If you have ever craved that specific salty, garlicky, and buttery crunch of a Pizza Hut breadstick, this recipe is your new best friend. By using a convenient refrigerated pizza crust and a heavily seasoned butter topping, you can recreate the iconic restaurant experience in your own kitchen in under twenty minutes. It is the perfect side dish for family pizza night or a crowd-pleasing appetizer for game day.
The secret to this copycat success lies in the generous blend of parmesan, garlic, and onion powder, applied in two distinct stages. By seasoning the breadsticks both during and after the final bake, you ensure that the flavors are baked into the crust while still maintaining that glossy, finger-licking buttery finish that makes these breadsticks legendary.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Intense garlic and herb notes with a salty, savory finish from the grated parmesan.
- Textures: A soft, doughy interior with a slightly crisp, buttery exterior.
- Total Time: Approximately 20 minutes (5 minutes prep, 15 minutes baking).
- Difficulty Level: Very Easy; utilizes pre-made dough and a simple “cut and brush” method.
What You’ll Need
To create these breadsticks, you will need a 13.8-oz can of refrigerated pizza crust and 6 tablespoons of melted butter. The signature seasoning blend is made from 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, 5 teaspoons of garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon each of onion powder and oregano. You will also need 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried basil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Ingredient Notes
- Refrigerated Pizza Crust – Using the canned variety provides the specific texture and uniform rise that mimics restaurant-style breadsticks perfectly.
- Grated Parmesan – Use the fine, shelf-stable grated variety (in the green shaker) rather than fresh shreds to achieve that specific “salty dust” texture found on the originals.
- Garlic and Onion Powder – These are used in high quantities here to provide that bold, punchy flavor that defines the Pizza Hut style.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter works well; if using salted, you may want to slightly reduce the added 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spiciness – Add a 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the dry seasoning mix for a “zesty” version of these sticks.
- Cheese – For a “cheesy breadstick” variation, sprinkle a 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella over the sticks during the final 5 minutes of baking.
- Dough – If you have a favorite homemade pizza dough recipe, you can certainly use it, but the baking times may vary slightly based on the thickness of your roll.
How to Make Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks
1. Preheat and Prep the Dough Preheat your oven to 425 F. Unroll the refrigerated pizza dough onto a large cookie sheet.
2. The Signature Cut Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough lengthwise into 12 long, even strips. Then, cut those strips in half horizontally to create a total of 24 breadstick-sized strips. Crucial Note: Do not separate the strips! Keeping them tight together ensures they stay soft on the sides and only crisp up on the top and bottom, just like at the restaurant.
3. The First Bake Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. While the dough is baking, combine the parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and salt in a small bowl.
4. First Seasoning Stage Remove the breadsticks from the oven. Brush them with exactly half of the melted butter and sprinkle half of your prepared seasoning mixture evenly over the top.
5. Final Bake Return the breadsticks to the oven for an additional 5 minutes. You are looking for the edges to be golden-brown and the seasoning to be toasted.
6. The Final Polish Remove from the oven for the last time. Brush the remaining half of the melted butter over the hot breadsticks and sprinkle the remaining half of the seasoning on top. Serve immediately while warm.
Pro Tip: Use a silicone pastry brush to apply the butter. This allows you to “dab” the butter on so you don’t accidentally push the seasoning around too much, ensuring a perfectly even coat.
Recipe Tips
- Pizza Cutter – A pizza cutter is far superior to a knife for this recipe. It allows for clean, straight lines without pulling or tearing the refrigerated dough.
- Don’t Separate – Remember to keep the dough as one large rectangle after cutting. This traps steam between the sticks, keeping the interiors pillowy and soft.
- Hot Butter – Make sure your butter is fully melted and hot when you brush it on the second time; this helps it soak into the warm bread for maximum flavor.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of dough? You can use refrigerated “French Bread” dough, but it will be much thicker and fluffier. The pizza crust gives you that specific dense-yet-soft restaurant bite.
Why do I season them twice? Seasoning before the final bake allows the herbs to toast and the parmesan to stick. Seasoning after the bake adds that fresh, punchy garlic flavor and the glossy buttery finish.
How do I store leftovers? Store in an airtight container or a zip-top bag for up to 2 days. Reheat in a toaster oven at 350 F for 2–3 minutes to restore the crispiness.
Serving Suggestions
- Marinara – Serve with a side of warm marinara sauce for the classic dipping experience.
- Garlic Dipping Sauce – A side of melted butter mixed with a little extra garlic powder and salt makes for an even more decadent snack.
- Pasta Night – These are the perfect accompaniment to a big bowl of spaghetti or baked ziti.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can mix the dry seasoning blend days or even weeks in advance and store it in a small jar. When you are ready for breadsticks, the active prep time is reduced to just a few minutes, making this an ideal last-minute addition to any dinner.
Print
Copycat Pizza Hut Breadsticks
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 24 Breadsticks 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Recreate the iconic salty, garlicky, and buttery crunch of Pizza Hut breadsticks in under 20 minutes. Using refrigerated pizza dough and a heavy seasoning blend applied in two stages, these breadsticks feature a legendary glossy finish and a soft, pillowy interior.
Ingredients
The Base
- 1 (13.8-oz) can refrigerated pizza crust
The Buttery Topping & Seasoning
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (shelf-stable)
- 5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Prep: Preheat oven to 425°F. Unroll dough onto a large ungreased cookie sheet.
Cut: Use a pizza cutter to cut 12 strips lengthwise, then cut horizontally to make 24 sticks. Do not separate them.
Bake 1: Bake for 10 mins. Meanwhile, whisk the parmesan and spices in a small bowl.
Season 1: Brush with half the butter and sprinkle with half the seasoning.
Bake 2: Return to oven for 5 mins until golden.
Polish: Brush with remaining butter and seasoning. Serve warm.
Notes
Don’t Separate: Keeping the dough touching allows the tops to crisp while the sides remain soft and pillowy.
The ‘Green Shaker’ Cheese: The fine texture of shelf-stable parmesan is essential for that specific restaurant-style salty crust.
Two-Stage Seasoning: Seasoning twice ensures a toasted base layer and a fresh, glossy finish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Fast Food Copycat
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Breadsticks
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: copycat pizza hut breadsticks, easy garlic breadsticks, 20 minute appetizer, refrigerated pizza dough recipes, buttery garlic sticks, pizza night side dish
