Smoked Cheesy Bacon Bread

Smoked Cheesy Bacon Bread is a warm pull apart appetizer that combines bacon, peppers, smoked gouda, and chives. Use our homemade French bread recipe for a truly decadent treat that is perfect for a shareable side at your next event.

Pull apart breads are popular on the party scene, and provide a tasty option that can be made with a variety of filling. These breads are made from a round loaf that is baked with specific scoring that allows it to be opened and stuffed, resulting in individual servings that can be ‘pulled apart’ and enjoyed.

This smoked cheese bread recipe is easy to make, and very customizable to fit your preferences. We are sharing ideas and substitutions, as well as our tips and tricks for how to make the best pull apart cheesy bread.

What is cheesy pull apart bread made of?

Cheesy pull apart breads are made with savory ingredients that include various types of cheeses, bacon, ham, pepperoni, or other cold cuts of meat. Garlic, chives, and other aromatic seasonings are used to bring rich flavor and create a sort of sauce that adds moisture and a creamy element.

Pull apart breads can be made with many different breads including sourdough and pre-made biscuits or croissant dough; but the traditional method would be with a round loaf of bread that has a dense crumb and mild flavor.

How do you heat up pull apart bread?

Pull apart breads are loaded with the fillings, wrapped in foil and heated either in the oven or on a grill. Wood pellet grills are especially popular when preparing foil wrapped meals like pull apart breads, and these stuffed breads are often found on the bbq scene.

Another popular option that we have is our mozzarella bruschetta cheesy bread. The flavors are a bit different, but the style is exactly the same. 

Smoked Cheesy Bacon Bread Recipe

This smoked cheesy bacon bread can be made with your favorite variety of bread, or you can bake a fresh loaf of either sourdough or simple French bread. The fillings that we use are delicious, and a popular combination for this style of pull apart breads, but feel free to change them up if you desire.

The Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• Cut the boule in long slices about an inch apart, being careful not to slice through the bottom of the loaf
• Now cut across the first cuts, creating a crisscross cutting pattern in the bread
• Slice the cheeses into 1/4 inch thick by 1 inch or so pieces and stuff them into the bread slices
• Add cooked, sliced bacon and peppers
• When all the bread cuts are stuffed with the ingredients, wrap the loaf in tinfoil, place on a baking sheet and place in the center of your oven, baking until all the cheese is melted; about 20 minutes

To support the bread in the oven, we chose to put it in a pie plate. All that cheese is heavy and the bread will hold its round shape better if the sides have some support. A flat baking sheet will work too, but the bread might spread open a bit.

What goes into a pull apart bread?

Pull apart breads can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients, seasonings, and cheeses. Here are some more ideas that you can try when making this stuffed pull apart bread.

• Keep it simple and make a cheddar garlic pull apart bread
• Incorporate different aromatics like rosemary, thyme, cilantro, or paprika
• Made it sweet by preparing a buttery cinnamon and sugar pull apart loaf
• Use dry ranch seasonings to compliment the bacon and cheese
• Make it a pull apart pizza bread by filling with mozzarella and chopped pepperoni, with a side of marina for dipping
• Add some heat by using peppers like jalapeno or red pepper flakes
• Make a garlic herb ‘everything but the bagel seasoning’ bread with cream cheese
• Another savory favorite would be pesto and salami

Are pull apart breads the same things as monkey bread?

Yes, simply put these two names are interchangeable and used to describe any bread that is prepared with the intention of pulling individual pieces off to eat. The name monkey bread came about because of the picking method that is used, which is very similar to how monkeys groom each other.

Whether you refer to it as monkey bread, or simply a pull apart bread, folks will know what you mean; and they will enjoy it regardless.

How do you know when a pull apart bread is done?

The best way to know if your pull apart bread is done and ready to eat, is with a thermometer. You want the ingredients heated through, and the cheesy fully melted before you pull it out of the oven or off of the grill.

Insert a thermometer into the center of the loaf, if it reads roughly 190 degrees F it is ready to enjoy. Some pull apart breads will take longer, and some not as long. This will depend mostly on the ingredients that you use, so be careful to check it before you remove and unpack your smoked cheesy bacon bread.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

325 CALORIES/serving

Fat:         21 g

Carbs:     18 g

Protein: 16 g

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