Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe

Homemade garlic bread is warm, buttery, garlicky perfection that transforms any meal into something special! With just a few simple ingredients like fresh French bread, real butter, aromatic garlic, and herbs, you can create the most incredible side dish that’ll have everyone reaching for seconds. This recipe is SO easy, you’ll never buy frozen garlic bread again!

Love More Recipes? Try My Chocolate Chip Banana Bread or this Crispy Focaccia Bread next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Warm, buttery, and perfectly crisp on the edges with a soft, fluffy center. Infused with rich garlic flavor and a touch of herbs, it’s the ultimate comfort side dish. Perfect alongside pasta, soups, or salads, it’s a classic everyone loves.

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Ingredient List

For the Garlic Bread:

• 1 loaf French or Italian bread (about 12–16 inches)
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4–6 cloves garlic, minced (adjust to taste)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon salt (optional, to taste)
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional for cheesy garlic bread)
• Optional sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese

Substitutions & Friendly Notes:

• Bread: Any crusty bread works! Try sourdough, ciabatta, or even a baguette.
• Butter: You can use salted butter and skip the extra salt. Margarine works in a pinch, but butter gives the best flavor.
• Garlic: Garlic powder (about 1 teaspoon) can substitute fresh, but fresh garlic truly makes this recipe shine!
• Parsley: Dried parsley (1 tablespoon) works, or use fresh basil or cilantro for a twist.
• Cheese: Feel free to skip for classic garlic bread, or go wild with cheddar, provolone, or a blend!

Why These Ingredients Work

The softened butter acts as the perfect creamy base that spreads easily and melts into every nook and cranny of the bread.

Fresh minced garlic delivers that punchy, aromatic flavor we all crave without being too sharp or overpowering.

The Italian seasoning adds depth with herbs like oregano and basil, while fresh parsley brings brightness and a pop of color. Mozzarella cheese creates those gorgeous melty, stretchy strands we love, and Parmesan adds a salty, nutty finish.

The crusty bread provides the ideal vehicle—crispy on the outside, soft and absorbent on the inside!

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Large baking sheet
• Serrated knife (for slicing bread)
• Small mixing bowl
• Spoon or spatula for mixing and spreading
• Aluminum foil (optional, for wrapping)

How To Make The Best Garlic Bread

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). This temperature is perfect for getting the bread toasty without drying it out too quickly.

Step 2: Prepare the Bread

Slice the loaf in half lengthwise so you have two long pieces. Use a good serrated knife and slice carefully—you want nice, even halves that will bake evenly.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter

In a bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, and salt until well combined. Make sure your butter is truly soft (not melted!) so everything incorporates beautifully. Give it a good stir until you see all that garlic and herbs distributed throughout.

Step 4: Spread the Magic

Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the cut sides of the bread. Be generous! Don’t be shy here—get it all the way to the edges. Every bite should have that garlicky goodness.

Step 5: Add Cheese (Optional but Recommended!)

If making cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the buttered bread. Add that optional Parmesan on top for extra flavor!

Step 6: Set Up for Baking

Place the bread on a baking sheet, cut-side up. Make sure they’re not overlapping so they bake evenly.

Step 7: Bake Until Golden

Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the bread is warm and toasty. You’ll know it’s ready when you can smell that incredible garlicky aroma wafting through your kitchen!

Step 8: Broil for Extra Crispiness (Optional)

For extra golden cheese and crispier edges, switch to broil for an additional 1–2 minutes. WATCH CAREFULLY to avoid burning—this step happens fast!

Step 9: Slice and Serve

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly for about 2–3 minutes. Slice into pieces and serve immediately while it’s still warm and the cheese is gloriously melty!

You Must Know

Your butter MUST be softened to room temperature, not melted. If the butter is melted, it’ll soak into the bread too much instead of creating that perfect buttery layer on top. Leave it out for about 30–45 minutes before you start. Also, don’t skip the broiling step if you want that restaurant-style golden, crispy top!

Personal Secret: I always add just a tiny drizzle of olive oil over the garlic butter before baking. It helps create an even more golden, crispy crust and adds another layer of flavor.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Mince your garlic finely: Large chunks can burn and turn bitter. Use a garlic press or mince it super fine for the best distribution.
• Room temperature butter is key: If you forgot to soften your butter, cut it into small cubes and microwave for 5–8 seconds at a time until soft but not melted.
• Watch the broiler: Set a timer for 1 minute when broiling. Garlic bread can go from perfect to burnt in seconds!
• Make it ahead: Prepare the garlic butter mixture and spread it on the bread, then wrap tightly in foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
• Freeze for later: Wrap prepared (unbaked) garlic bread tightly in foil, then plastic wrap. Freeze up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 375°F for 15–18 minutes.

