5 from 5 votes

Easy Homemade Garlic Knots Recipe (from scratch)

ByKylee AyottePublished: July 23, 2024
Prep 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook 15 minutes
Total 1 hour 45 minutes
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Homemade Garlic Knots are the perfect side for any kind of dish, and so easy to make from scratch. The knots are brushed with homemade garlic butter (twice), and are soft, fluffy and packed with flavor. Your family and friends will love these!

Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!

garlic knots in a white bowl with marinara sauce

There is nothing quite like the smell, taste and feel of fresh homemade bread, right? I love to have a bread option to serve with dinner, they really round out a comfort food meal! When I’m not making my Red Lobster Biscuits, these are the next go-to recipe I use!

You are also going to want to check out my Cheesy Garlic Bread and my Garlic Cheese Bread Rolls

These buttery garlic knots are perfect for serving alongside pretty much any family dinner, but always with soup and stew! We love to eat these with Spaghetti Bolognese, Ravioli Lasagna. They are also great to set out as “bread for the table” whenever we have guests over.

You can serve as an appetizer as well. Just pour some marinara sauce into a bowl (choose your favorite, or make your own), and use as a dipping sauce.

This is an easy recipe that can be made ahead, frozen, or made right before serving. We make a basic bread dough recipe, let it go through the first rise, then punch down and shape into knots. Then, we bake and brush with a delicious garlic parmesan topping.

Typically, these are served in Italian pizzerias and are made of pizza dough. If you happen to pizza dough hanging about, by all means – use it for this! I use a basic bread roll recipe to create mine. See the tip box for more variations and options.

Why you’ll love this

  • Basic Ingredients. No need for a run to the store for anything crazy.
  • Super easy to make. This recipe can be made in a bread machine, in a stand mixer, or by hand.
  • Homemade. Homemade is always better than anything you can buy.

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Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead

garlic knots in a white bowl with marinara sauce

Key Recipe Ingredients

Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card. 

  • Milk. Warmed slightly (to about 110°F) to help activate the yeast. You can use any type of milk, but whole milk will give the best texture.
  • Egg. Adds richness and helps with the structure of the dough.
  • Butter. Used both in the dough and for the topping. Melted for easy mixing.
  • Bread flour. Provides the necessary gluten for a chewy texture. You can substitute all-purpose flour, but the texture may be slightly different.
  • Granulated white sugar. Adds a touch of sweetness and helps with yeast activation.
  • Salt. Enhances the flavor of the dough.
  • Yeast. You can use active dry yeast or instant yeast.
  • Garlic. Fresh garlic is best, but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch or garlic powder.
  • Italian seasoning. You can substitute parsley or leave it out if preferred. Make your own Italian Seasoning!
Top-down view of baking ingredients on a marble counter, including flour, sugar, butter, milk, egg, salt, and yeast, each labeled.

Homemade Garlic Knots Recipe (Step by Step)

This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

Jump

Make the garlic butter topping. Combine the butter, garlic and Italian seasoning. Set aside.

Make the dough. Add the dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer. Blend together the wet ingredients and pour in. Mix with the paddle until a dough forms. Switch up for the dough hook and knead until smooth and elastic.

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1st Rise. Transfer to a large bowl greased lightly with olive oil, cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel, and allow to rise to double in size (about an hour).

A dough hook in a stand mixer kneads dough until smooth and elastic. Text instructs to use a stand mixer with a dough hook and knead until smooth and elastic.
A ball of dough sits in a glass bowl next to a striped kitchen towel on a marble countertop, with text instructing to cover and allow the dough to rise.

Punch down, and place the dough on a floured surface.

A hand is kneading dough in a transparent glass bowl placed on a marble countertop. A striped cloth is partially visible on the left.
A ball of dough is placed on a floured surface next to a metal dough scraper, with a striped cloth partially visible on the left.

Shape garlic knots. Flatten the dough in a rectangle or square, then divide dough into 24 pieces, and roll each ball into a long rope.

Dough flattened and cut into 24 pieces on a marble countertop, with a striped cloth partially visible on the left side.
A person is preparing dough on a marble surface. Squares of dough and a dough strip are visible along with a white-and-blue striped cloth. The text reads "Roll each ball into a rope.

Tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.

2nd Rise. Place the knots on a prepared baking sheet (lined with parchment paper), and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30 minutes, up to 45 minutes).

A hand is shown holding a piece of dough tied into a knot. Instructions on top read: "Tie the rope into a knot, tucking the ends underneath." A dough grid is in the background with a striped cloth nearby.
A baking sheet lined with parchment paper holds twelve dough knots prepared for rising. A striped cloth napkin is partially visible on the left side of the image. Text instructs to let the dough rise.

Bake the garlic knots. Heat the oven to 375°F. Brush with garlic butter before baking. Bake the knots for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

A baking tray with unbaked rolls being brushed with a topping. A small bowl with the topping mixture is beside the tray, and a striped cloth is visible in the bottom-left corner.
A baking tray holding several evenly spaced, golden-brown bread knots on parchment paper, with the text "Bake 12-15 mins" displayed at the top.

Remove from the oven. Brush hot rolls with remaining garlic butter (and sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired). Devour.

