Garlic Bread

This homemade Garlic Bread recipe is the best you will ever taste. And I stand by that boos! It’s buttery, garlicky, crispy and absolutely addictive. The best part is this that making garlic bread from scratch couldn’t be easier. If you can mix, spread and bake, you can make this recipe ya dig?

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I didn’t grow up eating garlic bread from scratch. My mama didn’t have time for that. Between a 9 to 5 (sometimes 9 to 6 or 7) job, a husband and two demanding kids, she was spread thin. If garlic bread was served, it was served from a frozen box. Then one day, everything changed. Our local grocery store started selling homemade garlic bread in their bakery section. My mom decided to try it out. She popped it in the oven as she was finishing her famous spaghetti and something magical occurred at dinner. I was totally changed! Frozen garlic bread was kicked to the curb.

I worked on this easy garlic bread recipe until it was perfect. It legit reminds me of the version we grabbed at our grocery store. You will adore the divine taste of fresh bread topped with butter, minced garlic, olive oil and parsley. It’s a game changer. Once you try this recipe, you won’t go back to the frozen box again boos.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Easy Garlic Bread From Scratch

• Butter– This creates the rich and delish base of our spread. I use salted since it is already flavorful and cuts down on the ingredients we need. Grab a french style butter that has more fat because it is creamier and more decadent in taste.
• Garlic- Grab a bulb and mince that baby down. We need ample garlic flavor in this recipe.
• Garlic Powder- I double on the garlic flavor by also added the granulated version. This way, you get a taste of garlic in each bite wherever minced garlic doesn’t reach.
• Parsley- Fresh parsley doesn’t just add color; it gives subtle earthiness that complements the robust garlic flavor.
• Olive Oil- This adds moisture and richness to the spread allowing it to spread easier giving a great mouthfeel.

How to Make Garlic Bread

Step 1: Prep the Spread

1. Next, you gotta mince the garlic for the spread. You could also grate it for a more pungent flavor.
2. Whip up all the spread ingredients until everything is well combined and super smooth. 

PRO TIP: The parmesan is totally optional but if you want a bit of a salty, cheesy touch, toss some in.

Step 2: Spread and Bake

1. Next, slice the baguette in half.
2. Smother the bread in the delish garlic butter spread. Make sure its an even layer.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10-14 minutes but keep a nice watch on it. A high temperature will make for that gorgeous golden brown on the top of the garlic bread.
4. Let the slices chill for a second then cut into slices and serve.

PRO TIP: If you want to brown the top even more, turn your broiler on for 1-2 minutes but watch carefully so your bread doesn’t burn!!

How to Serve this Simple Garlic Bread Recipe

• Quick Appetizer Idea: Keep it easy and serve along with some marinara sauce or pizza sauce on the side.
• Easy Lunch Option: This is great served along with a delish bowl of Italian wedding soup or homemade tomato soup. Dip the simple garlic bread in to sop up the flavors.
• Classic Italian Meal: Keep it vintage and serve this old school style with some spaghetti and meatballs or lentil meatballs and spaghetti recipe.
• Delish Special Occasion Menu: This is wonderful served along with my Italian pot roast recipe and harvest salad.
• Quick Italian Vibes: I can’t imagine not having this simple garlic bread recipe with chicken piccata recipe and chicken stuffed shells.
• Hearty Sunday Supper: It’s so wonderful with beef stew and garlic mashed potatoes.
• Pizza Night: Remember when old school pizzerias would always serve up garlic bread before pizza? Serve this as a nice snack before you serve up some meat lovers pizza, pepperoni pizza and Sicilian pizza.

Recipe Substitutions

• Baguette: Feel free to get down on whatever you prefer here. Italian bread, french bread, and ciabatta are all great.
• Butter: You can totally use unsalted butter here. Just add a pinch of salt. If no butter is around, you can just use all olive oil but you will miss that creamy richness.
• Garlic: No garlic cloves? Just use all garlic powder. And vice versa. It will still turn out super yum boos.
• Parsley: You can substitute with other herbs like thyme, basil or oregano.
• Cheese: If you want to use a little cheese (totally optional) and parm is out of the question, try pecorino romano for a nice sharp and salty contrast. Asiago has a lovely nutty vibe too!

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Make it Cheesy: I’ve added parmesan to this recipe but you can totally sprinkle on an extra layer of cheese. Before baking, layer the top of the garlic spread with a cup or so of shredded mozzarella or your fave cheese. For those golden-brown bubbles, turn the broiler on for the last minute but watch carefully.
• Make it Vegan: All you gotta do is replace the butter with your favorite vegan margarine or butter substitute.
• Make it Gluten-Free: Just use your fave gluten free bread in place of the baguette.
• Spice it Up: Add a light pinch of red pepper flakes to the spread for a bomb kick.
• Bruschetta it Up: After you bake, top with some chopped tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a little balsamic drizzle ya dig?
• Upgrade: Replace the olive oil with some truffle oil for a sophisticated touch.
• Top It Up: Add some caramelized onions and a bit of fresh thyme and serve it up. That’s good eatin y’all!

Expert Tips and Tricks

• No Store-Bought Minced Garlic: Do not, I repeat, do not use the pre-packaged minced garlic in the grocery store.  The bottles have additional chemicals and aren’t as fresh.  Make sure you grab fresh garlic and mince it yourself. 
• Mince Finely: Nobody wants to bite into big ole chunks of garlic. It can be too overpowering so make sure you mince that garlic as fine as possible.
• Keep that Butter Soft: Get that butter to room temp so you can really mix all of the ingredients together well. We want a nice smooth spread.
• Toast Perfectly: Watch your bread bake so you get a nice golden brown finish on crispy bread without it burning. Keep a close eye boos.

How to Store Homemade Garlic Bread

• Fridge: Make sure the bread has cooled completely then wrap tightly in plastic wrap before popping in the fridge. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: It’s actually best to freeze your garlic bread BEFORE you bake it. Just assemble with the garlic spread and wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months. You can also freeze after baking the same way, and it should last about 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before heating.
• Reheating: You can just pop back in the oven at about 350 F for 10-15 minutes or until warmed and crispy again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Fave Garlic Bread recipes

• Garlic Cheese Stuffed Rolls
• Garlic Cheese Breadsticks
• No Knead Garlic Bread