Garlic Bread Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published September 18, 2019. Updated September 19, 2019

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Fresh and flavorful Garlic Bread warm from the oven! Also known as the perfect beginning to any Italian style dinner. You get those perfectly crisp edges, a soft buttery center, and a golden brown toasted top with fresh garlic and herbs.

Skip the store bough junk made with margarine and make this super fast and easy recipe instead!

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Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe

Once you try this homemade garlic bread you’ll never want to buy the stuff from the store again! It’s made with basic ingredients yet it has such incredible flavor. The best foods often start with simple things like fresh bread.

And cozy dinners don’t get much better than soup and fresh garlic bread, or say stepping into a carb Heaven of spaghetti and sauce paired with garlic bread on cold rainy days. Because fall is all about the comfort foods right?

It’s perfect for an appetizer or for dunking into the main dish of tomato soup or that marinara sauce over pasta.

Variations:

Plus this garlic bread is such a versatile recipe. Here I’ve just shared the version I love with butter, fresh herbs, a fair amount of garlic and pepper. But you can use other things like olive oil, different herbs like marjoram, rosemary or a little thyme (or no herbs), you can use roasted garlic (add lots, I’m talking like a couple of heads of roasted garlic!).

Or you can adjust the amount of fresh garlic used to taste. Some people love garlic (definitely me) and some people aren’t to fond of it, in which case you can even sub in garlic powder for a milder flavor.

The key is just to follow the simple method of baking first to crisp up the exterior, then broiling briefly at the end to toast the tops.

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Ingredients Needed for Garlic Bread:

  • French bread – I usually use the fluffy stuff here but the denser stuff will be great too, you just may not need to use all the butter mixture since sometimes the loaves aren’t as big.
  • Butter – I like to use salted butter but unsalted will work too you’ll just need to season the mixture with salt.
  • Garlic – I’ve found 3 garlic cloves to be a good amount but if you like it less garlicky you can even start with 1.
  • Freshly ground black pepper – you know the Italian restaurants that serve fresh bread with olive oil and pepper for dipping? Weirdly enough pepper just makes bread taste better sometimes.
  • Fresh herbs – these are optional. I like a blend of parsley, basil and oregano. You can use 1 kind or all 3. Dried herbs work too.

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How to Make Garlic Bread:

  • Preheat oven and cut bread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut french bread loaf in half horizontally.

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  • Make garlic butter mixture: In a small mixing bowl stir together butter, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano and pepper.
  • Spread butter mixture over bread, place on baking sheet: spread garlic butter mixture evenly over both bread halves. Place bread on baking sheet if you haven’t already.

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  • Bake: Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes.
  • Broil: Move oven rack closer to broiler. Let bread broil about 45 seconds to 3 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it, it can brown quickly.
  • Slice: Cut into slices and serve warm. Season with a pinch of salt if needed.

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Tips for the Best Garlic Bread:

  • For best flavor use real butter or olive oil, never margarine.
  • For the ultimate fresh flavor use fresh garlic, fresh herbs and fresh bread baked the day of.
  • Keep on eye on the loaf as it broils! It can toast very quickly especially if the broiler is preheated.

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What to Serve with Garlic Bread?

  • Zuppa Toscana Soup
  • Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
  • Spaghetti with Spaghetti Sauce or Marinara Sauce
  • Italian Wedding Soup
  • Pasta e fa*gioli

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Delicious Bread Recipes to Try:

  • Breadsticks
  • No Knead Bread
  • 1 Hour Bread
  • Rosemary Bread
  • Amazing Dinner Rolls

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Garlic Bread Recipe - Cooking Classy (9)

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Garlic Bread

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Fresh and flavorful Garlic Bread! Also known as the perfect beginning to any Italian style dinner! You get those perfectly crisp edges, a soft buttery center, and golden brown toasted top with fresh garlic and herbs. Skip the store bough junk with margarine and make this super fast and easy recipe instead!

Servings: 10

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut french bread loaf in half horizontally.

  • In a small mixing bowl stir together butter, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano and pepper. Brush mixture evenly over top of both bread halves.

  • Place bread on baking sheet and bake in center of preheated oven for 8 minutes.

  • Move oven rack closer to broiler. Let bread broil about 45 seconds to 3 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it, it can brown quickly.

  • Cut into slices and serve warm.

Notes

  • Tip: if you want slices to toast evenly you can place wrapped pieces of foil under loaves so they're more level. Though this isn't necessary, if one loaf browns quicker than the other you can just remove it from the pan and continue toasting the other.

VARIATIONS

  • If you like it extra herby double up on all the herbs, it's delicious!
  • Try it with other herbs like rosemary, marjoram or thyme.
  • Use a few heads of roasted garlic in place of fresh garlic. Squeeze roasted cloves from skin, mash and spread over toasted bread.
  • For a milder garlic flavor 1 tsp garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic, or use only 1 clove fresh garlic.
  • Olive oil or extra virgin olive oil can used instead of butter. Season mixture with a little salt and brush oil mixture over bread halves.
  • 1/3 cup shredded or grated parmesan can be added to the loaf before broiling for a cheesy flavor.
  • Want a little spicy kick? Sprinkle loaf with some red pepper flakes before baking.