A red brush is being used to apply a topping to a tray of freshly baked rolls.
A baking tray filled with several golden-brown, freshly baked rolls. Text at the top reads, "Sprinkle with parmesan (if desired).

Kylee’s Notes

I make make garlic knots pretty small, but if you want bigger ones, just split the dough into 12 equal balls instead of 24.

What to do with leftovers

Store in a covered container at room temperature for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until soft. You may wish to keep some of the garlic butter mixture to brush over before serving!

Substitutions/Additions

You can replace the butter in the dough with olive oil for a more “pizza dough” type of flavor.

You can use store-bought pizza dough, or frozen bread dough if you prefer.

Biscuit dough will also work if that’s what you have access to!

I use fresh garlic in my butter mixture. Using garlic powder will still get a great garlic flavor!

Fresh parmesan cheese is fantastic! However, the powdered stuff from the green can is actually a little better for brushing on the knots.

I use Italian seasoning in my butter mixtures, but dried parsley, basil and or dried oregano works very well also.

Freezing instructions

Can garlic knots be frozen?

Yes, absolutely. Freeze the knots after shaping, but before baking. Freeze on parchment paper, and when solid – remove to a freezer bag. Thaw on the counter and allow to rise for 30-45 minutes before baking and topping with garlic butter.

A hand dips a garlic knot into a bowl of tomato sauce, with several more garlic knots visible in the background.

More recipes to love

  • Red Lobster Biscuits. Soft, fluffy biscuits packed with cheddar cheese, and brushed with flavorful garlic butter after baking, these cheddar biscuits are dreamy!
  • Naan Bread. This is a great beginner recipe! This Naan bread recipe is so easy to make, and super yummy! We use yogurt to make this Indian style flatbread soft and fluffy, and it’s done in just a few hours.
  • 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!
  • Homemade Hamburger Buns. These soft rolls are so easy to make, taste amazing and go perfectly with burgers! Make these ahead for burger night!
  • Fluffy Golden Skillet Cornbread – a cinch to make, and is a fantastic side for any meal! 

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A plate of knotted garlic bread rolls served with a small bowl of marinara sauce garnished with chopped parsley.
5 from 5 votes

Homemade Garlic Knots

Author Kylee Ayotte
Servings 24 knots
Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Homemade Garlic Knots are the perfect side for any kind of dish, and so easy to make from scratch. The knots are brushed with homemade garlic butter (twice), and are soft, fluffy and packed with flavor. Your family and friends will love these!

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 cups milk – warmed slightly
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 3.75 cups bread flour
  • 0.25 cup white sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 1.25 teaspoon yeast

TOPPING

  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 2 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (can sub parsley, or leave it out)

Instructions

Make the topping

  • Combine 2 tablespoons butter (melted), 2 teaspoon garlic, (minced), and 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning. Set aside.

Make the dough

  • Add the dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer.
    2 tablespoons butter, 3.75 cups bread flour, 0.25 cup white sugar, 0.5 teaspoon salt, 1.25 teaspoon yeast
  • Blend together the wet ingredients and pour in.
    1.5 cups milk – warmed slightly, 1 large egg
  • Mix with the paddle until a dough forms.

1st Rise

  • Switch up for the dough hook and need until smooth and elastic.
  • Transfer to bowl greased lightly with olive oil, cover and allow to rise to double in bulk (about an hour).

Shape the garlic knots.

  • Punch down, and divide into 24 pieces.
  •  Roll each strip into ropes, and tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.

2nd Rise

  • Place on a greased baking sheet, and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30-45 minutes)

Bake the garlic knots

  • Heat the oven to 375°F.
  • Brush rolls with topping and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Remove from the oven

  • Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
  • Devour.

Notes

BREAD MACHINE DIRECTIONS:

  • Add all ingredients to a bread machine, and use the dough function.
  • When done, punch down, and divide into 24 strips.
  •  Roll each strip into ropes, and tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.
  • Place on a greased baking sheet, and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30-45 minutes)
  • Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Brush rolls with topping and bake for 12-15 minutes.
  • Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
  • Devour.

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Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

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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Did you make this recipe?

Make sure to follow @kyleecooks on Instagram for more and tag me #kyleecooks so I can see!

Update: This recipe was originally published in January of 2021. It was updated and republished in April of 2025.

Kylee Cooks in the kitchen

About Kylee Ayotte

I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee

5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

3 Comments

  1. Heidi-lynn says:

    I love all your recipes. This is my boyfriends favourite appetizer. He would eat it everyday, 3 times a day if I allowed it lol thank you so much!! It’s an easy recipe to play with as well! I’ll serve it with gravy, or sit them together, touching in a spring form cake pan for pull apart greatness. I’ve even brushed with a cheesecake icing and mixed in some cinnamon and sugar for a desert variation. Just love love love! Thank you!

  2. These were amazing and easy to make! My family loved them. Next time I make them I’m going to try putting the butter on before I tie the knot so there’s butter and garlic throughout the knot. Also, I’ll likely add a bit of sea salt to the top after the final butter.

  3. I was surprised at how easy these were to make!! I did use about 5 tbsp butter for the topping as we like them dripping with butter once they’re removed from the oven. I did like the hint of sweetness to the rolls, but others might want to cut the sugar back to 3 tablespoons the first time you make these and take it from there.

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