Aromatic, garlicky, herby butter spread over warm, crusty bread—homemade Garlic Bread is comfort food at its best. This simple recipe delivers crunchy edges and soft, buttery interiors in under 30 minutes, and it’s far better than most store-bought options.
Garlic bread often gets relegated to a freezer side or an afterthought — but when you make it from scratch, it becomes a star of the table. This version uses fresh garlic, salted butter and fresh parsley for bright, full flavour. It’s fast to prepare and adapts easily if you want a cheesy version or to use an air fryer instead of an oven.
Serve it with pasta, lasagne, baked dishes or a salad. The method is straightforward: blend butter with garlic and herbs, push it into thick slices of a baguette, wrap the loaf in foil and bake until the butter has melted. Unwrap for the final few minutes to crisp the crust.
Why you’ll love this easy Garlic Bread recipe
⭐️ Healthier and fresher than shop-bought varieties
⭐️ Fast and easy to make — great for weeknights and gatherings
⭐️ Deliciously garlicky, buttery and crisp
Notes from the cook
This recipe uses a shop-bought baguette for convenience, but it also shines when made with a homemade loaf. If you have time, try it with fresh no-knead bread and homemade butter for an extra-special result.
The recipe is versatile: it’s perfect for barbecues, weekend dinners or quick weeknight meals. It pairs well with classic pasta dishes, baked vegetables, ragu, meatballs and Italian-style mains.
Homemade Garlic Bread Ingredients
- Baguette – A large baguette, roughly 400g / 14oz.
- Salted butter – 100g, softened so it spreads easily.
- Garlic cloves – 3–4 cloves, peeled and finely grated or minced for best flavour.
- Fresh parsley – Finely chopped, about 15g (1/4 cup).
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – To season.
- Optional – Cheesy Garlic Bread – 100g grated mozzarella mixed into the butter.
How to make Garlic Bread
1. In a bowl, combine the softened butter with the grated garlic, chopped parsley and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning — fresh garlic should be the dominant note.
2. Make deep, thick slices across the baguette about 2–3cm apart, avoiding cutting all the way through so the loaf stays intact.
3. Spread the garlic butter generously into each slice and over the top of the loaf. If making cheesy garlic bread, fold the grated mozzarella into the butter before spreading.
4. Wrap the filled baguette loosely in foil and bake in a hot oven (see timings below). For a crispy crust, open the foil for the last few minutes of baking.
Air fryer method: Prepare and wrap the loaf as above. Heat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F). Place the parcel in the basket (cut in half if needed), cook for 6–7 minutes, then unwrap and air-fry a further 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp.
Leftovers & Storing
You can prepare the stuffed baguette ahead of time and keep it unbaked, wrapped in foil, in the fridge for up to 2 days. Bake from chilled following the same timing.
Freshly baked garlic bread is best eaten the same day. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 day and reheat in the oven or air fryer until warm and crisp.
Recipe Tips
Use fresh garlic
Fresh garlic gives a cleaner, stronger flavour than granules or powder. Grating or finely mincing the cloves helps them blend smoothly into the butter.
Add a finishing crunch
Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top before baking for an extra crunchy, salty hit.
Foil for texture contrast
Baking wrapped in foil keeps the interior soft and buttery; unwrapping for the last 3–5 minutes crisps the outside so you get both textures.
Make it cheesy
Stir 100g of grated mozzarella into the butter mix before spreading for cheesy garlic bread that melts between the slices.
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FAQs
Bake wrapped in foil for about 10 minutes to melt the butter and steam the inside, then unwrap and bake a further 4–5 minutes so the outer crust becomes golden and crisp.
If you try the recipe, please leave a rating and a short comment so others can find it useful. I also love seeing your photos—tagging on social media using the handle @tamingtwins is a great way to share your results.
Homemade Garlic Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large baguette (about 400g / 14oz)
- 100g (4 oz) salted butter, softened
- 3–4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated
- 15g (1/4 cup) fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: 200°C fan / 220°C / 425°F / Gas Mark 7.
- Make the garlic butter: Mix the softened butter with the grated garlic, chopped parsley and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Slice the baguette: Cut thick slices without cutting completely through so the loaf remains whole.
- Fill the slices: Spread the garlic butter between the slices and across the top of the loaf.
- Wrap and bake: Wrap loosely in foil and bake for 10 minutes until the butter has melted and the bread is heated through.
- Unwrap for crunch: Open the foil and bake a further 4–5 minutes until the crust is golden and crisp.
Air Fryer Method
- Heat the air fryer to 180°C / 350°F.
- Place the prepared, wrapped garlic bread in the basket (cut in half if necessary).
- Air fry for 6–7 minutes, then unwrap and cook an additional 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp.
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Notes
Cheesy option: Stir 100g grated mozzarella into the garlic butter before spreading for a melty, cheesy version.
Extra crunch: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking for a salty, crunchy finish.
Make ahead: Prepare and wrap the loaf, then refrigerate unbaked for up to 2 days. Bake when ready.
Nutrition
Calories: 347 kcal • Carbohydrates: 31 g • Protein: 6 g • Fat: 22 g • Saturated Fat: 13 g • Sodium: 550 mg
Nutrition information is an approximation and given per portion.
Additional Info
Course: Side Dish • Cuisine: Family Food, Italian