In the realm of comfort food, few things rival the warm embrace of freshly baked garlic bread. It’s more than just a side; it’s a fragrant, flavorful invitation to indulge. If you’ve ever found yourself drawn to the enticing aroma wafting from a bustling Italian kitchen or yearned for that perfect accompaniment to pasta night, you’re in for a treat. You are going to love this garlicky garlic bread.

A wroght iron basket filled with hot garlic bread.

Here’s Why You Will Love This Garlic Bread

Quick and Easy : This garlic bread recipe takes just 18 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or when you’re craving a tasty side in a hurry. Anyone can enjoy the deliciousness of homemade garlic bread without the fuss.
Intense Flavor: Garlic lovers rejoice! This recipe doesn’t hold back on garlic flavor. The combination of fresh and powdered garlic, and the aromatic herb mixture packs flavor into every bite.
Versatile and Customizable: This garlic bread is a canvas for creativity. You can get creative by adding herbs or even Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese for an extra layer of flavor. It’s versatile enough to accompany a variety of recipes or stand alone as a delectable snack.

Whether it’s a family dinner, a potluck with friends, or a romantic meal for two, garlic bread is always a crowd-pleaser. It is always the first to disappear from the serving table.

A wood cutting board and knife with half a loaf of crusty, buttery bread, cut into slices.

The Ingredients for Garlic Bread

This crunchy, buttery garlic bread recipe uses only four ingredients and is easy to make. Here is a list of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.

Italian or French bread: Opt for a large, soft loaf of either variety to achieve the perfect balance of absorbing the garlic butter while retaining a tender, not overly crispy, texture as it bakes.
Butter: While salted butter is recommended for optimal flavor, unsalted butter can be used with the addition of extra salt to the garlic butter mixture to ensure a well-balanced taste.
Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic takes the spotlight in our garlic bread, delivering a bold and unmistakable burst of garlic flavor.
Garlic powder: Garlic powder plays a supporting role, adding depth and consistency to the garlic flavor profile.
Fresh parsley: The bright green parsley leaves not only visually enhance the spread but also provide a pleasing contrast to the rich, garlic-infused butter.

Recipe ingredients: Large loaf of bread, parsley, butter, garlic and garlic powder.

Substitutions

This is a versatile recipe for Homemade Garlic Bread. You can customize it according to your tastes and the ingredients on hand. Here are a few suggestions:

Bread: We especially like white Italian or French bread for this recipe; a ciabatta, thick focaccia, or crusty sourdough works great.
Butter: A good olive oil is an excellent choice if you want to avoid butter. Plus, olive oil is one of the good fats!
Garlic: If you don’t have fresh cloves, you can use jarred minced garlic but the jarred stuff does’t have as much flavor.
Garlic Powder: You can use additional minced garlic. Another option is onion powder. However, it will add a slightly different taste.
Parsley: Try fresh rosemary, oregano, basil, thyme or chives.

Get creative! This garlic bread is a homemade treat you can experiment with and be adventurous without disappointment!

A dish with butter, herbs, garlic and garlic powder. A dish with a spoon and blended butter.

How to Make the Best Garlic Bread

Here is a brief overview to get an idea of what to expect with the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details. Before you get started, preheat the oven and line a sheet pan with parchment or aluminum foil.

Make the garlic butter by mixing everything in a dish.
Slice the loaf in half lengthwise and spread the butter mixture on each half of the loaf.
Place it on the baking sheet and transfer to the oven until toasty and golden brown.
Slice into 2-inch slices, and sprinkle with chopped parsley

A wooden cutting board, a loaf of bread and a knife slicing the bread.

Garlicky Bread Recipe Variations

In this section, we’ve gathered ideas for easy and mouthwatering garlicky bread recipes. These recipe variations take the simplicity of classic garlic bread and add exciting twists to create something extraordinary.

Mediterranean Garlic Bread

Give your garlic bread recipe a Mediterranean twist by mixing in chopped Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese with the garlic butter.

Garlicky Pizza Bread

Turn this easy garlic bread into a pizza-inspired treat by adding a layer of marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings before baking. It’s the perfect fusion of two beloved classics.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Take this classic recipe up a notch by adding an extra layer of cheesy goodness to the soft garlic spread. Mix shredded Parmesan, Mozzarella, and cheddar cheese into the garlic butter mixture for gooey, cheesy goodness that’s hard to resist.

Savory Herb Loaf Delight

Infuse a burst of basil garlic flavor by adding fresh chopped basil and thyme to the garlic butter mixture before slathering it on the loaf. Some other herbs that go well with this recipe are rosemary, sage, oregano, and tarragon.

Soft Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls

Instead of using a French loaf, get some soft dinner rolls. Slather each roll with garlic butter, then arrange them in a baking dish for a warm, homemade, buttery delight perfect for sharing.

Half a loaf of bread on a cutting board with a spatula spreading herbed garlic butter on the bread.

Bread Perfection: Top Tips for Garlic Bliss

Not all bread bakes with a perfectly smooth upper crust, and often, the loaves will have a cracked and misshapen upper crust that will not sit flat on the baking pan. To keep the bread level so the garlic butter bakes evenly, make a bolster with aluminum foil to prop against the uneven portion so it is level.
Whenever possible, use fresh garlic and mince it as finely as possible to get the best flavor in this recipe.
While the bread is cooking, check it frequently, especially the last few minutes, as it can go from “almost done” to burning in a flash. From experience, I have learned to set the timer.

Storing and Reheating Homemade Garlic Goodness

Proper storage of any unused portions will extend your enjoyment of the bread. Here are a couple of methods you can use.

Countertop: Wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap and store it on the countertop. The bread will keep for a day at room temperature.

Refrigeration: Place the cooled bread in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. The bread will keep for 2-3 days.

Freezing: Wrap the cooled bread in plastic wrap, then again in foil, and place in a freezer-safe bag. The bread will keep for up to three months.

To Reheat: Garlic bread can be reheated in the air fryer for a minute or two. Or you can wrap it in foil and bake it at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.

Two halves of hot, crunchy, buttery bread on a wire cooling rack.

A classic homemade garlic bread is the perfect partner for just about any dinner. Try it with Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti and mop up the rich Tomato Garlic Sauce.

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Buttery slices of bread in a black wroght iron bread basket.

Garlic Bread

A hot, crusty loaf of garlic bread, loaded with lots of garlic flavor and freshly chopped parsley.

5 from 9 votes

Print Pin Save

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 8

Total Time: 18

Servings: servings

Calories: 54kcal

Author: Pat Nyswonger

Ingredients

1 large unsliced loaf of Italian or French bread
1-½ sticks of butter softened
4-5 large cloves of garlic grated or crushed
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2-3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a small dish, combine the soft butter, garlic, garlic powder and the chopped parsley.
On a cutting board, slice the loaf of bread in half horizontally. Spread the garlic butter mixture equally on the cut surface of each bread half.
Place the bread on the sheet pan and transfer it to the oven.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the butter has melted and the bread begins to turn golden.
Remove the sheet pan from the oven and transfer the bread to the cutting board.
Sprinkle additional chopped parsley on the bread and cut into 2-inch slices. Serve immediately

Notes

If your loaf of bread has a misshapen top and tilts to the side, use wads of aluminum foil as a bolster to keep it flat. If it tilts the butter will roll off as it melts.
For variety add fresh chopped rosemary or thyme to the garlic-butter mixture
Use lots of fresh grated or crushed garlic. The jarred stuff doesn't have as much flavor but works in a pinch.
After the bread has cooked for 8 minutes, you can add Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese then broil until melted.