How to Make Garlic Bread

Last Updated: January 14, 2023 References

Garlic bread is a favorite with many dinners and can be made using different kinds of bread. The traditional method uses a long, thin loaf of bread such as a baguette (French stick) or a crusty Italian bread equivalent. Garlic bread usually accompanies pasta and soups but can also be eaten with pizza, seafood, and other foods where its rich flavor adds to the dining experience.

In this article, you will find two garlic bread recipes: one using butter and another using olive oil.

Ingredients

Butter version:

1 baguette
garlic herbs
7 oz (200g) butter
3 tbsp (7.5 g) parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Olive oil version:

Bread stick (preferably French)
Garlic cloves, at least 2 cloves or as many as desired
Olive oil
Garlic powder or paste

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Garlic bread with butter

1
Preheat the oven. Set the temperature of the oven to 175ºC (325ºF/ gas mark 3.5).^{[1]
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2
Make the garlic butter. Spoon the butter into a small bowl.
- Place some of the garlic cloves into the crusher, squeeze the handle tightly down and scrape off the crushed garlic into the bowl. Continue this process until all the garlic has been crushed.
- Alternatively, you can crush peeled cloves of garlic with the help of a knife.
- Place the flat side of a knife on top of the clove.
- Crush it with the heel of your free hand.
- Pour in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.
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3
Slice and fill. Place the baguette onto the chopping board and cut across diagonally, into 2-3cm (3/4 inch to an inch) slices, without cutting completely through the bread.^{[2]
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- Create a gap between the slices.
- Add a dollop of the garlic butter, and smooth it down with the butter knife.
- Finally, spread any remaining butter over the top of the baguette.
4
Wrap in foil. Unroll the aluminum foil and tear off a large enough piece to wrap the baguette. Place the garlic bread into the center of the foil.^{[3]
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- Wrap up the garlic bread. Seal the ends well.
5
Bake. Place the baguette into the center of the oven and bake for ten minutes. Turn it over, bake for a further 10 minutes. Remove it after the time is up.
6
Serve. Unwrap the garlic bread, cut the rest of the way through the slices, and serve

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Garlic bread with olive oil

1
Choose your preferred bread. French bread (the long loaf/baguette) works best but chunkier bread can also work provided it has enough soft surface.
2
Make the garlic and olive oil mixture. In a small bowl, mix crushed garlic with olive oil, and let it sit for a few minutes.
3
Cut the bread into slices without cutting completely through.^{[4]
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Research source} Use a brush to moisten the bread with the olive oil mixture.
4
Sprinkle on garlic powder. There should be about enough to lightly cover the entire surface, but not to the point where it falls off when you invert the bread.
5
Bake. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil, and place the bread in a toaster oven or conventional oven on a cookie tray at 350ºF/180ºC. Bake or toast for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
6
Serve. Unwrap the bread, cut the rest of the way through the bread and serve.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Variations

1
Consider varying the garlic and butter or olive oil mixes as follows:
- Add fresh herbs to the mix. Chop the herbs finely. Or use dried herbal mixes to taste.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the garlic butter. This provides a more intense, cheesy flavor.^{[5]
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- Use half butter/half olive oil in the second method above for a better toast-like result.^{[6]
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- Try sprinkling on onion powder or chili powder for a new twist.
- Sprinkle freshly cracked pepper over the top of the garlic butter or oil mix.
2
Make a delicious bruschetta. Spread the olive oil and garlic mixture on bread, then top the slices with chopped onion and tomato. Add a few shavings of Parmesan cheese if desired.
3
For Spanish toast, toast some white bread (cut in slices or larger pieces to taste). Cut a clove of garlic just in half, and grate over the toast. Then cut in half a tomato and grate over the toast. Cover with olive oil and some sea salt and pepper. Great to eat natural or with a piece of cheese or tomato!

Community Q&A

Question

Is it true that garlic lowers blood pressure?

Qamar

Top Answerer

Some research shows that garlic, by mouth, can reduce blood pressure by as much as 7% or 8% for people who have high blood pressure.
Question

Can I put it in a microwave instead of an oven if it doesn't have aluminum foli on it?

Community Answer

Yes, it would not be crispy but you can still do it.
Question

How long should I put it in the microwave if I want to make it in a microwave?

Community Answer

You should avoid making it in a microwave, as the bread will get soggy rather than crunchy.

Warnings

Take the usual precautions when using an oven to avoid burning yourself. Always unwrap the foil with care, as hot steam will escape and the bread inside will be very hot to touch initially.

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The baking pan will be very hot when you remove it, so place it on a heat-safe surface until it cools and use oven mitts to move it.

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Be aware that people may have garlic allergies or simply dislike it, so ensure you ask your guests before serving this at a dinner party. It's a good idea to have plain bread or herb bread available as a stand-by for such guests.

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