Homemade Garlic Bread is the BEST! Skip the frozen aisle and make your own using just a few key ingredients.
French bread, minced garlic, softened butter, fresh parsley and parmesan cheese combine to make this an epic family dinner side!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below, but you can jump right to the recipe card if you wish!
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Dinner is always amped up a little when you serve Homemade Garlic Bread with it, right? This recipe goes fabulously with Spaghetti Bolognese or Spaghetti Carbonara. I say if you’re going to do carbs, do it right (and I am always going to do carbs).
Just mix up the garlic butter mixture, slice the bread and slather it on. Bake in the oven while you prep the rest of dinner! This recipe will take less than 15 minutes and the majority of that is hands off!
Cheesy Garlic bread is one of my favorite comfort foods, it’s one of those combinations that is a classic. The smell of it cooking is SO good, it will bring the entire family into the kitchen sniffing the air and asking what’s for dinner!
Because it’s hands off, I can throw together an Arugula Salad, while it bakes and my main dish cooks, but I’ve known to make it to serve with Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip, too.
The true key to this recipe is simple ingredients, used well. However, if you don’t have the exact same stuff in your kitchen, check out the notes below for how to change this up.
If you have a bit of extra time, try my Garlic Cheese Bread Rolls Recipe. It’s a from scratch masterpiece, I swear.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Easy to make. You won’t need a culinary degree for this!
- Common ingredients. Just good old fashioned food, that you probably have on hand already.
- Freezer friendly. Slice it, slather it and wrap it in foil and freeze.
I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Kylee’s Notes
Substitutions/Additions
Garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic. Use 1/2 teaspoon for every clove (so in this case, you’ll need 2 tsp). Avoid the jarred garlic if you can. Since garlic is a prominent feature of this bread, fresh garlic just tastes better.
Parsley is 100% optional. I think it looks pretty, and adds a little something-something. You can also use Italian Seasoning if that’s what you have.
Storing leftovers
Leftover garlic bread can be wrapped tightly in foil and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake the wrapped bread at 350° for 10-15 minutes.
Freezing instructions
This recipe can also be frozen before baking. Cover tightly with foil and wrap with plastic wrap. Freeze.
Remove from the freezer, and bake as directed, adding an extra 5-10 minutes on if not thawed.
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- French Bread. Any kind of bread will do just fine, as long as it is thick enough to handle the amounts of butter and garlic you’re about to pile on. You can use a baguette, a sourdough loaf cut into thick slices, or even sandwich bread (go easy on the garlic butter) if that’s what you have.
- Garlic. This is one of the times you should opt for fresh garlic over the stuff in the jar. The stuff in the jar definitely has its place for convenience (and I use it for some things), but since garlic is a main flavor in this recipe, fresh cloves are needed.
Garlic powder can also be used in place of fresh garlic if you must. Use 1/2 teaspoon for every clove called for in the recipe. - Butter. You can use salted or unsalted butter. Leave it on the counter to soften while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
- Olive Oil. This adds a richness of flavor to the garlic butter.
- Parsley. Totally optional! If you don’t have fresh parsley, just add a few teaspoons of Italian Seasoning or Tuscan Seasoning instead.
- Parmesan Cheese. I’m absolutely not going to be judge-y on this one. If you have the green can of parmesan, by all means – use it. It will make the garlic butter yummy and the top will get crunchy and crispy.
I used fresh parmesan in this recipe, but I regularly use the green can of “parmesan” and we love it just the same.
How to make this recipe
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This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Get prepped
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with foil, parchment or a silicone mat.
Make the garlic butter
In a small bowl, mash together the softened butter, garlic, half of the parmesan, parsley and olive oil until well combined.
Assembly
Cut the bread in half lengthwise
Slather the garlic butter evenly over both pieces, and sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake
Bake in the oven for 8 minutes (keep an eye on it).
Slice and Devour
Need some more bread side dish recipes?
- Red Lobster Biscuits. Soft, fluffy biscuits packed with cheddar cheese, and brushed with flavorful garlic butter after baking, these cheddar biscuits are dreamy!
- Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls. Quick and easy to make, these deliciously soft Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls make the perfect amount for your family! They make a hearty side to any dinner. Yum!
- Fluffy Golden Skillet Cornbread – a cinch to make, and is a fantastic side for any meal!
- 30 Minute Dinner Rolls – Make these dinner rolls from scratch in just about 30 minutes!! These are great for holidays, weeknights, basically – any time you need them. Using a stand mixer and simple ingredients, you can have these homemade rolls on the table FAST!!
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Homemade Garlic Bread
Ingredients
Directions
Get prepped
- Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line a baking sheet with foil, parchment or a silicone mat.
Make the garlic butter
- In a small bowl, mash together the ½ cup butter (softened), 4 cloves garlic (minced), half of the ½ cup parmesan cheese, ¼ cup fresh parsley, and 1 tablespoon olive oil until well combined.
Assembly
- Cut the 1 loaf French bread in half lengthwise
- Slather the garlic butter evenly over both pieces, and sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake
- Bake in the oven for 8 -10 minutes until golden brown (keep an eye on it).
Slice and devour.
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Notes
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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