Easy Garlic Bread is a baked to a crisp golden brown with a ton of buttery garlic flavor. This easy recipe that pairs perfectly with pasta, soups, stews and even steak.
I love garlic bread. It’s one of those side dishes that absolutely goes with almost anything. It especially seems to pair well with comfort food. Recipes like my Monterey Chicken Spaghetti, One Pot Mostaccioli, and Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup pair so well with a slice or two of garlic bread.
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How do you make Easy Garlic Bread?
Ingredients:
- loaf Italian bread
- butter
- garlic Cloves
- garlic Powder
- salt
- parsley (optional)
Equipment:
- baking sheet
- bread knife
- pastry brush
- rasp-style grater or garlic press
Instructions:
- Move the rack in the oven to the middle position then preheat oven to 450°F.
- Slice the bread in half- length wise and set it aside.
- Using a rasp-style grater to grate the garlic into a paste. If you do not have a grater, you can use a garlic press or a sharp knife to finely mince the garlic.
- Add the butter and garlic paste into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments until the butter is melted. Stir in the garlic powder into butter mixture.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the butter mixture evenly over the two open halves of bread.
- Bake the bread cut side up for 3-4 minutes.
- Carefully remove the tray from the oven and use a spatula to flip the bread over and bake cut side down for 5-6 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
- Sprinkle lightly with salt and fresh parsley, then slice into 2 inch pieces and serve.
Variations and Substitutions:
- If you can’t find a loaf of Italian bread then a loaf of French Bread will also work. It may not be as light and the crust maybe a little tougher but the flavor will very much the same.
- You can substitute the fresh grated garlic for jarred minced garlic. You will need about one tablespoon of minced garlic.
- The fresh chopped parsley is optional. It does add a bright splash of color but leaving it out will not affect the recipe.
Why do I need to microwave the garlic? Microwaving the raw garlic helps tame the flavor of the garlic so you get plenty of garlic flavor without the harsh, sharp flavor that garlic can have.
Why do I need garlic powder? Using a combination of fresh garlic and garlic powder helps enhance the garlic flavor without making it overpowering.
My tips and notes for this recipe:
- I recommend using a nice quality, full fat butter. It is possible to use a butter substitute or margarin but you won’t get the same rich buttery taste that only comes from, well… butter.
- If the garlic smell lingers in the microwave, place ¼ cup of baking soda in a small dish and leave it in the microwave overnight. It will absorb the odor and take away the garlic smell.
- I hope you and your family will love this recipe as much as we do! If you do try this recipe please come back and leave a comment letting me know how much you liked it!
Happy Cooking Y’all!
Susanne
What can I serve with Garlic Bread?
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Easy Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz Italian bread
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 6 cloves garlic large cloves
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
-
Move the oven rack into the middle position.
-
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
-
Slice the Italian bread in half, width-wise.
-
Use a rasp-style grater to grate the garlic into a paste. If you do not have one, you can use a garlic press or a sharp knife to finely mince the garlic.
-
Add the butter and garlic paste into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the butter is melted. Stir in the garlic powder.
-
Use a pastry brush to brush the garlic mixture evenly over the two open halves of bread.
-
Bake the bread cut side up for 3-4 minutes.
-
Carefully remove the tray from the oven and use a spatula to flip the bread over and bake cut side down for 5-6 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
-
Sprinkle with salt and fresh parsley, then slice into 2” pieces and serve.
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is estimated. Amounts will vary based on ingredient choices and serving sizes.
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