There are so many stunning, homemade meals that are elevated by a side of garlic bread, made from scratch, pulled warm from the oven just as dinner is being served. It’s a perfect side dish. This homemade garlic bread recipe is simple to make and a perfect accompaniment to winter soup or a lasagna dinner.
My childhood garlic bread was nearly identical to this except we used a heavy helping of dried garlic powder and onion powder instead of fresh garlic cloves. Both work, though we think the smell of fresh garlic warming in the oven wins.
Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe
This recipe consists of taking a loaf of bread and slathering butter, garlic, and salt between the slices. Then wrapping the whole thing up in aluminum foil and sticking it in a warm oven until it is heated through and smells like heaven. The butter acts as glue for the remaining ingredients.
For a more complex method, you can bring the butter to room temperature in a small bowl, then mix butter with your mashed garlic, salt, and herbs. Then, spread this butter mixture over the slices. I find this to be a lot of extra work and dishes for the same outcome.
Another great part of this easy appetizer or side is that it will work with basically any type of bread. Loaves made with white flour highlight the garlic and butter better. Half a loaf also works fine – it doesn’t need to be untouched.
What kind of bread?
If you are feeling fancy, may I urge you to make homemade bread from scratch. It’s similar in difficulty to pizza dough. A french baguette is a simple and useful recipe to have up your sleeve. They are made with a fast and easy recipe, and by the end of the day, your kitchen will smell like true comfort and love.
But this is also a great use for that stale leftover french bread loaf and for that supermarket Italian loaf you picked up at the grocery store on your commute home. That’s the magic of homemade garlic bread.
Most things can be improved with a side of good garlic bread. And this is meant to be a fast and easy garlic bread recipe and barely even needs a full recipe. It can be prepped in advance, but don’t put it in the oven until 15 minutes before dinner.
Notes
I do not suggest subbing in olive oil for butter here. The butter is not only a flavor preference, it acts as a glue to hold the ingredients spread evenly over your bread slices.
Store any uneaten garlic bread firmly wrapped in foil in the fridge. Warm in a preheated oven. I don’t suggest a plastic bag or plastic wrap as it will affect the consistency.
Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of bread, sliced into thick slices (I suggest a freshly made baguette)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3-5 cloves of fresh garlic, minced or grated (depending on taste and the amount of bread)
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: fresh parsley, thyme, rosemary, parmesan cheese, black pepper, red pepper
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Step 2 The goal as you build your garlic bread is to keep the loaf intact in the loaf shape. You will put it back together before putting it in the oven. Also, working on a prepared large baking sheet can keep your counter neater.
- Step 3 Working through the loaf, spread a thick layer of softened butter over the cut side of all the slices. Spread a thin layer of smashed garlic over the butter on each slice.
- Step 4 If desired, sprinkle a thin layer of parmesan cheese over each slice. Don’t go too heavy with this. The goal is cheesy garlic bread not grilled cheese, that is for a different recipe.
- Step 5 Finish each slice with a hefty sprinkle of salt. A bit of black or red pepper can add some zing here as well. If you have them, a sprinkle of fresh herbs through the slices will elevate the recipe.
- Step 6 Put your loaf back together and wrap it firmly in a layer of foil.
- Step 7 Place in a hot oven, about 15 minutes or until warmed through. This shouldn’t change the color of the loaf much. Don’t look for a golden brown
- Step 8 the inside of the loaf should remain moist. When you unwrap the foil and peel the slices apart they should be steaming.
