Classic Toasted Garlic Bread Recipe

The Classic Toasted Garlic Bread Recipe

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Cuisine

Italian-American

Author:

Robert Moreland

Servings

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

12 minutes

There are few culinary sidekicks more universally loved than a hot, crusty slice of garlic bread. It's the essential accompaniment to a big bowl of spaghetti, the perfect appetizer for a party, and a comforting classic in its own right.

While it feels deeply Italian, the version we know and love today is a distinctly Italian-American invention. In Italy, the closest relative is bruschetta or fettunta, where grilled bread is simply rubbed with garlic and drizzled with fresh olive oil—no butter or baking involved!

When Italian immigrants came to America, they brought their love for simple, bold flavors, but found butter was often more readily available and cheaper than high-quality olive oil. The result was a genius evolution: taking a large loaf of crusty bread (like French or Italian), slathering it with a rich butter-garlic-herb mixture, and baking it until golden. The final touch of melted cheese and the irresistible crunch? Pure American comfort food genius.

This recipe nails that perfect crispy-outside, soft-inside texture every time, thanks to one secret step: the foil wrap. Baking it wrapped first steams the bread, ensuring the butter permeates the center, then unwrapping it for a quick broil delivers that essential, mouthwatering toasted crust.

Get ready to skip the frozen stuff forever. This Classic Toasted Garlic Bread is ready in less than 20 minutes and is guaranteed to disappear faster than you can say Buon Appetito!

Ingredients

Bread: 1 loaf of French bread, Italian bread, or ciabatta.
Butter: 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
Garlic: 3–4 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced or grated.
Herb: 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried parsley).
Cheese (Optional): 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese.
Seasoning: 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste).

Directions

Step 1: Make the Garlic Butter

Soften the Butter: Ensure your butter is at room temperature so it mixes easily and spreads smoothly.
Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced fresh garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper.
Mix: Use a fork or a small whisk to mash and stir the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined into a fragrant, uniform spread.
Add Cheese (Optional): If you are using Parmesan in the spread, mix it in now.
Tip: Taste the spread! If you want a more potent garlic flavor, add another minced clove. If you're using salted butter, skip the added salt.

Step 2: Prepare and Bake the Bread

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cut the Bread: Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise (horizontally), so you have two long, flat halves.
Spread the Butter: Liberally and evenly spread a generous layer of the garlic butter mixture over the cut surface of both bread halves, going all the way to the edges.

Initial Bake (For Softness):

Place the two halves back together (cut sides touching).
Wrap the entire loaf tightly in aluminum foil. This initial steam-baking step heats the bread all the way through, melts the butter, and keeps the inside soft and moist.
Place the foil-wrapped loaf directly on the oven rack or a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

Final Toast (For Crispiness):

Carefully remove the loaf from the oven.
Unwrap the foil and open the bread halves, placing them cut-side up on the baking sheet.
Optional Cheese Topping: If you want cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella or extra Parmesan over the cut surfaces now.
Broil: Place the baking sheet on the top oven rack and switch the oven setting to Broil (or bake at 425°F/220°C for a slightly slower browning).
WATCH CAREFULLY! Broiling is fast. Broil for 1–3 minutes, or until the edges are golden-brown and crispy and the garlic is slightly roasted.

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