Crazy Good Garlic Bread Recipe
Our garlic bread recipe is a family favorite! It’s slathered with the best homemade garlic butter, sprinkled with cheese, and then baked in the oven until it’s toasty and golden brown. So delicious!
Serve homemade garlic bread with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Lasagna or Baked Rigatoni. Everyone will be asking for the recipe!
This Garlic Bread is Pure Comfort Food Bliss
For me, bread is the ultimate comfort food. I’ll never pass up a homemade dinner roll, a flaky biscuit, or slice of sourdough.
So when buttery, crispy-edged garlic bread is on the table? I am powerless to resist.
This homemade garlic bread is a favorite of mine because it’s quick and easy to make, incredibly delicious, and it goes with so many of our favorite dinner recipes. I make this recipe almost every week, it is just so good. I think you’ll love it too!
When I was testing this recipe, I tried it with fresh garlic and with garlic powder, and with and without Parmesan cheese. We had four varieties of garlic bread on our dinner table one night to compare, and no one complained one bit! Made with fresh garlic, the garlic flavor is stronger, which I personally love. My kids preferred the bread made with garlic powder, which is also the easier option if you’re pressed for time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- French Bread: I prefer to make this recipe with a loaf of French bread, but you can also use a loaf of sourdough bread or a baguette.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter, or omit the added salt in the recipe.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic makes the best garlic bread with lots of garlic flavor. If you want to use garlic powder, I’ve also included directions for that below.
- Salt: Adding salt to the garlic butter enhances all of the flavors.
- Parmesan Cheese: Optional, but it adds incredible cheesy flavor!
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped fresh parsley sprinkled on the bread after baking adds a pop of color and flavor. As an alternative, I sometimes sprinkle a little dried oregano on before baking.
Kristine’s Tip: You’ll want the butter to be very soft and spreadable, so plan ahead and let it soften to room temperature before beginning the recipe. To soften butter quickly, place it in a medium bowl and cut it into smaller pieces. Unless your kitchen is really chilly, the smaller pieces should soften in about 20 minutes. You can also heat the butter for a few seconds in the microwave.
How to Make Garlic Bread
Slice bread. First, cut the loaf in half lengthwise. You may want to cut the two halves crosswise as well to help them fit on the baking sheet. Then, being careful to not cut all the way through the bottom crust of the bread, cut the loaves partway into slices that can be pulled apart after baking.
Make garlic butter. In a medium bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, salt and Parmesan cheese. Spread it over the bread.
Bake until the edges are golden brown. I usually bake it at 400° for 8 minutes, then turn on the broiler and broil for 1-2 minutes to get the edges nice and golden-crispy. Bake it a few minutes less for softer bread, or a few minutes more if you like it extra crispy.
Then serve, with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Dried herbs: Add a teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning to the garlic butter mixture.
- Cheesy garlic bread: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the bread after spreading on the garlic butter, then bake as directed in the recipe.
- How to make garlic bread with garlic powder: You can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for the fresh minced garlic in this recipe. The garlic flavor will be more subtle if using garlic powder.
- Double the garlic: For an extra punch of garlic flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in addition to the fresh garlic in the butter mixture.
- How to make garlic bread with sliced bread: If you don’t have French bread but are craving garlic bread, you can spread the garlic butter over sliced bread and bake until golden brown.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Garlic bread is best served right after baking, when it is fresh. If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, wrap the bread in foil and bake at 350° F for about 10 minutes, until warm. This will soften it back up.
Ways I’ve Served this Garlic Bread
Just about any meal is made better with garlic bread! It’s a classic to serve with Italian favorites such as Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Piccata, Instant Pot Spaghetti, Stuffed Shells and my Chicken Florentine Pasta Bake.
I also love to serve homemade garlic bread with our favorite soups, including Instant Pot Minestrone, Potato Soup, Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup and Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Or enjoy it with Crock Pot Pork Chops or Stuffed Peppers.
We also love this served as an appetizer, with Marinara Sauce for dipping.
More Bread Recipes
Crazy Good Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread*
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter*, softened
- 4 medium cloves fresh garlic, minced, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Slice French bread in half lengthwise. Then, without cutting all the way through the bottom crust of the bread, cut the loaves partway into slices that can be pulled apart after baking. Place bread on a large baking sheet, cut side up, and set aside.
- Place the softened butter in a medium bowl. If the butter is not very soft, you can heat it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it more, but do not melt it.
- Add the minced garlic (or garlic powder), salt and Parmesan cheese to the bowl with the softened butter. Stir together until very well combined.
- Spread the garlic butter over the top of the bread.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, until the garlic bread is as browned as you like it. If you like the edges extra crispy and golden, you can broil the garlic bread for the last 1-2 minutes. Just watch it closely so it doesn't burn (don't walk away from the oven – I've learned this from experience.)
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired, and serve.
Notes
- If using salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe.
- The Parmesan cheese is optional but adds delicious flavor.
- For an extra punch of garlic flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder to the butter mixture in addition to the fresh garlic.
- Recipe is for a large loaf of French bread. If your loaf is smaller you may not need all of the butter mixture.
- Garlic bread is best served right after baking, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, wrap in foil and bake at 350° F for about 10 minutes, until warm.
Post originally published September 2021. Updated August 2024.
I will be trying your garlic bread