Many years ago Tony and I started making homemade garlic bread to go with my favorite turkey meatballs.
Of course, a classic, easy spaghetti and meatballs dinner needs garlic bread for dipping so I went on a quest that involved several loaves of bread, chopped garlic, real butter and herbs. It also involved a few stomach aches (hey I’m I’m human and sometimes you can’t stop at one slice)!
But alas, we landed on a delightful, mouth-watering garlic bread recipe that’s 1000x better than the store-bought kind and that I can’t stop making.
Everything you need to make the best garlic bread
This homemade garlic bread recipe requires super simple ingredients, so trust me when I say you’ll back to it time and time again. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Bread: I like to use Italian bread or a loaf of French bread (instead of a baguette) to get those nice thick slices.
- Butter: gotta have plenty of softened butter, which will melt into all of the bread nooks & crannies. Feel free to use salted or unsalted butter. I use 1/2 cup of butter, but you can also get away with using 1/3 cup!
- Garlic: fresh garlic cloves (rather than garlic powder) are KEY for that true garlic flavor. The minced garlic gets roasted to perfection in the oven.
- Herbs & spices: instead of Italian seasoning we’re adding a little fresh parsley and sea salt to bring it all together. Feel free to garnish with extra parsley or chives, too!
Get a little cheesy
If you like cheesy garlic bread, feel free to add 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella! You’ll sprinkle it on in the last 2 minutes of baking (so that it doesn’t get too crispy on top).
Can I make it vegan?
Of course! Simply substitute the regular butter with vegan butter and use your favorite vegan cheese (if you’re cheese-ing it).
Easy homemade garlic bread in 3 steps
- Prep your pan & bread. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or tinfoil, slice your bread in half lengthwise, and place the bread cut side up on the baking sheet.
- Make the garlic butter. In a small bowl mix the herbs and salt together with the softened butter. Spread it evenly over the top of the bread halves.
- Bake & serve. Bake the bread for 10-15 minutes at 425 degrees F until it’s slightly golden brown on the edges. If you’re adding cheese, add it in the last 2 minutes of baking. Then cool, slice into 1-inch pieces, and devour!
Don’t forget to dip it in this AMAZING Garlic Olive Oil Dip, or your favorite marinara sauce!
Choose your bread crispiness
If you like crispier garlic bread, bake it for 3-5 minutes more (but watch it carefully so that it doesn’t get too toasted). If you like it softer, take it out closer to 10 minutes. You can also wrap the bread in aluminum foil before baking it if you like softer garlic bread.
Storing tips
Store any leftovers covered at room temp for 1-2 days. Simply reheat it in your oven by wrapping it in foil and warming it for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Freeze it for later
That’s right, this homemade garlic bread is freezer-friendly! It’s such a great way to have a delicious side on hand at any time. Here’s how to freeze it:
- After slathering the bread in the garlic butter mixture, place the bread halves in a single layer in a freezer-friendly bag and store them in the freezer.
- Freeze the garlic bread for up to 3 months.
- When ready to eat, add the frozen garlic bread halves to your baking sheet and bake as directed — you may just need to add 3-5 more minutes.
What to serve with this homemade garlic bread
- 30 Minute Pasta Carbonara
- Juicy Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce with Burrata
- Garlic Olive Oil Dip
- Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup
- Bacon Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Spaghetti
- The Best Healthy Turkey Lasagna You’ll Ever Eat
Get all of my dinner recipes here and my pasta dishes here!
I hope you love this garlic bread recipe! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
The Best Garlic Bread You'll Ever Eat
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian loaf or French loaf
- 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter (can also use salted)*
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- Optional:
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- OR
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- For garnishing:
- Extra parsley and chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice bread in half lengthwise and place on a large baking sheet, cut sides up.
- In a medium bowl, mix butter, garlic, parsley and salt together until well combined. Spread evenly over bread.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown on the edges. If you want to add cheese, add it the last 2 minutes of baking. If you like a crispier garlic bread, bake for 3-5 minutes more, watching carefully until it is as golden as you like.