Nutrition Facts

Garlic Bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 180Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 24mg8%

Sodium 312mg14%

Potassium 57mg2%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 338IU7%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 30mg3%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Garlic Bread

Author: Jaclyn

Garlic Bread Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

Is French or Italian better for garlic bread? ›

What is the best bread for garlic bread? French breads and Italian breads top the list for the best bread for garlic bread, but the best choice between these comes down to personal preference. For example, ciabatta is a flat Italian bread with a larger crumb (bigger holes) but still with a crunchy crust.

What is the difference between garlic bread and garlic toast? ›

Garlic bread (also called garlic toast) consists of bread (usually a baguette, sour dough, or bread such as ciabatta), topped with garlic and occasionally olive oil or butter and may include additional herbs, such as oregano or chives. It is then either grilled until toasted or baked in a conventional or bread oven.

What's the green stuff on garlic bread? ›

It's parsley

Yep, the green flecks are finely-chopped parsley. Recipe after recipe calls for the addition of the herb to the top of the bread ―- and if Mary Berry says it's parsley, then parsley it surely is.

Why is my garlic bread not crispy? ›

Additionally, make sure your garlic bread is toasted fairly quickly and at a high enough temperature. If it is toasted at a much lower temperature or sits for a longer time afterwards, it is more likely to melt and puddle and soak the butter into the bread before it finishes toasting.

Do real Italians eat garlic bread? ›

Garlic Bread

The Italians do eat garlic rubbed on toasted bread – with olive oil, not butter – and call it bruschetta. But they will toast an Italian bread such as ciabatta, not a French baguette, as has become popular in the UK and America.

What is the fancy name for garlic bread? ›

Bruschetta: From the Italian bruscare meaning "to roast over coals," this traditional garlic bread is made by rubbing slices of toasted bread with garlic cloves, then drizzling the bread with extra-virgin olive oil.

Why is there no garlic bread in Italy? ›

Because traditionally in Italian cuisine garlic is not ised with butter (there are exceptions). Because on our table bread is used to accompany all fiod except for pasta,ice, polenta, and potatoes,so it can't be saturated with fats or have an overpow…

Is it healthy to eat garlic bread everyday? ›

High Calorie and Fat Content: Garlic bread is often made with ingredients like butter or margarine, which are high in calories and saturated fats. Overconsumption of high-calorie and high-fat foods can contribute to weight gain, elevated cholesterol levels, and an increased risk of heart disease.

Why is minced garlic best for garlic bread? ›

Garlic: fresh garlic cloves (rather than garlic powder) are KEY for that true garlic flavor. The minced garlic gets roasted to perfection in the oven.

Why does garlic bread taste so good? ›

Garlic bread is an incredibly delicious and flavorful combination of butter, garlic, and bread. The combination of butter and garlic creates a unique flavor that is both savory and slightly sweet. The butter helps to bring out the garlic and the bread is the perfect vehicle for the combination.

Why do you serve pasta with garlic bread? ›

Garlic bread is a staple in Italian cuisine and every nook and corner of the country has its own way of consuming it. In most parts of Italy, it is an accompaniment to the main meal, where the bread is perfect to soak up the sauces and flavours of pastas, stews and broths.

Why did my garlic bread turn green in the oven? ›

The colour is probably the result of a reaction between sulphur compounds and amino acids (building blocks of protein) that are naturally present in garlic. In certain cooking conditions, these compounds (assisted by enzymes) interact to produce new molecules that give a green tint to the garlic.

Why is my homemade garlic bread soggy? ›

Applying the wrong amount of butter or oil

Too much butter and your garlic bread becomes a soggy, greasy mess, but too little, and you end up with brick-like pieces that are nearly unpalatable. It's safe to say that the amount of fat you use can make or break the dish.

Is it better to wrap garlic bread in foil? ›

By baking the bread in foil for the first 10 minutes, you allow the ciabatta to soften, which will give you a pillowy, chewy inside. Wrapping the bread also keeps the garlic from burning. Unwrapping the bread and baking it more adds color and will crisp up the crust for the perfect crunchy outside.

How do you moisten garlic bread? ›

Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Sprinkle the bread with a little water, then wrap it in aluminum foil and place it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. Steam: Boil a pot of water and hold the stale bread over the steam for a few seconds. Be careful not to let it get too wet.

Is French or Italian bread better? ›

French loaves are usually prepared using electric convection deck ovens. This helps create a softer and less chewy texture as compared to Italian bread loaves. It also makes them perfect for sandwiches. If you've never tried a baguette sandwich before, you're missing out!

What is the difference between French bread and Italian bread? ›

French bread tends to be longer and narrower. Italian bread loaves tend to be shorter and plumper. French bread tends to be hard and crusty on the outside, with a light and soft crumb. Italian bread can also have a hard crust, but the crumb tends to be denser.

Does French bread and Italian bread taste the same? ›

French bread, which is often slightly sweeter in taste, is traditionally paired with sweeter foods; it's often eaten for breakfast and consumed with chocolate and fruity jams. Italian bread is more savory by nature and thus is accompanied with more savory ingredients like olive oil, tomatoes, and cheese.

Where is garlic bread originally from? ›

It is said to have originated in Southern Italy as a way to use up leftover bread, which was sliced and rubbed with garlic and olive oil. Over time, the garlic bread recipe evolved as butter, or burro, replaced olive oil, and the bread was toasted or baked instead of being grilled.

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