What a sad world it would be without golden brown, buttery, crispy garlic bread. Our homemade garlic bread couldn’t be easier to make and is guaranteed to bring smiles to your dinner table.
There’s something magical about these garlicky slices, with crispy edges, soft and buttery on the inside, and loaded with garlic flavor.
The origin of Garlic bread can be traced back to the ancient Romans, who would rub garlic on toasted and grilled bread. It became immensely more popular in the mid-1900s as an accompaniment to Italian American dishes.
Our easy garlic bread recipe is the perfect accompaniment for your favorite pasta dish. Add a Caesar salad or tossed salad, and you’ve got a quick and easy dinner that your whole family will love!
Serve it with our Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and our authentic Spaghetti and Meatball recipes.
Ingredients to Make Garlic Bread
Gather the ingredients needed to make our easy garlic bread recipe. In culinary terms, this is called the Mise en Place, which translates into “Everything in its Place.”
Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also helps ensure you have all of the ingredients on hand to make the recipe.
Can I Change Up the Recipe?
Absolutely. We used chopped fresh garlic in the recipe, but you can replace it with garlic powder or roasted garlic. You can also use a combination of all three to make the recipe.
If you’d like to amp up the flavor, you can add onion powder, black pepper, or an Italian seasoning blend. For a bit of heat, add red pepper flakes or a touch of cayenne pepper.
We used parmesan cheese in the butter mixture, but you can leave it out and use plant-based butter and nutritional yeast to replace the parmesan cheese.
You can add fresh herbs to the mixture for additional flavor. Fresh chopped basil, fresh oregano, and fresh thyme will work nicely.
For an earthier flavor, replace half of the butter with olive oil. Refrigerate the finished mixture until it firms up before using.
To make Cheesy Garlic bread, top the buttered buttered bread with shredded mozzarella or your favorite shredded cheese,
How to Make Garlic Bread
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Set aside until needed.
- Add the softened butter to a small bowl.
- Add the minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, table salt, and parmesan cheese to the butter and mix until well blended.
*We used unsalted butter for the garlic mixture, but you can use salted butter if you prefer; just leave out the added salt.
- Slice the loaf of bread down the middle longways.
- Spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread using a butter knife or rubber spatula.
- Place the bread on a foil-lined large baking sheet, butter side up.
- Place the baking sheet on the top rack of the preheated oven and cook for 15-17 minutes until the edges of the garlic bread are golden brown.
*To make it in the air fryer: Air fry at 350°F for 5–7 minutes.
After one bite, I know you’ll agree that this is the best garlic bread recipe you’ve ever made!
Leftovers can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for 1-2 days. To reheat, place on a baking sheet and bake in a 400-degree oven for 5 minutes.
You can freeze the garlic bread before cooking. Freeze on a baking sheet and then wrap in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil for up to two months. Do not defrost before baking.
Recipe FAQ’s
Typically, French bread or Italian bread is used to make the recipe. Long, baguette-shaped bread is the best option.
You can use a wider loaf of Italian bread, ciabatta, or hoagie rolls. Soft bread will work best, but slightly stale bread can also be used.
Wrap it in foil and place it in a 350-degree F oven for 7-10 minutes. Don’t use the microwave to heat it; it will make it chewy instead of crispy.
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Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf baguette Italian or French bread
- 8 tablespoon unsalted butter softened
- 2 tablespoon garlic finely minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 2 teaspoon parmesan cheese or Locatelli cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Add the softened butter to a mixing bowl.
- Add the minced garlic, chopped parsley, table salt, and parmesan cheese to the butter and mix until well blended.
- Slice the loaf of Italian bread down the middle longways.
- Spread the garlic butter over each side of the bread using a butter knife or rubber spatula.
- Place the bread on a foil lined baking sheet butter side up.
- Place the baking sheet on the top rack of the preheated oven and cook for 15-17 minutes until the edges of the garlic bread are golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and slice into serving sizes, serve while hot.
Henry T says
This is the perfect garlic bread recipe! My favorite way to make it now. Thanks Chef!
Chef Dennis Littley says
You’re welcome! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the garlic bread!