This Easy Garlic Bread is the ultimate side dish that brings the comfort of a restaurant bread basket right to your home table. With a crispy crust, a soft, buttery center, and a punchy garlic herb spread, it is simple to make but impossibly hard to resist.
Whether served alongside a hearty pasta dish or enjoyed on its own as a savory snack, this golden, toasted loaf is a classic crowd-pleaser.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Rich and savory, highlighting aromatic fresh garlic and parsley blended into creamy butter with a hint of sea salt.
- Texture: The bread develops a satisfying crunch on the edges while the center remains fluffy and soaked in garlic butter.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 15 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It requires minimal knife skills and simple mixing.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. A sharp bread knife is essential for slicing the loaf cleanly. The ingredients are minimal but impactful: a fresh bakery loaf, softened butter, and fresh aromatics are all you need to create magic.
Ingredient Notes
- Italian or French Loaf – Use a 1-pound loaf. French bread tends to be wider and softer, while Italian bread often has a sturdier crust. Both work beautifully.
- Unsalted Butter – Use 1/2 cup softened. Using unsalted allows you to control the saltiness with the sea salt. If you only have salted butter, omit the extra sea salt.
- Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is key for that robust, authentic flavor. Four cloves give it a nice kick without being overwhelming.
- Fresh Parsley – Finely chopped parsley adds brightness and color. Dried parsley can be used in a pinch, but fresh is superior for this dish.
- Cheese (Optional) – Freshly grated parmesan adds a nutty bite, while shredded mozzarella creates a gooey “cheesy bread” experience.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Herbs – You can add fresh basil or oregano to the butter mixture for an Italian herb twist.
- Spicy Kick – A pinch of red pepper flakes mixed into the butter adds a lovely background heat.
- Cheese – Feel free to use a blend of cheeses or stick to the classic butter-only version.
How to Make Easy Garlic Bread
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice the bread in half lengthwise and place it on the baking sheet, cut sides facing up.
- Make Garlic Butter: In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter, finely minced garlic, chopped parsley, and sea salt together until well combined and smooth.
- Spread: Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut surfaces of the bread, ensuring you get all the way to the edges.
- Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the bread is slightly golden brown on the edges and the butter has melted into the crumb.
- Cheese Option: If you want to add cheese, remove the bread after about 8-10 minutes, sprinkle with parmesan or mozzarella, and bake for the remaining 2-5 minutes until melted.
- Crispy Option: If you like a crispier garlic bread, leave it in for 3-5 minutes more, watching carefully so the garlic doesn’t burn.
- Serve: Garnish with extra parsley and chives if desired, slice, and serve warm.
Pro Tip: Don’t be shy with the butter spread! Make sure to cover the entire surface area. The butter that melts into the nooks and crannies is the best part.
Recipe Tips
- Softened Butter: Ensure your butter is truly softened (room temperature) so it mixes easily with the herbs and spreads without tearing the soft bread.
- Watch the Oven: Every oven is different. Check the bread at the 10-minute mark to see how browned the edges are getting.
- Broiler Finish: For an extra golden top (especially if using cheese), you can switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes. Just don’t walk away!
FAQs
- Can I wrap it in foil? If you prefer softer garlic bread without crispy edges, you can put the loaf back together after buttering, wrap the whole thing in foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Can I freeze this? Yes! Spread the butter on the unbaked bread, wrap tightly in plastic and foil, and freeze. You can bake it straight from frozen (add a few extra minutes).
- What if I only have dried herbs? Use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley instead of 1 tablespoon of fresh.
Serving Suggestions
- Pasta: The classic companion to spaghetti bolognese, lasagna, or fettuccine alfredo.
- Soup: Perfect for dunking into tomato soup or minestrone.
- Salad: Serve alongside a big Caesar salad for a satisfying lunch.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Butter Prep: You can mix the compound garlic butter days in advance and keep it in the fridge. Just let it soften before spreading.
- Assembly: You can butter the bread a few hours ahead, cover it, and bake it right before dinner.
Easy Garlic Bread
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 Loaf (approx. 8-10 Slices) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Easy Garlic Bread is the ultimate side dish that brings the comfort of a restaurant bread basket right to your home table. With a crispy crust, a soft, buttery center, and a punchy garlic herb spread, it is simple to make but impossibly hard to resist. Whether served alongside a hearty pasta dish or enjoyed on its own as a savory snack, this golden, toasted loaf is a classic crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
The Base
- 1 pound Italian loaf or French loaf
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (omit if using salted butter)
Optional Cheesy Topping
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- OR 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- Extra chopped fresh parsley
- Chopped fresh chives
Instructions
Prep
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
Slice
Cut the loaf of bread in half lengthwise to create two long, open boats. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, cut sides facing up.
Make Garlic Butter
In a medium bowl, mash together the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and sea salt until smooth and well combined.
Spread
Generously spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut surfaces of the bread. Ensure you cover the surface all the way to the edges.
Bake
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and toasty and the butter has fully melted into the crumb.
Cheesy Option
If adding cheese, remove the bread from the oven after the 10-minute mark. Sprinkle with Parmesan or Mozzarella, then return to the oven for 2–5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve
Remove from the oven. Garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired. Slice crosswise into thick pieces and serve warm.
Notes
Soft vs. Crispy: If you prefer a soft, steamed garlic bread rather than crispy toast, spread the butter on the bread, put the two halves back together, wrap the entire loaf in foil, and bake for 15–20 minutes.
Softened Butter: Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature. If it is cold, it will tear the soft bread when you try to spread it.
Make Ahead / Freezer: You can prepare the bread with the butter spread, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze it unbaked. Bake straight from frozen (add a few extra minutes to the cooking time).
Broil for Gold: For an extra golden top (especially if using cheese), switch the oven to Broil for the last minute of cooking. Watch it closely to prevent burning the garlic.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: homemade garlic bread, easy side dish, garlic butter recipe, cheesy garlic bread, french bread pizza side, italian dinner sides, 20 minute recipes