Recipe Notes
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 30th, 2018, republished on February 13th, 2023, and republished on December 29th, 2024.
last week i was assigned to make garlic bread for my culinary class and i was prosperous enough to stumble upon this page. the title got me hooked, and i don’t even believe this recipe is that good. until it was the day of my culinary practical, i’ve never made garlic bread before in my life and every garlic bread i taste is so meh. but this recipe, it was easy, quick, and that garlic bread is something i’m proud of. everyone in my class devour it like they haven’t eat for months lol. and nope, the title of this page is not lying, it’s the third time i came back here, bcs it is just that good..
Amazing! So glad everyone loved it!
I have made this garlic butter recipe several times now!! We LOVE it!! I just put it on my homemade sourdough French bread and it can’t be beat. My only problem is not eating so much!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I follow the recipe to a T. LOVE it!!
The best! So glad you all love it!
When do you cut this bread into individual pieces? I cut it into individual slices before I froze it, but if I was making it fresh, I wouldn’t know if I could cut it into individual slices before or after put it in the oven. Please advise?
I served this at a potluck and it was the first bread to be completely eaten. Everyone else’s rolls and garlic bread had leftovers. I’m making this for my family from now on. The only thing that would stop me is if I didn’t have time.
Hi! Cut it into individual slices after baking it 🙂 Glad it was a hit!
nice
Ok. I was not prepared for how amazing this would be! I thought “how great can it be, it can’t be that different from other garlic breads?”, but decided to make it and see. You are correct, this is hands down the best garlic bread I have ever had, and my kids went bananas for it! Thanks for another great recipe!
Right?! So good!
I had a fresh baguette and decided to make garlic bread to serve with dinner. It’s only 3 of us so I cut the baguette in half crosswise and then in half lengthwise. I prepared about half the garlic butter spread plus I shredded some mozzarella cheese and grated some Parmesan Reggiano. I spread the halves thickly with the garlic butter mixture and toasted several minutes added the mozzarella and grated the Parmesan Reggiano and returned to the oven under the broiler for a couple minutes. Sliced into individual servings. Delicious! Two Thumbs Up from my 18 y.o. son! Thanks for a great recipe.
Sounds amazing! Glad it was a hit!
Absolutely delicious & I can’t believe how easy this recipe was to make!
The perfect side!
Came out perfectly and I only had regular bread. Thank you.
#facts
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!
I use Garlic Butter wherever butter is called for.
Love that!
I made this and we had it with spaghetti. It was perfect!! Thank you for sharing!!
Peg
Thank you for trying this one, Peg!
I’ve made this several times now; the only garlic bread I make since the first time I tried it. Super easy and absolutely delicious. Everyone loves it. I throw everything for the topping into my mini food processor, including the parmesan cheese, as suggested, and it comes out great. Thanks for an awesome recipe.
It smells delicious, too! You’re so welcome, Michele 🙂
The garlic bread was so delicious! I loved this recipe!
So glad you loved it!
Taste so good would recommend!
👍
SO YUMMY AND GOOD! BEST GARLIC BREAD I’VE EVER HAD. PERFECT! 💯
Glad you loved it!!
So good!
Glad you loved this!
The recipe is well written, and the hints are right on. I made this for a dinner for 5 and everyone was extremely happy, I find that the ingredients should be fresh if possible and the garlic is a standout. Love the no wrap, cooking saves time and comes out with just the right amount of crunch and softness on the inside. Well done.
So happy to hear that! Perfect side for any meal 🙂
I made it exactly as directed, but added an extra clove of garlic. I did not add cheese. This tasted like buttered bread. I would double down on the garlic and parsley if making it again.
Sorry you didn’t love this one! Everyone’s preference and/or tolerance for garlic can vary, but you can absolutely add more.
amazing, heaven on earth.
The BEST garlic bread I have ever had! I seldomly eat bread because I do not like the carbs and calories but this was mouth watering and so worth it! A+++
So glad you loved it!
