Easy Pizza Hut Cheesy Breadsticks Copycat Recipe at Home

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Copycat Pizza Hut Cheesy Breadsticks (Easy At-Home Recipe)

If you’ve ever ordered Pizza Hut cheesy breadsticks and wished you could make them at home, you’re in the right place. These soft, buttery, cheesy breadsticks are perfect for pizza night, game day, or a lazy weekend snack. In this copycat recipe, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make them in a regular home kitchen—no special equipment needed.

About Pizza Hut & Their Iconic Cheesy Breadsticks

Pizza Hut has been a go-to spot in the USA for decades. Many of us grew up with those red roofs, big booths, and the smell of hot pizza and garlic hitting you the second you walked in the door. One of the most crave-worthy sides on the menu? Cheesy breadsticks. They’re:
  • Soft inside with that pillowy, pull-apart texture
  • Golden and slightly crispy on the bottom
  • Loaded with melty cheese that stretches when you pull them apart
  • Coated in garlic, herbs, and buttery flavor
This recipe is inspired by that experience: the warm pan, the smell of garlic butter, and that first cheesy bite dipped into marinara. Note: “Pizza Hut” and its menu items are trademarks of their respective owners. This recipe is just my homemade version based on taste and appearance—it’s not the official restaurant recipe.

Copycat Pizza Hut Cheesy Breadsticks Recipe

Copycat Pizza Hut cheesy breadsticks with melted mozzarella, garlic butter, and herbs baked in a pan
Soft, cheesy copycat Pizza Hut breadsticks baked until golden and brushed with buttery garlic, perfect for dipping

Yield: About 12 breadsticks
Serving Size: 1 breadstick
Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 45–60 minutes rising time)
Cook Time: 15–18 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the dough: For the garlic butter topping: For the cheese:
  • 1 ½ cups shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For serving:
  • Warm marinara or pizza sauce for dipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Activate the yeast

  • In a medium bowl, add the warm water, yeast, and sugar.
  • Stir gently and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes, until it looks foamy and bubbly on top.
If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be old or the water was too hot or too cold. Try again with fresh yeast.

2. Make the dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour and salt.
  • Pour in the yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  • Mix with a spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5–7 minutes, until smooth and slightly elastic. (You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook.)
If the dough feels very sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. It should be soft but not gluey.

3. Let the dough rise

  • Lightly oil a clean bowl and place the dough inside, turning it once to coat.
  • Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
  • Let it rise in a warm spot for 45–60 minutes, or until about doubled in size.
A slightly warm (but turned-off) oven, or the microwave with just a cup of warm water inside, can help create a cozy rising environment.

4. Prepare the pan and oven

This helps mimic that pizza parlor pan pizza feel with a lightly crisp bottom.

5. Shape the breadstick base

  • Punch down the risen dough to release extra air.
  • Transfer it to your prepared pan.
  • Use your hands to gently press and stretch the dough into an even rectangle that fills most of the pan.
  • Try to keep the thickness fairly even so it bakes uniformly.
If the dough springs back a lot, let it rest 5 minutes and try again.

6. Make the garlic butter topping

  • In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
  • Brush or spoon this mixture all over the top of the dough.
Save a tablespoon or so if you want to brush more on after baking.

7. Add the cheese

  • Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the dough, going almost all the way to the edges.
  • Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top for extra flavor and browning.

8. Bake the cheesy breadsticks

  • Place the pan in the preheated oven.
  • Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until:
    • The cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
    • The edges are golden brown.
    • The bottom is lightly crisp (you can lift a corner with a spatula to check).
Food safety note: While this is a bread product and not raw meat, always be sure the dough is fully baked in the center—no raw, gummy spots.

9. Slice into breadsticks

  • Let the bread cool for about 5 minutes so the cheese sets slightly.
  • Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut into strips, then cut once across to create shorter breadsticks.
If you saved some garlic butter, brush it over the hot breadsticks now for extra shine and flavor.

10. Serve and enjoy

  • Serve warm with marinara or pizza sauce for dipping.
  • Best eaten fresh from the oven, when the cheese is still stretchy and gooey.

Approximate Nutrition Info (Per Breadstick)

These numbers are estimates and will vary based on exact ingredients and portion sizes.
  • Calories: ~170
  • Carbohydrates: ~19g
  • Protein: ~7g
  • Fat: ~7g
  • Saturated Fat: ~3.5g
  • Sodium: ~260mg
  • Fiber: ~1g
  • Sugar: ~1g

Super-Simple Shortcut Version (Busy Night Option)

Need that Pizza Hut–style cheesy breadstick fix but don’t want to deal with yeast? Try this shortcut.

