You can make Italian Garlic Bread in 25 minutes with just five ingredients! Use a store-bought loaf for convenience or make one of my Italian Bread Recipes. Everyone will love this easy appetizer!
I have to warn you about this Italian Garlic Bread. It's got a crunchy crust. A crispy, buttery, garlicky middle.
After one bite, you'll wonder how you'll be able to stop eating it.
I've got no advice for you there. But, let me tell you how to make it!
Recipe ingredients
You just need five ingredients for this homemade garlic bread! In case you're wondering, we tried adding cheese but found it masked the flavor of the garlic butter.
Garlic bread without cheese is where it's at!
Italian Bread: The best bread for garlic bread is a large, fresh loaf of soft, uncut Italian bread from the store. The crust will become crispy in the oven. Of course, you can make your own Italian bread.
Garlic: Fresh, chopped garlic becomes roasted garlic when it's baked on top of this open-faced loaf in the oven. Three medium cloves provide plenty of flavor here.
But, feel free to add more. Just sit far, far away from me!
Paprika: This is optional, but I love adding regular paprika (not hot or smoked) to my garlic bread loaf. It brings a touch of peppery flavor. Use as much as you want. You can add it to the butter or sprinkle some on top of the garlic bread (or both!)
How to make it
See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.
- Soften a stick of butter in the microwave and add it to a small mixing bowl with chopped garlic, Italian parsley and paprika.
- Mash the butter with the back of a spoon and stir to combine it with the other ingredients until you have garlic compound butter.
- Use a long, serrated knife (affiliate link) to slice an Italian loaf of bread in half and place it on an ungreased sheet pan (affiliate link). Spread the garlic butter evenly on each half.
- Bake until you have toasted garlic bread with crispy, brown edges.
Recipe tips
- Spread the garlic butter from edge to edge on the bread. It'll look like it's not enough, but once you bake it and taste it, you'll realize it was the perfect amount! You don't want greasy, soggy garlic bread.
- This has the best, crispiest texture the first day you make it. Consider baking just half a loaf if that's all you can consume in one day. You can refrigerate the rest of the garlic butter to spread on the other half the following day and bake it then!
What to serve with it
I recommend refraining from dipping this garlic bread in anything so you can really taste the butter and garlic. But...you could always try dunking it in easy marinara sauce or even a little pesto with pine nuts!
This makes a great appetizer or side to go with pasta topped with spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes. Or, try it with pesto salmon, pesto-baked chicken breasts, or garlic Parmesan shrimp.
It also would be delicious alongside steak with compound butter or with escarole and bean soup.
And true story: I love reheated garlic bread for breakfast with a hard-boiled egg!
How to store it
Garlic bread can stay at room temperature for just one day, according to Still Tasty. Wrap it in foil, not plastic, so it will remain crispy.
I don't recommend refrigerating garlic bread, because it will become stale more quickly.
For longer storage, freeze the garlic bread in portions. It's fine to wrap it in foil first or just place it in a zip-top freezer bag.
How to reheat garlic bread
Stovetop: If you just need to reheat a small amount of garlic bread, use a pan on the stove over medium heat. Place the slices in the pan, crust side down.
Cover it, and set a timer for six minutes for thick pieces. Then use tongs to flip the bread over to brown and crisp the top for one minute, covered.
If you have thin slices of garlic bread, you should only need maybe two minutes per side.
If starting with frozen garlic bread slices, thaw them in the microwave first, then use the pan method. It's still faster than waiting for the oven to preheat!
Oven: But if you have a larger amount of Italian Garlic Bread to reheat, you can do so in the oven. Wrap the bread in foil, then place it on a baking sheet. Reheat it at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.
Air Fryer: If you own an air fryer, you can set it to 350 degrees F and reheat thawed garlic bread for 2-3 minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn.
More recipes to try
- Garlic Butter Baked Cod
- Garlic Compound Butter
- Rosemary Garlic Focaccia
- Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
- 65+ Italian Appetizer Recipes
- Italian Sausage Bread
Enjoy!
If you try this Italian Garlic Bread recipe, please leave a comment and a rating!
Italian Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter (8 tablespoons)
- 3 cloves garlic (medium)
- 1 Tablespoon chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley (packed tablespoon)
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 pound loaf of Italian bread (not sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a stick of butter (8 tablespoons) in a microwave-safe bowl, covered with wax paper. Soften the butter by using the lowest defrost setting for 8 seconds at a time, checking it after each session to see if it's ready. (Mine took about 24 seconds.) Don't let the butter melt.
- Smash the butter with the back of a metal tablespoon. Peel and chop three garlic cloves and add them to the bowl with the butter. Rinse the parsley and pat it dry. Chop up the leaves and add them to the bowl. Add the paprika and stir all of the ingredients until blended and creamy.
- Use a long, serrated knife to slice the loaf of Italian bread in half the long way. Place the halves on an ungreased sheet pan. Use a butter knife to spread the garlic butter evenly on the two halves, covering edge to edge.
- Bake uncovered for 8 minutes, or until the edges are brown and crispy and the butter is melted.
- Transfer the toasted garlic bread to a cutting board. Slice it into planks to serve.
- Wrap leftover garlic bread slices in foil and store it at room temperature for up to one day. Afterward, freeze any leftover slices in a zip-top freezer bag. Don't refrigerate garlic bread, or it will become stale quickly. See the notes for reheating suggestions.
Notes
- For a small amount, use a pan on the stove over medium heat. Place the thawed slices in the pan, crust side down. Cover and set a timer for six minutes for thick pieces. Then use tongs to flip the bread over to brown and crisp the top for one minute, covered.
- For a larger amount, wrap the garlic bread in foil and reheat it in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C)
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