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No pasta party is complete without Homemade Garlic Bread. In just 25 minutes, you can have a warm, buttery loaf ready to pair with any Italian entree.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- French bread: I prefer the light, soft crumb and crusty exterior of a French loaf for Garlic Bread, but if you can only find Italian bread, that will work just fine.
- Butter: Cold butter usually softens up in about 30 minutes when left out at room temperature. To soften butter in the microwave, cut each stick of butter in half, unwrap, and place on a microwave safe plate. Then cook the butter at 10% power for 1 minute, then gently press on the butter with your finger. If it’s still too firm, cook for another 40 seconds at 10% power.
- Garlic powder: This spice cabinet staple is made with dried, ground garlic cloves. It’s ideal for Garlic Bread and other baked and broiled recipes to add garlic flavor without burning. Since it’s already finely-ground, it incorporates easily and evenly into the butter mixture. Plus it’s shelf-stable!
Step-by-step instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. In a small bowl, whisk together softened butter, olive oil, garlic powder, and parsley until well combined.
- Cut loaf of bread lengthwise. Spread half of the butter mixture on each half of bread and set on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake until edges turn golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This Garlic Bread recipe makes 12 slices. I generally make enough for two to three per person, so feel free to double or triple this recipe as needed.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The garlic bread spread can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. For maximum spreadability, bring to room temperature for 1-2 hours before using.
- Freezer: Unbaked garlic bread is ideal for freezing! After you have topped the bread with the garlicky butter spread, place both halves in the freezer until frozen solid. Then, put the two cut sides together, wrap them in foil and plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from the freezer in a 425-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Cheese, please: If desired, top each loaf of Garlic Bread with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese in step 3 (the kind from the green shaker can).
- Round out your Italian Feast: serve with a warm bowl of Minestrone Soup or Italian Wedding Soup, an entree-sized serving of Cheese Tortellini and Garlic Butter Sauce, savory Risotto, or a lively Pasta Primavera.
More Italian Mains
Chicken and Turkey Recipes
Caprese Chicken
Italian Recipes
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Fish and Seafood Recipes
Easy Shrimp Scampi
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Garlic Bread
No pasta party is complete without Homemade Garlic Bread. In just 25 minutes, you can have a warm, buttery loaf ready to pair with any Italian entree.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread cut in half lengthwise (see note 1)
- 1/2 cup butter softened (1 stick, see note 2)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder (see note 3)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. In a small bowl, whisk together butter, olive oil, garlic powder, and parsley until well combined.
- Cut loaf of bread lengthwise. Spread half of the butter mixture on each half of bread. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until edges turn golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Recipe Video
Notes
- French bread: I prefer the light, soft crumb and crusty exterior of a French loaf for Garlic Bread, but if you can only find Italian bread, that will work just fine.
- Butter: Cold butter usually softens up in about 30 minutes when left out at room temperature. To soften butter in the microwave, cut each stick of butter in half, unwrap, and place on a microwave safe plate. Then cook the butter at 10% power for 1 minute, then gently press on the butter with your finger. If it’s still too firm, cook for another 40 seconds at 10% power.
- Garlic powder: This spice cabinet staple is made with dried, ground garlic cloves. It’s ideal for Garlic Bread and other baked and broiled recipes to add garlic flavor without burning. Since it’s already finely-ground, it incorporates easily and evenly into the butter mixture. Plus it’s shelf-stable!
- Yield: This Garlic Bread recipe makes 12 slices. I generally make enough for two to three per person, so feel free to double or triple this recipe as needed.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The garlicky spread can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. For maximum spreadability, bring to room temperature for 1-2 hours before using.
- Freezer: Unbaked garlic bread is ideal for freezing! After you have topped the bread with the garlicky butter spread, place both halves in the freezer until frozen solid. Then, put the two cut sides together, wrap in foil and plastic, and freeze up to 3 months. Bake straight from the freezer in a 425-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Cheese, please: If desired, top each loaf of Garlic Bread with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese in step 3 (the kind from the green shaker can).
Nutrition
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 239mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 264IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.