I’m Italian and I’ve always lived here in Italy. Maybe most Americans don’t know that we have no idea of what is pasta either meatballs, Italian seasoning, garlic bread or Italian bread (we have more than 300 different bread varieties). Also the parmesan cheese , which is made in the Usa, has nothing to do with the Parmigiano Reggiano. Sorry I had to say it.
Has anyone tried making this with ciabatta bread? If so, can you please share any comments or suggestions? Thanks!
Stupid Good! I spread Christopher Ranch crushed garlic then the butter with dry Oregano on one piece of amazing “Rustik Oven” brand (Hearty Grains and Seeds style).. after baking to crusty edge added typical 4 cheese blend on top , Then fresh not powdered Parmesan cheese to melt and crisp up. Fogettaboutit!!! lol Enjoy. this is a great recipe that actually works every time. Thank You for taking my game to the nest level. PS Trader Joe’s Lasagna is better than your moms. seriously, try it lol
Love that!! So happy you found this recipe 🙂 I’ll have to try the TJ’s lasagna, too (though I bet I’ll still love my version the best!)
A great recipe and easy to follow. With perfect ingredients and amounts. My family ate every last bite.
I’m so glad! Such a great side dish 🙂
Have you used roasted garlic instead of minced? Wondering if it would be too much of a garlic taste.
I haven’t tried it!
AMAZING!!! Best garlic bread ever, but just one tiny slight problem, there’s too much butter, I tried it with only 100 grams instead of 115 and it tasted way better. But this recipe is fantastic.
I’ve made this garlic bread for a few dinner parties and it’s always a hit! Try it you’ll love it! 😄
So good!!
Really tastey ! I put the ingredients in the bowl and mirowaved to melt butter (pulse). It stays together nicely and I spread on the bread with a pastry brush. Super !
Perfect!!
Best Garlic bread!! So easy I’ve memorized the recipe and I’ve used it dozens of times…. really good, so good the left overs don’t last through the next day. Mmmmm good
Our fav, too!!
great love it
Way too garlicky but definitely my fault for putting a giant scoop in
Oops! Feel free to use less next time 🙂
Absolutely wonderful! I went back to the store and got more of the ingredients because everyone devoured the first batch!
The perfect side!
Amazing
Please add a “jump to recipe” at the top. Thank you!
Hi! There is one right under the first photo at the top of the page 🙂
Can you use both cheeses. Heheh cheese lover here
Of course!
You were right! This IS the BEST garlic bread recipe I’ve ever tried. It’s definitely a keeper – friends and family raved about it.
I’m so glad!!
This was the hit of my Christmas Eve lasagna dinner. I will never worry about making garlic bread again because I will always use this one! It was super easy to make and absolutely delicious!! Thank you!!!
So happy to hear that!
I made this recently for a small dinner party. Everyone loved it!! We had spaghetti pasta with a Bolognese sauce I made and a salad. This is my go-to recipe from now on for garlic bread! I plan on making it tomorrow with the same meal. Thank you for the recipe. A definite keeper!
Love that! The perfect side 🙂
Yes, but. What do you do with the garlic? You bake it, you grate it, you just rub it on the bread… you don’t say the key passage, which is HOW YOU PREPARE THE GARLIC
I’m not sure what you mean? In the ingredients it says “4 cloves garlic, finely minced” (so you’ll need to mince the garlic). Then in Step 2 it says: “In a medium bowl, mix butter, garlic, parsley and salt together until well combined. Spread evenly over bread.”
Just made the garlic bread. I added a little Italian seasoning to the recipe. Turned out great and will use it with Italian style pork chops this evening. It’s great!
Amazing!!
This was by far the best garlic bread recipe ever and was super quick and easy to make. Followed recipe exactly as written. My husband and teenage boys loved it! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
So happy to hear that!!
Quick question. There are different kinds of parsley. What is the best kind to use for this recipe? This may sound stupid but I live in Atlanta GA and love to shop at the (grocery store type) farmers markets where there is fruits, veggies, herbs, pretty much everything from all around the world. And you can’t beat the prices and quality. Thank you!
I typically use flat leaf parsley!