Using store-bought pizza dough

  • Buy 1 pound of refrigerated pizza dough from the grocery store.
  • Let it sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes so it’s easier to stretch.
  • Grease a 9x13 pan and press the dough into it.
  • Skip to the garlic butter topping and cheese steps above.
  • Bake at 425°F for 12–16 minutes, watching for golden edges and bubbly cheese.

Air fryer cheesy breadsticks (small batch)

If you have a large air fryer, you can make a mini version:
  • Use about ⅓–½ of the dough recipe (or store-bought dough).
  • Shape into a rectangle that fits your air fryer basket, preferably on parchment paper.
  • Top with garlic butter and cheese.
  • Air fry at 375°F for about 7–10 minutes, or until golden and fully cooked through.
Always check your air fryer manual and keep an eye on it the first time; different models cook differently.

Allergy-Friendly & Special Diet Swaps

Everyone should be able to enjoy cheesy breadsticks, or at least a close version. Here are some ideas:

Gluten-Free Version

  • Use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour made for yeast baking, or use your favorite gluten-free pizza dough mix.
  • Follow the same method, but know the texture may be slightly different—often a bit more tender and delicate.

Dairy-Free Version

  • Use dairy-free butter (like a plant-based margarine) instead of regular butter.
  • Swap in vegan mozzarella shreds and a dairy-free Parmesan-style topping.
  • Check ingredient labels to avoid hidden dairy in cheese substitutes.

Vegan Version

This recipe is easy to make fully vegan:
  • Dough is already egg-free; just confirm your sugar is vegan-friendly if that’s important to you.
  • Use olive oil + vegan butter for the topping.
  • Use vegan mozzarella and Parmesan-style cheeses.

Lower-Carb / Paleo-Inspired Option

These won’t taste exactly like the original, but they scratch the “cheesy bread” itch:
  • Use a cauliflower crust or almond-flour-based “fathead” dough recipe pressed into the pan.
  • Top with the same garlic butter and cheese.
  • Bake until set and golden around the edges.
Always adjust for your personal dietary needs and talk to your healthcare provider or dietitian if you’re unsure what works for you.

Make It Your Own: Easy Flavor Twists

Once you’ve nailed the basic copycat Pizza Hut cheesy breadsticks, it’s fun to play a little:
  • Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes on top before baking.
  • Herb Lover’s: Sprinkle extra dried basil, oregano, or fresh chopped parsley after baking.
  • Three-Cheese: Mix mozzarella, provolone, and a little sharp cheddar.
  • Garlic Lover’s: Double the garlic and finish with a sprinkle of garlic salt.
Which variation sounds best to you?

How to Store & Reheat Leftover Cheesy Breadsticks

If you actually have leftovers (impressive self-control!), here’s how to keep them tasty:
  • Cool completely before storing.
  • Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating options:
  • Oven: 350°F for 5–8 minutes, directly on a baking sheet.
  • Air fryer: 320–350°F for 3–5 minutes.
  • Microwave: 15–30 seconds (soft but not crisp).
For the best texture, the oven or air fryer method wins every time.

Let’s Talk Cheesy Breadsticks!

Have you tried making copycat Pizza Hut cheesy breadsticks at home before? Do you like yours extra garlicky, or more on the cheesy side? I’d love to hear:
  • What variations you try
  • Which shortcuts you use on busy nights
  • How your family or friends react when you bring these to the table
Please leave a comment below with your tips, questions, or tweaks. And if you make this recipe, snap a picture and share it—then send your crew the link so they can make their own batch too. If you found this copycat recipe helpful, share it on Pinterest, Facebook, or with your favorite group chat so more people can enjoy cheesy breadsticks without leaving home.

Disclaimers

  • This is a homemade copycat recipe inspired by Pizza Hut cheesy breadsticks. It is not the official recipe, and I have no inside knowledge of the restaurant’s proprietary methods or ingredients. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
  • Nutrition information is approximate and for informational purposes only.
  • Simply Copycat Recipes is an Amazon affiliate. That means we may earn a small commission if you purchase products through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend items we genuinely believe are helpful for home cooks.
Location: Georgetown, IN, USA

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