Garlic bread. Just the words themselves conjure up images of warm, buttery, garlicky goodness. For years, like many, I relied on store-bought garlic bread, but that all changed when Tony and I embarked on a mission to create the ultimate homemade version to accompany my favorite turkey meatballs. Classic spaghetti and meatballs just screams for garlic bread for dipping, right?
My quest involved many loaves of bread, mountains of fresh garlic, real butter, and fragrant herbs. There were even a few minor stomach aches involved (proof that I’m human and sometimes, resisting that extra slice is impossible!). But through it all, we finally arrived at a truly delightful, mouth-watering garlic bread recipe that is, without a doubt, 1000 times better than anything you can buy pre-made. And honestly, I can’t stop making it.
What You Need to Make Incredible Homemade Garlic Bread
This homemade garlic bread recipe uses incredibly simple ingredients, and trust me, it’s one you’ll come back to again and again. Here’s everything you’ll need to make the best garlic bread at home:
- Bread: For the best results, choose a loaf of Italian bread or French bread (a wider loaf, not a baguette). These types of bread give you those perfect, thick slices that are ideal for garlic bread.
- Butter: You absolutely need plenty of softened butter. This is key because it melts beautifully into all the nooks and crannies of the bread, infusing every bite with flavor. You can use salted or unsalted butter – either works wonderfully. I typically use 1/2 cup of butter, but you can even use 1/3 cup if you prefer a slightly less buttery bread.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves are absolutely essential for that authentic, robust garlic flavor. Forget garlic powder – minced fresh garlic, roasted in the oven right on the bread, is the secret to amazing garlic bread.
- Herbs & Spices: Instead of relying on Italian seasoning blends, we’re keeping it fresh and simple with a touch of fresh parsley and sea salt. This combination really brings all the flavors together. Feel free to garnish with extra parsley or even fresh chives after baking for an extra pop of color and flavor.
Want Cheesy Garlic Bread? Go For It!
If you’re a fan of cheesy garlic bread (and who isn’t?), it’s incredibly easy to add a cheesy element to this recipe. Simply sprinkle on 1/4 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. The trick is to add the cheese in the last 2 minutes of baking. This prevents the cheese from becoming too crispy or burnt on top, ensuring it’s perfectly melted and gooey.
Can This Garlic Bread Recipe Be Made Vegan?
Absolutely! Making this garlic bread vegan is super simple. Just substitute the regular butter with your favorite vegan butter. And if you’re adding cheese, use a vegan shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese alternative. There are many great vegan cheese options available now that melt beautifully and taste delicious.
Easy Homemade Garlic Bread in Just 3 Steps
This recipe is incredibly straightforward, getting you delicious homemade garlic bread in just three easy steps:
- Prep your pan & bread. Start by lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper or tinfoil for easy cleanup. Slice your loaf of bread in half lengthwise. Place the bread halves cut side up on the prepared baking sheet.
- Make the garlic butter. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced fresh garlic, chopped parsley, and sea salt. Mix everything together until it’s well combined and the garlic and herbs are evenly distributed throughout the butter. Then, generously spread this flavorful garlic butter evenly over the top of both bread halves, ensuring every part of the surface is covered.
- Bake & serve. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until it reaches a beautiful slightly golden brown color around the edges. If you’re adding cheese, sprinkle it over the bread in the last 2 minutes of baking, allowing it to melt perfectly. Once baked, let the garlic bread cool slightly before slicing it into 1-inch pieces. Then, it’s ready to devour!
For an extra layer of flavor, don’t forget to dip your warm garlic bread in this AMAZING Garlic Olive Oil Dip, or your favorite marinara sauce.
Customize Your Crispiness
Do you prefer your garlic bread extra crispy or a bit softer? You can easily adjust the baking time to achieve your perfect level of crispiness.
- For crispier garlic bread: Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, but keep a close eye on it to prevent it from becoming too toasted or burnt.
- For softer garlic bread: Take it out of the oven closer to the 10-minute mark. For even softer garlic bread, you can wrap the bread in aluminum foil before baking. This will steam the bread slightly as it bakes, resulting in a softer texture.
Tips for Storing Leftover Garlic Bread
If you happen to have any leftover garlic bread (though it’s rare in my house!), storing it properly will keep it delicious for longer. Store any leftovers covered tightly at room temperature for 1-2 days.
To reheat, simply wrap the garlic bread in aluminum foil and warm it in your oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. Wrapping it in foil prevents it from drying out while reheating.
Make-Ahead Tip: Freeze Garlic Bread for Later
This homemade garlic bread is incredibly freezer-friendly, making it a fantastic make-ahead side dish to have on hand. Here’s how to freeze it:
- After you’ve slathered the bread halves with the garlic butter mixture, place the bread halves in a single layer in a freezer-friendly bag.
- Seal the freezer bag, removing as much air as possible, and store the garlic bread in your freezer.
- Frozen garlic bread will keep for up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to enjoy it, there’s no need to thaw! Simply place the frozen garlic bread halves directly onto your baking sheet and bake as directed in the recipe, adding an extra 3-5 minutes to the baking time to ensure it’s heated through and golden brown.
What to Serve with Homemade Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes! It’s a classic side for pasta dishes, soups, and salads. It’s also fantastic with grilled meats or vegetables, and makes a great appetizer on its own.
Explore all of my dinner recipes here and my pasta dishes here for inspiration!
I truly hope you love this homemade garlic bread recipe as much as we do! If you make it, please be sure to leave a comment and a star rating below so I know how it turned out for you. Enjoy! xo!
The Best Garlic Bread You’ll Ever Eat Recipe
4.99 from 50 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Serves 8 servings
This is truly the BEST homemade garlic bread you’ll ever make. It’s loaded with fresh herbs, tons of flavorful roasted garlic, and perfectly toasted. This easy garlic bread recipe is absolutely delicious served alongside your favorite pasta dishes, comfort foods, and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian loaf or French loaf
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter (salted butter works too)*
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Optional:
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- OR ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For garnishing:
- Extra parsley and chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice bread in half lengthwise and place on the baking sheet, cut sides up.
- In a medium bowl, mix softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, and sea salt together until very well combined. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over both bread halves.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown around the edges. If adding cheese, sprinkle it on in the last 2 minutes of baking. For crispier garlic bread, bake for an additional 3-5 minutes, watching carefully until it reaches your desired level of golden brown crispiness.
Recipe Notes
Vegan Garlic Bread: To make this recipe vegan, simply use a vegan butter. See the full post above for more customizations, tips for storing, and freezing instructions for this garlic bread!
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 30th, 2018, republished on February 13th, 2023, and republished on December 29th, 2024.
