Amazing garlic bread is one of those simple recipes that everyone should be able to make. The best garlic bread recipe has simple ingredients, and it’s crazy good when you make it yourself.
Table of contents
Easy Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is life! Italian immigrants, making do with the only available ingredients, would bake bread topped with olive oil combined with crushed garlic and herbs. Fresh meat was scarce and expensive, but a bread loaf was readily available from local bakers and the bread was used to soak up the sauce from the hearty pasta dishes.
Nothing new here as bruschetta was a common side dish in Italian homes. Simple thick slices of bread were toasted and topped with a salad of fresh olive oil, basil, garlic, chopped tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Bruschetta was one of the most popular appetizers our catering company made, especially in the summer when the vegetables were at their peaks.
Garlic Bread Ingredients
When you set out to make homemade garlic bread, there are 3 key ingredients, but seeming infinite variations. Garlic bread is made with bread, garlic and good olive oil. Now the fun begins as you blend spices, herbs, oils, cheese and bread selections.
Breads To Use For Garlic Bread
The bread is key to this recipe. Fresh simple bread with a crunchy exterior that every supermarket or bakery department carries.
- Italian Loaf: When we bake a loaf of Italian bread for garlic bread, I use milk and sugar with olive oil in the recipe. The milk in the recipe lends itself to a softer crust and the Italian loaf browns more quickly because of the extra sugar in the dough.
- French Baguette: The classic French baguette is crusty on the outside and light on the inside. Because steam is introduced in the baking process, the crust rises higher and develops that “signature” crisp crust. The recipe for french bread calls for 4 simple ingredients of flour, salt, water and yeast.
The bottom line is that you can use almost any kind of bread or loaf to make garlic toasts. Experiment with different artisan breads to see which one becomes your favorite! I have even used bagels to make quick tasty bread to serve with a spaghetti dinner. It actually turned out to be an excellent substitute!
Kinds Of Garlic
It is impossible for me to describe the taste of garlic other than it tastes like garlic. The flavor is definitely strong and sharp, reminding me of onion a little. So in that way garlic is unique. The preparation of the bulb and the garlic cloves is what strengthens or lightens the flavors from strong and raw to toasty caramel.
- Fresh Garlic: Raw fresh garlic minced, chopped or crushed is at its most pungent. It can be used in many recipes but is often cooked to soften the strong flavor. In our recipe for garlic bread, we cook the garlic in olive oil before mixing it into the butter.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder can be an excellent choice for garlic bread. Garlic powder is simply garlic cloves that has been dried and then powdered. The drying process, heightens the flavor, so a little goes a long way. If you are substituting garlic powder in this recipe then 1 clove equals 1 half of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Roasted Garlic: I love to cook with roasted garlic, and it is one of the easiest recipes you can ever learn. Roasting the garlic leaves all the flavor, but intensifies the caramel notes. Transforming into a spreadable condiment that can be used in many recipes that call for fresh garlic. You can see an easy recipe for roasted garlic here: ROASTED GARLIC
Herbs
Last week I was reviewing a garlic butter recipe from Whole Foods Market and the recipe listed no fewer than 10 ingredients. Among the garlic butter ingredients were parsley, basil, chives and oregano. So, that is a good starting point. I like the simplicity of fresh parsley. The fresh grassy flavor of parsley helps to brighten up and cut through the fat of the buttery bread and layers of caramelized garlic.
- Parsley: Two different types of parsley to consider for your garlic bread recipe. Curly parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley. The bright herb is pretty mild in itself, but perhaps the flat leaf parsley has more flavor. Both seem a little peppery and bitter. The most important feature of parsley in garlic bread butter is that it enhances the appearance. We add chopped fresh flat leaf parsley to our butter for the color. Simple as that.
- Oregano: Sweet oregano is perhaps the most recognizable herb in Italian American style cooking. It is slightly minty with a bit of earthy bitterness. I think it is a little dull, reminding me of pizza. There is nothing wrong using oregano on top of garlic bread, I just prefer the color and brightness of parsley. Use it if you have it.
The Best Garlic Bread Recipe
For the garlic bread ingredients, you will need a French bread loaf, fresh garlic, soft butter, olive oil, Parmesan and flat leaf parsley.
Combine the extra virgin olive oil (1tbsp) and crushed garlic (4 cloves) in a small sauce pan and heat to a simmer. Cook the crushed garlic for 10 minutes until soft. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Toasty is fine, almost roasted to a light caramel color. Remove from the heat and let cool.
