This easy homemade Garlic Bread recipe is soft, chewy and full of great flavor. There is no kneading, multiple rising cycles or fussy steps. When done it can be eaten as is or cut into delicious homemade breadsticks!
If you ever thought you couldn’t bake bread, this recipe will change all that.
This is an easy recipe that bakes into a delicious Garlic bread or breadsticks. It’s soft and chewy with great flavor.
I make this at least twice a week in my house.
It’s fast enough to make it for dinner without much preparation too.
Serve warm with olive oil for dipping!
The Best Garlic Bread recipe
I DO think this recipe is the best for multiple reasons.
It’s REALLY easy.
One of the main reasons it that it’s so flexible and always produces great results.
No Proofing the Yeast
Most yeast breads require combination of the yeast, warm liquid and sugar to get the yeast going.
Granted it’s only a five minute extra step but this recipe doesn’t require it.
I experimented doing it. I did find it makes the bread less chewy but my crew prefers it the original way (shared here).
No Warming the Milk required
I’ve made it with warmed milk and cold milk and did not notice a difference in the end result.
You can make it with milk straight from the refrigerator.
No Kneading – One Rising Cycle
This is a rustic bread that does not require kneading.
It takes a few minutes to stir it together and it’s pressed into shape on the baking sheet.
There also is only one rising cycle. No punching down and rising again.
The rising time is 30 minutes only. This makes it far faster to make.
Can Sit in the Refrigerator Overnight
The dough can sit in the refrigerator overnight if you run out of baking time.
The end result is a chewier breadstick that has a bit more depth of flavor and complexity.
Cheater Focaccia Bread
The consistency of the bread is most similar to a focaccia. It’s about 1-inch high when baked.
It has a wonderful slightly chewy consistency.
Unlike focaccia though it doesn’t go through two rising cycles.
Tried and Tested Recipe
This recipe has been tested with regular flour, gluten-free measure-for-measure flour, at sea level and altitude (5,400 feet).
Flavors Can be totally Changed
The spices can be changed and other ingredients added to tailor the flavors to whatever you are serving!
Recipe Ingredients
- Vegetable Oil
- Whole Milk
- Granulated Sugar
- Dry Active Yeast – one tablespoon of yeast is used so may be from packets (will require slightly over one packet) or measured from bulk yeast. Do not use Instant yeast.
- Egg
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- All Purpose Flour – regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend. I recommend Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free 1-to-1 Flour Blend.
- Unsalted Butter – this will be cut into small pieces and dot the bread before baking so should no softened butter is required.
- fresh Italian Parsley – for topping.
- ground Black Pepper
How to Make it – Step-by-Step
STEP 1: In a large bowl, combine the oil, milk, yeast and sugar (photos 1-3). Add the egg (photo 4) and whisk to combine (photo 5). Add the salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
STEP 2: Add the flour (photo 6) and use a spatula to mix the dough together until is has an elastic texture (aproximately 2 minutes) (photo 7). NOTE: if making gluten-free it will fully combine but will not have the same elastic texture.
STEP 3: Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
STEP 4: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly sprinkle with flour.
STEP 5: Place the dough on the prepared pan and push to flatten into a rough oval (photo 8). It should be aproximately 3/4 inches thick. Dot with the butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper. (photo 9).
STEP 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown (photo 10).
Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before serving.
How to Make Breadsticks
Once the bread has cooled it can be cut into 3/4-inch wide strips (cut across the width of the bread).
Cut the long strips in half for 24 bread sticks.
This will become your favorite breadsticks recipe!
Variations
This recipe is very versatile. It can be changed to feature completely different flavors.
Add fresh garlic too! Add some fresh minced garlic or black garlic to the dough.
Change the spices all together:
Add some cumin or chili powder with sliced jalapenos. Would make a great side dish for chili recipes.
Try sliced scallions with sesame seeds for an Asian twist
Add caramelized onions with Parmesan cheese for a French-inspired option
Ways to Eat it
Bread
The bread can be cut into pieces to serve as a side dish with meals after it cools.
Breadsticks
Sliced thickly into 3/4-inch wide chewy strips. Cut those in half for breadsticks around 5-inches long.
Serve with soups, stews or as a side dish.
Pizza
Once the bread has come out of the oven add favorite pizza toppings, return to the oven to warm the toppings and melt any cheese.
More Bread Recipes You’ll Love!
- Beer Bread
- Cornbread Recipe
- Irish Soda Bread
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Seed Crackers
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Garlic Bread + Breadsticks
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Vegetable oil
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 2 tablespoon Granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dry Active Yeast not Instant Yeast
- 1 Egg
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon Onion powder
- 2 ¾ cups All Purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
- fresh Italian Parsley
- Salt and Pepper to top
Instructions
- In a bowl mix the oil with the milk, yeast and sugar. Add the egg and whisk until incorporated. Add the salt and spices.
- Add the flour and with the help of a spatula mix until the dough is elastic (around 2 minutes). NOTE: if making gluten-free it will not have the same elastic texture as gluten bread.
- Cover with a cloth and let it rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle with flour.
- Place the dough onto the prepared parchment paper and push and flatten until you have a rough circle. It should be aproximately 3/4 inch thick.
- Distribute the butter in small pieces evenly on top and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Allow to cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack.
To Make Breadsticks
- Cut across the bread in 3/4-inch wide strips. Cut longer strips in half. Will make 24 breadsticks.
Sara Welch says
Gave these a try with spaghetti and they did not disappoint! So easy and flavorful; my whole family loved them!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
Nothing beats homemade breadsticks!! I am so excited to try these!! YUM!
katerina @ diethood.com says
These breadsticks are perfect! My kids would LOVE these!
Jacque Hastert says
I love a good no knead bread recipe! I can’t wait to throw this in the oven and let me home smell amazing. Thanks for sharing such a fuss-free recipe like this one.