Garlic Bread

This homemade garlic bread comes together in 25 minutes with a simple mix of softened butter, garlic (both fresh and powdered), herbs, and spices, spread over an Italian loaf and baked until golden and crisp—perfect with pasta, salads, or warm dips.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword garlic bread

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings slices

Calories 286kcal

Author Julia

Ingredients

½ cup butter softened, or margarine
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
4 cloves garlic minced
¼ cup fresh parsley minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil minced
1 large Italian loaf (about 1 pound). You can also use a French loaf, a baguette, sourdough, or ciabatta.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F / 204°C.
In a small mixing bowl, use a spoon or spatula to combine the softened butter with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, stir until the spices are evenly combined.
Add the minced garlic, parsley, and basil to the butter mixture, stir until combined.
Using a cutting board and a serrated bread knife, carefully cut the Italian loaf lengthwise so that there are two even halves to spread the butter on.
Use a fork to poke holes in the cut side of the bread loaf so that the butter mixture can fully saturate the bread as it cooks.
Spoon half of the butter on each of the two bread halves, use the spoon to distribute the butter mixture until it evenly covers the surface of the bread.
Transfer the buttered bread to a large baking pan and place in the oven.
Cook at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes until the garlic bread is golden brown and crispy.
Let the bread cool for a few minutes then use a serrated bread knife to slice the bread into 2–3-inch slices.

Notes

A classic way to serve garlic bread is warm alongside a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping or as a side to Italian dishes. Speaking of which, I have the perfect marinara pasta shells recipe for you to complete the meal! Or, serve with my sausage spaghetti, creamy chicken mozzarella pasta, or dip it in my Italian sausage tortellini soup.
Storage: Store garlic bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating:
- Oven: Reheat at 400°F (200°C) for 5–7 minutes until warm and crispy.
- Air Fryer: Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 3–5 minutes.
- Toaster Oven: Toast on medium heat for 3–5 minutes.
- Microwave: Warm for 20–30 seconds but note it may soften the bread.
Freezing: Wrap garlic bread tightly in foil and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, you can bake it straight from frozen at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes until heated through and crispy. For quicker thawing, let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before reheating.

Nutrition