This easy homemade garlic bread recipe bakes up golden, buttery, and perfectly garlicky with just 10 minutes of prep time.
My Longtime Favorite Garlic Bread
Sometimes the simplest recipes steal the show. ♡
That’s certainly the case with my favorite homemade garlic bread recipe — a quick, cozy side that’s golden, buttery, and brimming with garlicky goodness. With just a handful of pantry staples and 10 minutes of prep, you can transform an ordinary loaf into something insanely irresistible. A simple mix of softened butter, fresh garlic, herbs, and Parmesan bakes up crisp at the edges and tender in the center. And it’s positively guaranteed to have everyone wandering into the kitchen asking what smells so good.
It’s the perfect side for pasta night, hearty soups, or any meal that could use some bread on the side. And the best part? You can easily customize it with your favorite herbs, cheeses, or a little kick of heat. Let’s make some!
Cheers,
Garlic Bread Tips
Step-by-step instructions are included in the recipe below, but here are a few tips to make this recipe foolproof and extra delicious:
- Soften butter fully: Make sure your butter is at room temperature so it spreads easily without tearing the bread.
- Grate the garlic: Using a microplane or fine grater gives the butter a smooth, even garlicky flavor without big chunks. But if you don’t have one, no worries, you can just press or finely-mince the garlic. :)
- Don’t skip the second bake: Adding the Parmesan after the first bake keeps it from burning and lets it melt beautifully.
- Broil for extra crisp edges: Want a little more crunch? Switch your oven to broil for the last 30–60 seconds — just keep a very close eye so that nothing burns.
- Serve warm: Garlic bread is best straight out of the oven while the butter is melty and the crust is crisp, so dive on in!
Recipe Variations
This garlic bread recipe is endlessly adaptable — here are a few of our favorite ways to change it up!
- Add extra cheese: Add shredded mozzarella or provolone with the Parmesan for a melty, stretchy finish.
- Add extra herbs: Mix fresh basil, chives, or thyme into the garlic butter for a more herby vibe.
- Make it spicy: Sprinkle on red pepper flakes or a pinch of smoked paprika before baking.
- Add lemon zest: Stir a bit of lemon zest into the garlic butter for a bright, fresh pop of flavor.
- Make it dairy-free: Swap in your favorite plant-based butter and skip the Parmesan (or use a dairy-free alternative).
FAQ
Yes, you can assemble the bread up to a few hours in advance! Just spread on the garlic butter, cover the loaf tightly with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake as directed, adding an extra 1–2 minutes if needed to warm through.
Definitely. After adding the garlic butter, wrap the bread halves tightly in foil, then place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen at 400°F for 15–20 minutes, then add Parmesan and bake for 2–3 more minutes.
A soft Italian or French loaf works best here — something with a slightly chewy interior and not too tough of a crust so the butter can really soak in. Baguettes work too, just keep an eye on bake time since they’re thinner.
Place slices on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven for 5–8 minutes until heated through. You can also wrap the loaf in foil before reheating to keep it from drying out.
More Favorite Bread Recipes To Try!
Looking for more easy bread recipes to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
Garlic Bread
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 12 servings
Description
This easy homemade garlic bread recipe bakes up golden, buttery, and perfectly garlicky with just 10 minutes of prep time.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian or French loaf
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
- 3 medium cloves garlic, grated or finely-minced
- 1 tablespoon finely-chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- flaky sea salt and coarsely-ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prep oven, baking sheet and bread. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the loaf in half lengthwise and place cut sides up on the baking sheet.
- Mix the garlic butter. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the softened butter, grated garlic, parsley, and oregano until smooth and well combined. Spread the butter mixture evenly over both halves of bread. Sprinkle evenly with the flaky sea salt and coarsely-ground black pepper.
- Bake. Bake for 7 minutes, until the edges just begin to turn golden. Remove briefly from the oven, sprinkle evenly with Parmesan, then return to bake for 2-3 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Serve. Slice and sprinkle with extra parsley, if desired. Serve immediately while it’s warm and enjoy!
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