Name: Garlic Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 1 loaf French bread (halved lengthwise); 1/2 cup unsalted butter ( softened); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley ((or 1 tsp dried)); 1 tsp EACH dried oregano, dried basil ((OR 1 TBS FRESH)); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan (optional)

YOU NEED THIS HOMEMADE GARLIC BREAD RECIPE IN YOUR LIFE – AND IN YOUR BELLY!

Homemade Garlic Bread is the best side to practically everything! It’s fresh, flavorful, buttery, garlicky, quick, easy and 1000X better than store bought! All you need to make homemade Garlic Bread from scratch is a loaf of French bread, garlic, butter and Italian seasonings; slather the garlic butter spread over the loafs, bake and EAT! The garlicky butter melts deep into the loaf for a buttery soft, flavorful interior and delightfully crunchy exterior AKA the most addicting side you’ll ever sink your teeth into! But that’s not all – you can indulge in the best Garlic Bread, perfect in its simplicity or I’ve also included recipes for Parmesan Garlic Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread and Cheddar Garlic Bread as well as all you need to know about how to make Garlic Bread, store, reheat and freeze. Now you have every reason to skip store-bought Garlic Bread and every reason to make your own!

two hands holding a bowl of garlic bread in oven

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Garlic Bread Recipe

Garlic Bread has to be one of the most delectable culinary inventions known to man – who doesn’t love garlic bread? It hits every addictive note from being unabashedly carbilicious, buttery, soft and crunchy. I could eat a whole loaf and call it dinner.

Homemade Garlic Bread also gets HUGE points for being so easy and simple to make. So, it should go without saying that every home cook should have the best Garlic Bread recipe in their repertoire – enter this Garlic Bread recipe. Once you try this Garlic Bread recipe, you’ll never want to buy the stuff from the store again!

This easy Garlic Bread recipe makes everything better from a simple chicken dinner, to dunking into soups to mopping up pasta sauce. I’m already getting giddy thinking of my next spaghetti Bolognese dinner paired with this homemade Garlic Bread. It’s comfort food perfection – and your family will thank you!

Best Garlic Bread Recipe

There are a lot of homemade Garlic Bread recipes out there, so let me highlight some of the reasons why I love this recipe:

TEXTURE. Some Garlic Bread recipes only bake the bread and some recipes only broil the bread, but for the best Garlic Bread recipe – you should bake and broil the bread. This will impart the mouth pleasing soft and crunchy sensation we all know and love. The baking gives time for the garlic itself to bake as well as for the butter to sink about half way down the loaf. The broiling elevates the warm bread to hot bread with an enveloping toasty crust.

FLAVOR. This Garlic Bread recipe isn’t just bread + butter + garlic but it also includes a splash of olive oil, parsley, basil, oregano, salt and pepper for a tantalizing depth of flavor. You also have the option of adding a couple tablespoons of Parmesan cheese to the garlic butter spread to elevate the recipe even further. With these few simple additions, good Garlic Bread just became the Best Garlic Bread!

VERSATITLE. But the fun doesn’t stop there. This homemade Garlic Bread recipe is wonderfully versatile. Use more or less garlic, mix up the herbs with your favorites such as thyme or rosemary or get cheesy. To get cheesy, simply add additional Parmesan to the top of the buttery loafs or get even cheesier and mix your favorite cheeses (I use mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan) and blanket the loaves before they bake.

Now, all that’s left to do is get baking and put this Best Garlic Bread recipe to the test!

a hand taking a slice of cheesy garlic bread

What Bread is best for homemade garlic bread?

Homemade Garlic Bread only requires a few ingredients: bread, butter, garlic and seasonings so it is important that we use the best ingredients to achieve the best Garlic Bread.

French bread is the ideal bread for Garlic Bread because it bakes up boasting a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft interior. This soft crumb is ideal for soaking up all that garlic butter spread as it melts and bathes all the nooks and crannies with buttery bliss without becoming soggy.

You can easily find large loaves (about 1lb) of French bread hot from the bakery for $1-$2. Ideally, use the bread the day you purchase it otherwise, the outside begins to harden and you’re left with a crunchy, crusty mess.

Can I use a different bread for Garlic Bread?

I think it comes down to personal preference and expectations. I prefer fluffy French Bread over skinny baguettes because I find the baguettes too chewy. They tend to bake up tough and will leave you having to yank the bread away to take a bite.

As far as other breads, you can pretty much slather garlic butter spread on anything – it just might not taste like traditional homemade Garlic Bread. You can use Italian or Artisan breads, sourdough, Texas Toast or thick pieces of bread and even hot dog buns!

