These Italian Dunkers are slices of soft French bread brushed with a seasoned garlic butter, topped with shredded Manchego cheese and toasted until golden.
Dip them in warm marinara sauce and you've got the ultimate combo of cheesy garlic bread and pizza vibes.
I grew up eating Italian Dunkers in the school cafeteria and I can still remember how excited I was on those lunch days. This version is a little upgraded, with flavorful garlic butter and a sharper cheese, but still has that nostalgic feel of those elementary school days.
One of my favorite things about this is that it's perfect for those nights when you need to make a quick dinner. You only need a few ingredients and about 15 minutes. It works as a fun family dinner (kids love having their own little bowls of sauce to dip into), but it also doubles as a crowd-pleasing appetizer for game day.
Whether you serve them alongside a big salad for dinner or cut them into smaller pieces for a shareable appetizer, these cheesy dunkers are always a win.
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Why You Will Love This
- It's easy. You don't need any fancy cooking skills to get this meal on the table.
- It's quick. It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to cook.
- The cheese! Shredded Manchego melts beautifully, and letting it brown just slightly on top creates even better flavor.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need, along with a few notes about key ingredients:
- French bread: Slice a loaf into thick pieces that will hold up to the toppings. After spreading the butter mixture, you can cut the loaf into smaller sections so they're easy to pull apart or perfect for serving appetizer-style. You could also try using ciabatta or Italian bread loaves. Really, any kind of bread is going to work great here. Even leftover hot dog or hamburger buns are a great option!
- Butter: Softened butter mixes easily with the garlic powder and Italian seasoning, making it simple to spread evenly on the bread. Whether or not you use salted or unsalted butter is a personal preference here.
- Garlic powder: Feel free to swap for garlic salt if you don't mind the extra saltiness.
- Manchego cheese: Swap Manchego for mozzarella cheese, provolone, fontina or a blend of Italian cheeses for a more classic pizza flavor. Ask the deli for a chunk of Manchego and shred it at home for the best melt.
- Marinara sauce: Store bought from a jar or homemade will work equally great for this. Alternatively, ranch dressing would be good too!
Scroll to the recipe card below for all ingredient amounts and details.
Recipe Variations
- Use sliced cheese. Ask the deli to slice cheese on a medium thickness, cut your bread to the size of your slices and prepare the recipe as written.
- Spice it up! Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes or use a spicy marinara for dipping.
- Add some herbs. Sprinkle fresh basil, oregano or parsley over the cheese before toasting. You can also sprinkle some on as a garnish to add some color.
This school lunch favorite have not been tested with these variations. If you give any of these a try, please let me know how it worked out in the comments below!
Equipment Needed
- Sheet pan: You will need a sheet pan that is large enough to fit your slices of bread.
- Parchment paper: I really like to use the pre-cut parchment paper for a quick way to line my baking sheets.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
In a small saucepan, add a jar of marinara sauce and warm over low heat while you prepare and bake the bread.
Slice the bread in half lengthwise and place on the prepared baking sheet cut sides up.
In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
Step 2:
Spread the butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of the bread.
💡Tip: Using a serrated knife, cut the bread into desired size pieces now so they'll be easy to pull apart or serve appetizer-style once baked.
Step 3:
Sprinkle shredded Manchego cheese generously over bread.
Step 4:
Bake for about 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Switch the oven to broil and broil for about 4 minutes more, or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown.
Step 5:
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired and serve with personal bowls or a small dish of warm marinara for dipping.
Expert Tips
- Mix the butter well. Softened butter blends easily with garlic powder and Italian seasoning for even flavor in every bite.
- Cut before baking. Pre-cutting makes it easy to pull apart and dip without the mess, especially when serving as an appetizer.
- Add a garnish. A sprinkle of fresh parsley gives these cheesy dunkers a nice pop of color.
- Serve immediately. These are best hot from the oven when the cheese is gooey and the bread is crisp.
- Customize the dip. Marinara is classic, but try Alfredo, pizza sauce or a spicy arrabbiata for variety.
- Kid-friendly hack. Smaller strips are perfect for little hands to grab and dunk.
FAQ
To make this gluten free, use these gluten free ciabatta rolls.
Sure. You could try dipping these in warm pizza sauce, ranch or just eat the cheesy bread without the dipping sauce.
Yes. Cook them at 400° for about 4-5 minutes. They cook pretty quickly, so keep your eye on them and remove when the cheese is melted and starting to brown on the top.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftover Italian Dunkers in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: For longer storage, wrap cooled dunkers tightly in foil, place in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Reheat in the microwave for 30-40 seconds, or for a crispier texture, warm in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes.
More Recipes To Try
Looking for other recipes to make? Try these:
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Recipe
Italian Dunkers
Ingredients
- 15.5 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1 French bread loaf
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ pound Manchego cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a small saucepan, heat the marinara sauce over low heat while you prepare the bread.15.5 ounce jar marinara sauce
- Cut the bread in half lengthwise and place on a large baking sheet cut side up.1 French bread loaf
- Combine the softened butter and garlic powder. Spread the mixture on the cut side of the bread slices. If desired, cut the bread into serving sizes now so they can be easily pulled apart after baking. Top with the cheese.½ cup butter, softened, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ pound Manchego cheese, shredded
- Bake in 375°F oven for about 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Switch oven to broil. Broil for about 4-5 more minutes or until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. Remove from oven and serve with warm marinara sauce.
Nutrition Information
Please note that these nutrition facts are approximations and may not be entirely precise.
Jean Davis says
Always a favorite.