Easy Homemade Garlic Bread

This Easy Homemade Garlic Bread recipe belongs on every family’s table! Learn how to make garlic bread in the oven the easy way, with only 4 simple ingredients!

 

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

When it comes to comfort food, garlic bread is right at the top of our list! There’s nothing better than tucking into a bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce with a thick slice of garlic bread dripping with garlic butter, and this homemade version is the absolute BEST we’ve ever tried! It tastes even better than the garlic bread from the grocery store deli (you know, the ones in those foil pouches?!), and it’s almost as easy to make with only 4 basic, simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. It’s a recipe we’ve made hundreds of times and we know you’re going to find yourself making it again and again too!

Garlic bread is a simple side dish made with fresh bread, butter, garlic, and herbs. The bread is sliced, spread with a flavourful garlic butter mixture, then baked in foil until the outside is crisp and the inside is soft and oh so buttery. It is a classic side we love serving with our favourite pasta dishes, soups, or even salads, and it is one of the easiest crowd-pleasing sides you can make at home in just a couple minutes. Homemade garlic bread tastes fresher and more flavourful than store-bought versions because you can control the quality of the bread and the amount of garlic and butter, and you can add additional ingredients like herbs or cheese to make it your own.

This recipe is one of our family’s favourites for so many reasons,. Here are just a few!

1. It’s easy to make. Just slice, mix, spread, and bake!
2. It’s inexpensive. A loaf of bread and a few pantry staples easily turn into a restaurant-style side dish!
3. It pairs with everything! Pasta, grilled meats, soups, or salads, garlic bread goes with almost everything!
4. It’s customizable. Add extra garlic, switch up the herbs, or use a different type of bread for something a little different!
5. It’s baked, not broiled. The foil wrapping ensures the butter melts evenly into every slice while keeping the bread moist inside and crisp on the outside.
6. It’s better than store-bought. Fresh ingredients mean you get more flavour without any preservatives.

If you want to take this homemade garlic bread to the next level, here’s all our best PRO tips!

A large French or Italian loaf has the right structure and flavour for garlic bread. Avoid very soft sandwich bread, which does not hold up as well.

Cut slices about 3/4-inch thick so they crisp on the outside and stay soft in the middle.

Make sure the butter is at room temperature so it mixes smoothly with the garlic and herbs.

Freshly pressed garlic gives the best flavour. Pre-minced garlic can taste dull.

This traps heat and ensures the butter melts evenly through the loaf.

Garlic bread tastes best straight from the oven while the butter is still melted.

If you’re running into trouble when making homemade garlic bread, here are some solutions we recommend for common issues:

You may have used butter with too much water in it. Choose high quality butter because high quality butter contains at least 80% fat and less water. Cheaper butter often contains more water which can create a soggy texture.

Check your baking time. Over-baking can dry the loaf. Cover fully in foil to prevent moisture loss.

Try sautéing the garlic briefly in butter before mixing to mellow the flavour, OR you could use roasted garlic instead of fresh. Roasted garlic’s flavour is much more mellow than fresh and it’s an easy way to add garlic flavour to your favourite dishes in a way that’s not overpowering.

Unwrap the foil for the last few minutes of baking to allow the crust to brown.

Here’s a list of basic kitchen equipment you’ll need to make this easy garlic bread in your own kitchen (paid links):

• large sheet pan
• Aluminum Foil
• Bread Knife
• Cutting Board
• microwave safe bowl
• Silicone Spatula

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade garlic bread recipe (paid links):

• 1 large loaf of French bread bakery-style, unsliced
• 1/2 cup salted butter softened to room temperature
• 3 cloves garlic crushed and pressed
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley or 1 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Want to take this homemade garlic bread to the next level? Try one of these delicious variations on the basic recipe!

1. Cheesy garlic bread. Add shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan into the butter mixture for an extra cheesy version.
2. Herb garlic bread. Add Italian seasoning, oregano, or basil to the butter mixture.
3. Spicy garlic bread. Stir in red pepper flakes and a touch of chili powder for a spicy kick.
4. Sourdough garlic bread. Use sourdough instead of French bread for a tangy, heartier version of homemade garlic bread.

We hope you love this easy garlic bread recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what would you serve with this garlic bread? We’d love to know!

• Caprese Salad
• Panzanella Salad
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Olive Garden Salad
• Garlic Sauce
• Garlic Knots
• Halloumi Salad
• Roasted Vegetables
• Italian Chopped Salad

Watch the video below to see exactly how I make this tasty recipes. You can find more delicious recipe videos on my YouTube channel