Just be aware that the denser breads will result in a different texture. If you select smaller loaves or less surface area, just don’t use all of the garlic butter spread.

showing how to make homemade garlic bread recipe by baking in the oven

Garlic Butter Spread Ingredients

Selecting the right bread is only half the battle – now we need the best garlic butter spread that transforms your ordinary loaf into tantalizing, drool worthy GARLIC Bread! You will need:

Butter: use unsalted butter so we can control the salt. If you only keep salted butter stocked, then reduce the amount of salt in the recipe. Make sure your butter is softened and not melted or it is much harder to spread.
Olive oil: use high quality olive oil. Olive oil adds another dimension of flavor and helps the butter sneak into every crevice. It also promotes crispy edges.
Garlic: 3 cloves of garlic (about one tablespoon) infuses the Garlic Bread with garlicky goodness without being overpowering. Of course, if you would like just a touch of garlic, go with less, and if you want to be hit over the head with garlic, go with more.
Salt and pepper: yes, even garlic butter spread needs salt and pepper! The salt enhances all of the other flavors and will be sorely missed – so please don’t skip!
Herbs: elevates the garlic butter spread and hence the overall Garlic Bread experience. You may use fresh or dried herbs. I tend to use fresh parsley because I like to garnish the loaf with fresh parsley as well and dried basil and oregano because I just use these seasonings in the spread and don’t have their fresh counterparts readily available; but if you have a garden of fresh herbs – go fresh! If you use fresh herbs, you will need 1 tablespoon each; if you use dried herbs, you will need 1 teaspoon each.
Parmesan Cheese: I like to add just two tablespoons Parmesan cheese to the garlic butter spread. This small amount of Parmesan adds a pop of flavor to the homemade Garlic Bread without tasting like Parmesan Garlic Bread (recipe to follow). You can omit the Parmesan or use more if you desire.

showing how to make garlic bread by adding butter, olive oil, garlic and herbs to a bowl for garlic butter spread

CAN I USE PRE-MINCED GARLIC?

I am a huge fan of shortcuts when it comes to cooking – but when it comes to homemade Garlic Bread, you MUST use fresh garlic – not pre-minced jarred garlic. Jarred garlic has its place, but unfortunately it can add a hint of sourness to the garlic butter spread and ruin the entire Garlic Bread.

Instead, the fastest way to mince garlic is with a garlic press. I like to give my pressed garlic a quick once over chop on the cutting board to make sure there aren’t any long strands before adding to the garlic butter spread.

How to Make Garlic Bread

Preheat oven. 350 degrees F is the ideal temperature to warm the bread from the inside out. It gives the garlic butter spread time to melt and seep into the bread before the outside becomes too toasty.

Cut the bread. Slice the French bread loaf in half horizontally using a long-serrated knife. Make sure the loaf is on a sturdy surface so it doesn’t slide around. You may even want to secure it with clean kitchen towel when slicing. If you are making the Garlic Bread for a special event and want it perfectly even, or you are making a large quantity, you can ask the bakery department to slice it for you.

showing how to make garlic bread by slicing French Bread in half lengthwise

Make garlic butter spread. Add softened butter to a medium bowl followed by olive oil, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. If you’ve forgotten to soften your butter ahead of time, you can microwave it for 15 seconds, but be careful microwaving any longer (you can do 5-10 second burst) or it can quickly melt.

showing how to make garlic butter spread for Garlic Bread by mixing butter, garlic and herbs in a bowl until combined

Slather bread. Evenly spread the garlic butter spread over both bread halves, taking care to spread all the way to the edges because that will help get the edges nice and crispy and carry the flavor from end to end. You can use a spatula or I like to use a butter knife.

up close showing how to make garlic bread recipe by spreading garlic butter spread with a knife on bread

Bake. Place bread on baking sheet (if you haven’t already) and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. You can line your baking sheet with foil for zero cleanup but it isn’t necessary.

Broil. Move the bread to the oven rack 4-6 inches from the broiler. Broil for 1-2 minutes or until the edges are deeply golden. Keep a close eye on it because it can go from golden to burnt very quickly!

showing how to make garlic bread by baking in the oven until golden

Serve. Garnish Garlic Bread with fresh parsley if desired. Slice the bread into 2” slices and serve warm.

slicing easy garlic bread on a cutting board

HOMEMADE GARLIC BREAD VARIATIONS

This homemade Garlic Bread recipe is a great starting point to many different garlic bread recipes such as Parmesan Garlic Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread and Cheddar Garlic Bread. You can also use any of the below recipes and add different toppings such as bacon, green onions, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, etc. because once you know how to make basic easy Garlic Bread, there’s no limits to the buttery possibilities.