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

Roasted Garlic Bread: Use roasted garlic instead of fresh for a sweeter, mellower garlic flavor that’s absolutely divine.

Spicy Garlic Bread: Add ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne to the butter mixture for a kick.

Herb Lover’s Garlic Bread: Add fresh rosemary, thyme, or basil to the butter mixture alongside the parsley.

Everything Bagel Garlic Bread: Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the buttered bread before baking.

Garlic Bread with Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Mix in 2 tablespoons of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the garlic butter.

Four-Cheese Garlic Bread: Use a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone, and asiago for ultimate cheesy goodness.

Pesto Garlic Bread: Swirl 2 tablespoons of pesto into your garlic butter for an herby twist.

Make-Ahead Options

This garlic bread is PERFECT for making ahead! You can prepare the garlic butter mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Just let it come to room temperature before spreading.

For fully prepped garlic bread, spread the butter mixture on the bread, wrap the entire thing tightly in aluminum foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, unwrap and follow the baking instructions as written—you might need an extra minute or two since the bread will be cold.

To freeze, wrap the prepared (unbaked) garlic bread in foil, then in plastic wrap or a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen at 375°F for 15–18 minutes, then broil for 1–2 minutes if desired.

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

The type of bread you choose really matters! French and Italian breads have that perfect crusty exterior and soft interior that makes garlic bread so special. Avoid soft sandwich bread—it’ll get soggy. Fresh bread from your bakery will give you the BEST results, but store-bought works wonderfully too.

If your garlic bread seems to be browning too quickly on top but isn’t warm all the way through, tent it with foil and continue baking. The foil prevents over-browning while allowing the heat to penetrate.

Don’t have fresh parsley? It’s okay! The garlic bread will still be delicious. But if you can grab some, it really does make a difference in both flavor and presentation.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic bread is the ultimate side dish! Serve it alongside:

• Any pasta dish (spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna)
• Hearty soups like minestrone, tomato soup, or chicken noodle
• Fresh green salads
• Pizza night (yes, carbs on carbs!)
• Grilled meats or chicken
• As an appetizer with marinara sauce for dipping

I love to cut it into smaller pieces for parties and serve with a warm marinara dipping sauce in the center. It’s always the first thing to disappear!

Optional garnishes: A sprinkle of fresh parsley, extra Parmesan, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze takes it from everyday to extraordinary.

How to Store Your Garlic Bread

Room Temperature: Garlic bread is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Refrigerator: Store leftover baked garlic bread wrapped in foil or in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Wrap cooled garlic bread tightly in foil, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating Instructions:

• Oven: Wrap in foil and reheat at 350°F for 8–10 minutes until warmed through. Unwrap and broil for 1 minute to re-crisp if desired.
• Microwave: Heat individual slices for 15–20 seconds (though this won’t be as crispy).
• Air Fryer: Reheat at 350°F for 3–4 minutes for perfectly crispy bread!

Allergy Information

Contains: Dairy (butter, cheese), gluten (bread)

Dairy-Free Option: Use vegan butter (like Earth Balance) and skip the cheese, or use dairy-free mozzarella shreds.

Gluten-Free Option: Use your favorite gluten-free bread loaf. The texture will be slightly different, but it’s still delicious!

Vegan Option: Use vegan butter and dairy-free cheese alternatives.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?

You can, but fresh garlic really is SO much better! If you must use powder, use about 1 teaspoon and mix it well into the softened butter. Just know that you won’t get quite the same punchy, aromatic flavor.

My garlic bread burned on top but was still cold inside. What happened?

This usually means your oven temperature was too high or you placed the bread too close to the heating element. Make sure you’re baking at 375°F on a middle rack, and only use the broiler for the last 1–2 minutes while watching carefully!

Can I make this without butter?

Butter truly makes this recipe special, but you can use olive oil in a pinch. Mix ⅓ cup olive oil with the garlic and herbs, then drizzle and spread it over the bread. It’ll be more like bruschetta-style garlic bread—still delicious, just different!

Do I have to use Italian seasoning?

Nope! You can use dried oregano, basil, or whatever herbs you have on hand. Even plain garlic bread with just butter, garlic, and parsley is absolutely amazing.

Should I wrap my garlic bread in foil while baking?

For this recipe, no! Baking uncovered gives you that crispy, golden top. However, if you’re making it ahead or want softer bread, you can wrap it in foil for the first 8–10 minutes, then unwrap and broil to crisp up the top.

Can I add other toppings?

Absolutely! Garlic bread is your canvas. Try adding cooked bacon bits, caramelized onions, sliced tomatoes, or even jalapeños. Get creative!

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your garlic bread turned out.