Description
Enjoy the classic taste of Pizza Hut-style cheese sticks made right at home with this easy and cheesy recipe! Featuring a golden, crispy crust topped with a blend of mozzarella and provolone cheeses, these cheesy sticks are brushed with a flavorful garlic herb butter for the perfect appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Dough
- Store-bought pizza dough (1 package, about 12-16 oz) or Homemade dough (2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp active dry yeast, 3/4 cup warm water, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt)
Cheese
- Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese, freshly grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
- White provolone cheese, freshly grated (optional, about 1/4 cup)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for sprinkling, about 2 tbsp)
Butter Herb Mixture
- Unsalted butter (4 tbsp, melted)
- Garlic powder (1/2 tsp)
- Onion powder (1/4 tsp)
- Dried oregano (1/2 tsp)
- Dried parsley (1/2 tsp)
- Salt (1/4 tsp or to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s hot enough to bake the dough to a golden crust.
- Prepare Dough: If using store-bought dough, let it come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough into a 10×14 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Transfer Dough: Carefully move the rolled dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Add Cheese: Evenly sprinkle the grated mozzarella and optional provolone over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges for a crust.
- Score Dough: Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to lightly score the dough into 1-inch wide sticks, creating the shape for the cheese sticks.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: While baking, melt the unsalted butter in a small bowl and stir in garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried parsley, and salt until fully combined.
- Brush Butter: Remove the cheese sticks from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Brush the entire surface generously with the prepared garlic herb butter for extra flavor.
- Cut and Serve: Cut fully through the scored lines to separate the sticks. Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy warm!
Notes
- Allowing store-bought dough to come to room temperature makes it easier to roll out and shape.
- Feel free to substitute or add cheeses according to preference, such as adding a bit of sharp cheddar for extra flavor.
- Scoring the dough before baking prevents the cheese sticks from sticking together and makes them easy to separate after baking.
- Brush the garlic butter immediately after baking so it soaks into the warm cheese sticks for best flavor.
- These cheese sticks are best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in the oven to regain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Pizza Hut cheese sticks, homemade cheese sticks, cheesy appetizer, garlic butter cheese sticks, easy snack