Here’s the deets on three common homemade Garlic Bread recipe variations:

PARMESAN GARLIC BREAD

Mix garlic butter ingredients together EXCEPT don’t add Parmesan to garlic butter.
Spread garlic butter evenly over each cut side up of French Bread.

showing how to make homemade garlic bread by spreading garlic butter spread on french bread in an even layer

Evenly sprinkle ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese over garlic butter.

showing how to make cheese garlic bread by topping garlic bread with Parmesan

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Move bread 4-6 inches from broiler and broil 1-2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t bun.

showing how to make cheese garlic bread by baking until golden

CHEESY GARLIC BREAD

Follow instructions for Garlic bread up through spreading with garlic butter.
Mix the following cheeses in a bowl (or use all mozzarella):

1 cup fresh grated Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fresh grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan Cheese

showing how to make cheesy garlic bread recipe by mixing mozzarella, Parmesan and cheddar cheese together in a white bowl

Sprinkle cheeses evenly over garlic butter spread.

showing how to make cheesy garlic bread by topping bread with cheese mixture

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F or until cheese is completely melted.
Move bread 4-6 inches from broiler and broil 1-2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t bun.

showing how to make cheesy garlic bread by baking in the oven

CHEDDAR GARLIC BREAD

Follow instructions for Garlic bread up through spreading with garlic butter.
Spread 1 ½ cups freshly grated cheddar cheese evenly over garlic butter bread.
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F or until cheese is completely melted.
Move bread 4-6 inches from broiler and broil 1-2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t bun.
Garnish with green onions and bacon if desired.

How to make Soft Garlic Bread

As written, the recipe is for delectable homemade Garlic Bread with a toasty crusty exterior giving way to a soft interior. If you would like soft garlic bread, then wrap the bread in aluminum foil before baking. This protects the exterior of the bread and also causes the bread to steam creating softer Garlic Bread.

To make soft Garlic Bread:

Follow instructions for Garlic bread up through spreading with garlic butter.
Place the two bread halves back together and wrap in foil.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until warmed through.
Unwrap and serve immediately.

homemade garlic bread on a white cutting board

BEST GARLIC BREAD TIPS and TRICKS

Use the right bread. As previously discussed, French Bread will give you the ideal toasted, crispy exterior and soft interior.
Use fresh bread. Take care your bread is freshly baked the same day or it will be extra crunchy and crumbly.
Use real butter. Please don’t use margarine as you can taste the difference! For the ultimate decadence, use French style butter. It has a hint of tangy nuttiness and most importantly, it has less water which results in richer, creamier, butter. You may reduce the butter to ⅓ cup if desired and the bread will be tasty but just not as decadent.
Use extra virgin olive oil. Use quality olive oil for maximum flavor.
Use fresh garlic. Garlic powder or jarred-garlic don’t make for the BEST garlic bread. Jarred garlic can even taste sour due to the preservatives.
Bake AND broil. The baking gives time for the garlic itself to bake as well as for the butter to sink about half way down the loaf. The broiling elevates the warm bread to hot bread with an enveloping toasty crust.
Watch closely! Keep an eye on the bread as it broils as every oven is different. The Garlic Bread can go from golden to burnt very quickly. You may want to rotate the pan halfway through broiling if it is broiling unevenly.
Don’t broil too much. If you are making cheesy Garlic Bread, I suggest not broiling too much because toasted cheese won’t be as obey gooey delightful.

slices of best garlic bread recipe in a bowl

Can I make GARLIC BUTTER SPREAD ahead of time?

The best way to prep or make Garlic Bread ahead of time is to make the Garlic Butter Spread ahead of time. Now, all you have to do is slather it on your fresh bread and bake!

To store Garlic Butter Spread:

Refrigerator: Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Freezer: Dollop spread onto a piece of plastic wrap and tightly enclose. Transfer to a freezer safe bag, squeeze out excess air and seal. Store for up to two months.

What else can garlic butter spread be used for?

This Garlic Butter Spread isn’t just for Garlic Bread! You can double the batch and use the garlic butter spread on pretty much anything you would use traditional butter for. It’s amazing on steak, fish, chicken, shrimp, baked potatoes, and all sorts of veggies.

HOW TO MAKE GARLIC BREAD “TOAST”

Growing up, my mom would often make cheesy Garlic Bread with traditional sandwich bread. It was the perfect side to soups and pastas when there wasn’t any French Bread around.

