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Garlic Cheese Balls with Gooey Mozzarella

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Garlic cheese balls are a delicious recipe with tons of gooey mozzarella cheese and garlic flavor! Use refrigerator biscuits as a base for this fun snack which can be cooked in an air fryer or oven.

Biscuit dough is wrapped around cheese and coated with garlic butter in this simple recipe. The result is bite-size cheesy biscuit balls that are golden brown and full of melted cheese. These cheesy bombs are a fantastic party appetizer or game-day snack!

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Looking for more appetizers? Try Sausage Cheese Dip or Air Fryer Potato Skins.

cheesy garlic bombs on a wooden cutting board

🧄Key Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Biscuits – I used Pillsbury Grands biscuits with flaky layers since they are the easiest to pull apart. Any refrigerator biscuit should work, though.

Cheese – Shredded mozzarella or mozzarella string cheese sticks are the gooey cheese inside. Substitute cheddar if you prefer.

Garlic – The garlic taste on top comes from both minced garlic and garlic powder.

Butter and Italian seasoning – These round out the garlic butter sauce, which coats the rolls. Add a pinch of salt if you use unsalted butter.

ingredients for garlic cheese balls

🥣How to Make Garlic Cheese Bombs

1. Stuff the Biscuits

Split the biscuits in half and stretch the dough out slightly. Then grab about 2 teaspoons of shredded cheese and put it in the middle. Or, if using string cheese, cut a 1/2 inch long piece of cheese.

Wrap the piece of dough over the cheese and pinch it together, so it makes a rough ball with the cheese inside. Set it aside and stuff the rest of the dough.

mozzarella in biscuit dough
Add the cheese
wrapped up cheese
Pinch the dough together

2a. Air Fryer Garlic Cheese Bombs

To cook in the air fryer, place the cheese balls in the basket, leaving a little space between them so the air can circulate. Air fry at 360 degrees F for 6 minutes.

While the garlic bombs cook, melt the butter and mince a garlic clove. Then mix the butter with garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.

cheese balls before air frying
Garlic cheese balls before air frying
brushing the dough with butter
Brushing on the butter

Pull the basket out and brush bombs with melted garlic butter mixture. Put it back in the air fryer and cook the biscuit balls for another 2 minutes at 360 F. The balls will be golden brown when done.

2b. Bake in Oven

You can cook these in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet. Spray the dish with cooking spray or cover the cookie sheet with parchment paper. Arrange all the garlic cheese balls on your baking dish.

Melt the butter and mince a garlic clove. Then mix the butter with garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Brush the balls with butter before baking. Don’t use all the butter mixture. Save some for after they are baked.

brushing the dough with butter
Brushing the cheese bombs with butter
cheese balls in baking dish
Cheese bombs after baking

Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. They are done when the bottoms are brown on the bottom and have light brown edges. Brush some more garlic butter sauce over the top if desired.

🍴Serving Ideas

These awesome cheese bombs make a great dinner side dish or an appetizer for parties. I love to serve these with spaghetti and meatballs or Linguine Bolognese since the melty mozzarella cheese goes perfectly with pasta.

As an appetizer, add some marinara sauce or pizza sauce for dipping. These garlic bombs are great as part of a game day appetizer spread combined with appetizers like Cheetos cheese bites or air fryer pasta chips.

closeup of garlic cheese ball with mozzarella cheese

⭐Tips for Making the Best Garlic Cheese Balls

Be sure to check out the step by step instructions

  • Wrap the dough tightly around the cheese, so it doesn’t leak out.
  • Air-fried garlic cheese balls will be more golden brown than oven-baked ones.
  • Flaky biscuits are the easiest to break apart.

Did You Make This? Leave a Star Rating!

cheese balls after baking
4.67 from 6 votes

Garlic Cheese Balls Recipe

Published By Anne
Use refrigerator biscuits to make these garlic cheese balls. Filled with gooey mozzarella cheese. Make in an air fryer or oven.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time13 minutes
Servings: 10
Print Save Rate Pin

Ingredients
 

  • 1 can Grands Biscuits 5 biscuit size
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or mozzarella cheese sticks

Garlic herb butter ingredients

  • 1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • pinch salt optional

Instructions

  • Split the biscuits in half.
  • Lightly stretch them just a little.
  • Add a handful (1-2 teaspoons) mozzarella cheese or 1/2 inch pieces of mozzarella cheese stick.
  • Tuck and fold the biscuit dough and roll in your hands to ensure the cheese doesn’t leak out as it cooks.

Air Fryer Instructions

  • Place the cheese balls in the air fryer basket.
  • Air fry 360 degrees F for 6 minutes.
  • While they cook, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
  • Take the basket out and brush the tops with the butter mixture.
  • Air Fry at 360 F for another 2 minutes until the balls are golden brown.
  • Brush them with more garlic butter sauce before serving.

Oven Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Spray a baking pan or baking sheet with cooking spray or butter the pan.
  • Place biscuit balls in the pan.
  • Mix the melted butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
  • Brush balls with the butter mixture.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes until the balls are light brown.
  • Brush them with more garlic butter sauce before serving.

Notes

  • Flaky layer biscuits are the easiest to pull apart.
  • These instructions are based on 5-can Grands biscuits. Adjust based on the number of biscuits in your can.
  • Wrap the dough tightly around the cheese, so it doesn’t leak out.
  • Air-fried garlic cheese balls will be more golden brown than oven-baked ones.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 134IU | Vitamin C: 0.004mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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air fryer garlic cheese balls on a cutting board
anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

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