Homemade Garlic Bread

Ingredient Notes and Tips

• Look for a 1-lb. loaf of store-bought soft Italian bread or a loaf of French bread in the bakery section. You can also use a baguette, but I find that the baguette’s crust can almost get too crunchy when toasted. The softer Italian bread has a larger surface area for the garlic butter spread, and stays soft and chewy in the center while getting crisp and toasty on the edges.
• Soften the butter at room temperature so that it’s easy to spread.
• Salted butter gives the garlic bread much more flavor. If using unsalted butter, you’ll want to season your spread with a dash of extra salt.
• Make sure the garlic is finely minced or pressed so that you don’t end up with any big chunks of garlic on your bread. You can even keep a jar of minced fresh garlic in your fridge for those nights when you need a shortcut (and you don’t want to fuss with peeling cloves)!
• Fresh herbs add a touch of bright flavor and a little bit of extra color. I prefer fresh parsley, but about 1 teaspoon of dried parsley flakes will also work in a pinch. Feel free to add other herbs that you enjoy, such as thyme, oregano, chives, or basil.
• If you like cheesy garlic bread, try sprinkling the top with grated Parmesan cheese. You can also use cheddar cheese, or try a combination of multiple cheeses. Anything goes when you make it at home!

Serving Suggestions

This classic Italian side dish isn’t just reserved for spaghetti night! It’s delicious as an appetizer when dipped in marinara sauce, and it works well as a side dish with Italian-inspired meals like this basic spaghetti carbonara recipe, slow cooker Italian wedding soup, chicken vegetable soup, chicken gnocchi soup, Parmesan chicken bites, this easy chicken Parmesan recipe, tomato basil soup, hamburger potato soup, baked ziti with sausage, homemade lasagna, and this spinach lasagna recipe.

Recipe Variations

• Regular Bread: Sometimes you just don’t want to make an extra trip to the grocery store! In that case, you can make homemade garlic toast with regular sandwich bread or even with split hamburger and hotdog buns. Just prepare the butter mixture as instructed in the recipe, spread on your bread of choice, and toast it until golden brown.
• Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe: top the buttered garlic bread with grated Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, or cheddar cheese before toasting.
• Garlic Powder: if you don’t have fresh cloves of garlic, substitute with about ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. You can also add some Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
• Soft or Crunchy: This recipe yields bread that’s soft and chewy on the inside, but toasted and crisp on the edges. If you prefer a softer garlic bread, wrap the loaf in aluminum foil before baking.
• Roasted Garlic Butter: Swap fresh garlic for mashed roasted garlic for a sweeter, mellow flavor.
• Broil the bread during the final 1-2 minutes if you like the top an even deeper, darker brown.
• Make it spicy by sprinkling crushed red pepper flakes on top of the bread while it’s warm.

FAQs

• What’s the difference between using garlic powder and fresh garlic for garlic bread? Fresh garlic gives a bold, aromatic flavor, while garlic powder is milder and more convenient. If using garlic powder, you need much less than fresh minced garlic.
• Can I make garlic bread ahead of time and bake later? Yes! You can assemble it a few days in advance and store it in the fridge, or wrap it tightly and keep it in the freezer until ready to bake. It can go straight from the fridge or freezer to the oven.
• How do I get garlic bread crispy on the outside but soft in the middle? Bake the bread cut-side up until the butter melts, then broil briefly for crispy edges. A sturdy loaf also helps keep the inside fluffy while the crust crisps.
• What kind of bread works best for garlic bread? Italian or French bread is traditional, but Texas toast is great for thick, buttery slices. Just choose a sturdy loaf that can hold up to the butter and heat.

Originally published in September, 2020, this post was updated in August, 2025.