Garlic Bread made with sliced sandwich bread won’t be the same texture and consistency as traditional Garlic Bread – it will be more like toast, crispy all over – but it will still boast that buttery deliciousness that everyone will want to sink their teeth into.

To make, simply spread some of the Garlic Butter Spread on the surface of each piece of bread. You will want to use less spread because the bread is thinner and bake for a shorter amount of time.

slices of the best garlic bread recipe on a marble cutting board garnished with parsley

WHAT GOES WITH HOMEMADE GARLIC BREAD?

The more accurate question is what doesn’t go with Garlic Bread? This Garlic Bread recipe goes with practically everything! It pairs well with main dishes from pork, to fish to chicken and also pairs particularly well with Italian food, pastas and soups:

Pastas: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Spaghetti Bolognese, Rigatoni with Sausage Cream sauce, Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo, Cheesy Meaty Penne, Beef Stroganoff or Chicken Stroganoff
Pasta Bakes: Million Dollar Mac and Cheese, Chicken Alfredo Bake Baked Penne, Cheesy Pasta Al Forno Lasagna , White Lasagna, Manicotti
Soups: Lasagna Soup, Minestrone, Zuppa Toscana, Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Clam Chowder, Italian Vegetable, Bacon Corn Chowder, Broccoli Cheese, Crockpot Potato Soup and on and on!

You can also serve Garlic Bread with saucy recipes so that you can mop up leftovers with them. I also love to serve Garlic Bread with:

Mom’s Pot Roast or Mississippi Pot Roast
Chicken Divan
Beef Tips and Gravy
Pan Seared Steaks
Creamy Mushroom Chicken
anything that goes in your mouth!

HOW DO YOU STORE GARLIC BREAD?

Garlic Bread is best stored at room temperature – no need to refrigerate. In fact, refrigeration is not recommended, as the bread can dry out quickly and become crusty and even stale. If you need to store the bread for an extended period of time, then freeze instead of refrigerate to preserve its integrity.

To store Garlic Bread, slice and let it cool to room temperature. Cooling first ensures you don’t trap in excess condensation. Place the slices in an air-tight bag(s) and squeeze out excess air. Store for up to 3 days on the counter.

Can Garlic Bread Be Reheated?

Yes! I could eat leftover Garlic Bread room temperature, but it is exponentially warmed. To reheat Garlic Bread:

OVEN: Wrap leftover Garlic Bread in foil and place on a baking sheet – you can do this whether it’s sliced or a whole loaf. If the bread is sliced, keep it in a single layer in the foil. Bake at 350 degrees F until warmed through, about 10 to 15 minutes. (The foil is necessary to protect the crust of the bread from being double-baked.)
MICROWAVE: Warm sliced garlic bread in the microwave for only 10 seconds – DON’T heat too much longer or it will become hard as a rock (I know from personal experience). I also don’t recommend reheating Garlic Bread slices in the microwave unless consuming immediately as it becomes indelibly hard as it cools BUT if you eat it right away, it is sensational.

up close of a piece of the best garlic bread recipe in a bowl garnished with parsley

CAN I FREEZE GARLIC BREAD?

Absolutely! Freezing is a great option if you can’t consume the bread within a couple days. If you want to make Garlic Bread ahead of time to freeze and enjoy later, then skip this section and use the next set of instructions.

Prepare the Garlic Bread according to the recipe.
Let bread cool completely, then double wrap in plastic wrap, followed by foil.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to use, remove foil and plastic wrap and place bread on a baking sheet.
Bake at 300 degrees F for 20 minutes or until warm through.

Make Ahead (Freeze Ahead) Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread is fabulous to prep ahead and freeze. To make frozen Garlic Bread:

Follow recipe up through spreading garlic butter spread onto the bread.
Place bread on a baking sheet and place in the freezer to flash freeze until solid, about one hour.
Wrap each half separately in plastic wrap, followed by foil.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to use, remove foil and plastic wrap and place bread on a baking sheet.
Bake from frozen at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until warm through.
Broil for 1-2 minutes or until edges are deeply golden.

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a hand taking a slice of garlic bread in oven

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Garlic Bread

Servings: slices

Total Time: 22

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

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Ingredients

BREAD

1 loaf French bread halved lengthwise

GARLIC BUTTER

1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
1 tsp EACH dried oregano, dried basil (OR 1 TBS FRESH)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all of the garlic butter ingredients together in a medium bowl.
Spread garlic butter evenly over each cut side of French Bread.
Place French bread cut side up on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes.
Move bread 4-6 inches from broiler and broil 1-2 minutes or until edges are deeply golden, watching closely so the bread doesn’t bun.
Garnish with additional parsley if desired. Cut into slices and serve warm.