was ready to eat.
This crusty, cheesy, pesto bread is the result.
You might like my pull-apart pizza bread, too!
Hasselback Pesto Cheese Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of French bread
- 1 cup of Pesto sauce
- approximately 16 slices of Monterey jack cheese or other cheese of choice like cheddar, provolone, etc
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a bread knife, make slices into the bread, about 1/2 inch thick. Make sure to stop the knife before you reach the bottom, so that you do not cut completely through. I stopped about 3/4 of the way down.
- Spread pesto on both sides of each bread slice. To have easier access to the slices, lift the bread up from its bottom and it should open like an accordion.
- Set the bread back down and place a slice of cheese in each slit.
- Place bread on baking sheet. Bake for approximately 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. Careful not to cook too long or your pesto will turn brown.
Notes
- Recipe adapted from The Cooking Jar
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
What a delicious idea to make a hasselback bread! This looks divine and I am just loving all that cheesy pesto filling.
the melty cheese and pesto is so good!
This may just be the coolest hasselback recipe I’ve seen.
thanks! I like this even better than hasselback potatoes. plus much less effort!
I love how easy this is! Can’t wait to make it for a future dinner party.
hope you enjoy! Just make sure you make it right before, otherwise the pesto will brown if it’s sitting out too long.