Homemade Cheesy Garlic Knots

There’s something irresistible about a basket of warm garlic knots fresh from the oven. Soft, fluffy, and brushed with a rich garlic-olive oil topping, these homemade knots are the perfect side for pasta night, soups, salads, or simply dipped into marinara sauce. The dough is simple to make, and the optional melted mozzarella takes them to another level of cheesy comfort food.

This recipe brings back so many memories from my childhood. My mom made these garlic knots whenever family or friends came over, and they were always one of the first things to disappear from the table. During the holidays, she would make batch after batch as an appetizer while everyone gathered in the kitchen talking, laughing, and waiting for dinner. We almost always doubled the recipe because one batch was never enough. As they baked, the entire house filled with the aroma of garlic, olive oil, and fresh bread, making it smell like a cozy Italian kitchen tucked away somewhere in Italy.

One of my favorite memories was watching everyone crowd around the marinara sauce as soon as the knots came out of the oven. If you’ve never dunked one of these warm, cheesy knots into marinara sauce, you’re gonna punch yourself!! The combination of the soft bread, garlic topping, and rich tomato sauce is absolutely incredible.

My mom also had a special trick that made these even better. When tying each knot, she would tuck a small cube of mozzarella cheese right into the center. The key is making sure the cheese is completely covered by the dough so it stays tucked inside while baking and doesn’t burst out. When you bite into one and discover that gooey melted cheese hidden in the middle, it’s the best surprise ever.