In another bowl, mix the soft butter (1 stick), cool garlic mixture, chopped parsley (2 tbsp) and half the Parmesan (¼ cup).
Split the French loaf in half and toast it under the broiler. Remove the loaf when it is lightly golden brown and toasty.
Evenly spread the butter mixture all over the loaf of bread. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
Return the loaf to the oven and broil for a few minutes, about 3 to 4, until the butter and cheese have melted.
Quick Tips & Tricks
The best garlic bread recipe is not rocket science. However, there may be a few tips that we can share with you to help you achieve garlic bread perfection.
Toast the Bread First
We like our bread extra crispy, so we always toast the bread under the broiler first. You could also bake the bread at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to achieve and even crispier crust. When I was a kid I liked a softer version, and would spread a loaf of french bread with garlic butter and then wrap the whole thing in foil and bake for 30 minutes. Talk about amazing smells running through the house. My secret to that kid friendly recipe was spreadable margarine and garlic salt. Simpler times my friends.
Make The Spread Ahead
The most complicated part of this recipe is the butter spread. I like to make this up ahead of time and keep it in the fridge already portioned. Take it out of the refrigerator early enough to soften up, or just pop the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. No harm in just going ahead and melting the compound butter in a small sauce pan and then brushing or spooning the melted garlic butter onto toasted bread.
Garlic Bread Ideas
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Jeannette makes the cheesy bread with a lot less garlic than I do. She loves extra Parmesan and uses mozzarella as well to top off the bread loaves. To make cheesy garlic bread melt 1 stick of salted butter in a small pan. Add in 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder. Stir the mix to combine and remove from the heat. Now add to the pan parsley, basil, oregano and chives, about a 1/4 teaspoon of each. Finish the sauce with a pinch of black pepper. Brush this mix all over the bread and then top the bread with shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. The bread goes into the oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees for amazing cheesy bread.
Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub
Firehouse Subs just announced a limited time pepperoni pizza meatball sub. This is a limited time offer and when it goes away you’ll need an easy bread recipe to copycat the sub at home. Start with an Italian style sub roll. Make the garlic bread and then top the sub with meatballs in marinara sauce followed by provolone cheese slices and deli sliced pepperoni. Bang the whole sub under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes and sub heaven is yours. I have made this copycat recipe on several occasions, and it never gets boring. Messy yes, but boring never!
Watch How To Make Garlic Bread {YouTube}
Equipment
- oven broiler
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 stick Butter salted
- 1/4 cup Parsley flat leaf
- 1 tbsp Olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 cup Parmesan divided
Instructions
- Combine the extra virgin olive oil (1tbsp) and crushed garlic (4 cloves) in a small sauce pan and heat to a simmer. Cook the crushed garlic for 10 minutes until soft. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Toasty is fine, almost roasted to a light caramel color. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- In another bowl, mix the soft butter (1 stick), cool garlic mixture, chopped parsley (2 tbsp) and half the Parmesan (¼ cup).
- Split the French loaf in half and toast it under the broiler. Remove the loaf when it is lightly golden brown and toasty.
- Evenly spread the butter mixture all over the loaf of bread. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Return the loaf to the oven and broil for a few minutes, about 3 to 4, until the butter and cheese have melted.
Notes
Toast the Bread First
We like our bread extra crispy, so we always toast the bread under the broiler first. You could also bake the bread at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to achieve and even crispier crust. When I was a kid I liked a softer version, and would spread a loaf of french bread with garlic butter and then wrap the whole thing in foil and bake for 30 minutes. Talk about amazing smells running through the house. My secret to that kid friendly recipe was spreadable margarine and garlic salt. Simpler times my friends.Make The Spread Ahead
The most complicated part of this recipe is the butter spread. I like to make this up ahead of time and keep it in the fridge already portioned. Take it out of the refrigerator early enough to soften in just pop in the microwave for 15 seconds. No harm in just going ahead and melting the compound butter in a small sauce pan and then brushing or spooning the melted garlic butter onto toasted bread.Nutrition
What Goes With Garlic Bread?
Garlic bread always goes with pasta. But it also goes with many other comfort food dishes. Try some of these foodie ideas the next time you are wanting garlic bread but need an excuse to make it.
- Italian Sausage Peppers and Onions
- Beefy Texas Chili
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Tomato Soup with Basil
- Classic American Style Pot Roast
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