Garlic Bread is a classic side dish and perfect with everything from Baked Ziti to a juicy steak dinner or even Oven Baked Chicken Breasts! We used to buy garlic bread at the store until we realized how quick, easy and tasty it is to make it at home!
This garlic bread can be made just before serving or prepped well ahead of time and frozen.
Easy to Make (and Freeze)
Garlic bread is a favorite for everyone and I’ve bought the foil wrapped loaves at the grocery forever. Now I make my own and it tastes so much better (plus I make sure the garlic butter goes all the way to the edges)! Nearly every supermarket or corner store sells baguettes or loaves of fresh bread and they’re inexpensive.Making your own thick sliced homemade garlic bread is a snap and it makes the whole kitchen smell oh-so-good!
Feeling Cheesy? Toss on a little bit of parmesan (or cheddar) to create a cheesy garlic bread that goes with everything from Fresh Tomato Soup to a side for sopping up sauce in the bottom of your spaghetti bowl!
Craving garlic bread and don’t have a baguette handy? Making it with regular bread (or even leftover hot dog or hamburger buns) will do in a pinch, especially if you use a homemade garlic bread spread recipe!
How to Make Garlic Bread
The best kind of bread will be a thick baguette that can hold the spread or a delicious French bread. In the end you will want it to be hot and chewy throughout and a little toasty on the edges.
- Combine the softened butter with… you guessed it, minced garlic & chopped parsley. (Add in some Roasted Garlic if you have some).
- Cut the bread in half lengthwise using a serrated knife. Secure the bread on a kitchen towel to keep it from sliding around.
- Generously spread each side of the cut sides of the bread with the garlic butter. Don’t skimp, it will soak in!
Feel free to sprinkle some parmesan cheese on both sides. This is optional, but adds a little crispy, cheesy goodness to it! Then bake both halves until toasty!
Soft or Crisp Garlic Bread?
Kind of like a Baked Potato, I most often cook garlic bread without wrapping in foil as I prefer it to be toasted and lightly browned. If you prefer a softer bread, after spreading the butter, place the two halves back together and wrap the bread in foil. Bake about 15 minutes or until heated through.
As with most garlic bread recipes, this bread can also be grilled to serve alongside your favorite grilled chicken or steaks.
The best frozen garlic bread is always one you make yourself because you can make it just how you like!
- Add more or less garlic
- Swap the parsley for a pinch of dried oregano or dried rosemary
- Add your fave cheese or no cheese at all
Can You Freeze Garlic Bread?
Yes, most definitely!! This delicious homemade garlic bread can be frozen successfully! Simply make it, wrap in foil and then wrap with plastic wrap. Let it thaw naturally or remove the plastic wrap and bake it in a 300°F oven until it warm and the butter is melted!
More Great Breads to Try
- Easy Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
- 30 Minute Dinner Rolls
- Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
- Cheesy Pull Apart Rolls
- Quick Garlic Parmesan Crescent Rolls
Homemade Garlic Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic fresh, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Combine butter, olive oil, garlic and parsley until fluffy.
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Halve the bread lengthwise.
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Spread each side of the bread with garlic butter. Sprinkle with cheese if using.
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Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden and toasted.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
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sooooo good!
EXCELLENT!! Got too lazy to search for the parsley so added 2 teaspoons italian seasoning and topped with fresh grated Romano cheese. Also put it under the broiler to lightly brown the cheese.
I made this for my family and it was so yummy! Thank you for sharing :)
I made this tonight with some baked spaghetti, and my husband said it was the best garlic bread he had ever had, so its a winner in our house!
I used the Pillsbury refrigerator French bread dough and I have to agree, it was the best I’d ever had as well. I used freshly shredded Pinconning extra sharp cheddar and freshly shredded parmesan, and added some grated parm on top of that, let it cook a bit crisp. I need look no further for a great homemade garlic bread recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I am so happy to hear this recipe was a hit!
Hi Joan, I have never used the Pillsbury dough before. Do you let it cook first or par bake it before adding the ingredients? Thank you so much for any information!
Hi, Holly I have a quick question do you put the whole sticks of butter in the bowl or do you chop up the butter. Also how many sticks of butter do you use for this recipe
I use one stick of butter in this recipe. The butter is mixed until fluffy and so it does not matter if you start with a whole stick or chopped up butter. I hope this helps!
Excellent. Always struggled to do this one right and finally I can . Thank you
I make this by melting the butter and garlic in pan then place bread over it to soak and then put under the broiler. Sooo delicious!
I tried the recipe without the cheese, with different kind of cheese like grated cheddar, cream cheese, and cream cheese with sour cream. Husband and my kids ages 12,9,7 and 2 loved them all specially with cream cheese. Very easy and yummy recipe definitely will be included in their snack boxes as they request! Thank you for this delicious home made recipe. No more ordering at a restaurant.
That sounds delicious, thanks for sharing! We will have to try it with cream cheese.
Very good. I like my garlic bread crispy so I broiled it the last 2-3 minutes. It was so much cheaper and better than what you get from a box!
This is so easy and delicious! I make this all the time now.
This was a giant hit at my Mother’s Day lunch yesterday. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
This was very simple and a hit with everyone from toddler, to teen to the college kiddos! I used oregano, parsley, vegan butter and added garlic powder and onion powder. I didn’t wrap it in foil but as soon as it browned slightly around the edges I took it out. This gave a nice crunch while keeping the bread soft. Try it out!
I’m so glad your family loved it!
Taste Great and Perfect!
in order to freeze this garlic bread, do I first bake the bread, then freeze and reheat at 300 degrees? Or spread butter mixture on bread and freeze before baking?
You can freeze this before baking
Gives no temperature For foil covered bread
Hi Sylvia, you will still cook it at the same temperature just place the two halves back together and wrap in foil before popping in the oven.
I forgot to buy frozen garlic bread so I quickly needed a recipe for the 8 small pieces of Italian bread I had. This was so easy and so delicious! I quartered the recipe and baked it in the toaster oven. I see no reason to buy frozen garlic bread again!
So happy to hear that Jackie! It is so easy to make you’ll never need frozen garlic bread again!
This is the one to make.Garlicky and delicious.I did include the grated cheese on top.My husband almost ate the whole loaf.So good.
I agree Jean, this loaf is addictive! So glad you and your husband enjoyed it!
Garlic bread is absolutely delicious. Thank you!
We love it too Kathy! :)
I want to make this with roasted garlic. Do I add it to the chopped raw, and how much of the roasted should I use?
Depending on how garlicky you want your garlic bread I would still use approximately 4 cloves of garlic Liz. Enjoy!