There’s nothing like the smell of homemade garlic bread. This version skips garlic powder and uses sliced garlic to infuse real flavor into melted butter and olive oil. It's garlicky, cheesy, and way better than anything you’ll find in the freezer aisle.
Your house smells like an authentic Italian restaurant when you make this!
Table of contents
Why I Love this!
The garlic flavor comes from real garlic, not powder. It’s infused into butter for extra depth.
You can use Italian or French bread—whichever you prefer.
It’s easy to turn it into cheesy garlic bread with just one extra step.
Pairs perfectly with soup, pasta, or even salad.
Ingredients
Real ingredients, just like my Italian friend's Dad used to make in his restaurant!
Italian bread or French bread, sliced about 1 inch thick
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced or minced
1 stick of butter (salted or unsalted)
¼ cup olive oil or grapeseed oil
Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional but highly recommended)
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
In a small frying pan, melt the butter over low heat with the olive oil.
Step 2
Peel and slice the garlic into thin slivers—or mince if you prefer. Add it to the butter mixture. My kids never liked the garlic pieces on their bread. If you have larger pieces, the garlic can stay in the pan.
Step 3
Let the garlic cook gently for 2–3 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the garlic sit in the butter for 10–15 minutes to infuse the flavor.
Step 4
Dip or lightly brush the garlic butter onto each slice of bread. Don’t oversaturate - just coat the surface.
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Step 5
Top each slice with shredded mozzarella after dipping or brushing with garlic butter.
Toast it one of these ways:
Oven: 450°F for 6–8 minutes
Toaster oven: 400°F for 5–6 minutes
Sprinkle parsley on top for a fresh finish.
Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers (rare in my house!), wrap the bread in foil and refrigerate. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven until warm and crispy. Avoid microwaving—it makes the bread soggy.
FAQs
You can, but this recipe is designed around fresh garlic for maximum flavor. Sliced or minced garlic infuses the butter and oil, giving it that rich, real garlic taste that powder just can't match.
Italian bread is classic, but French bread or even a sturdy sourdough works great. Look for a loaf with a firm crust and soft inside to hold the garlic butter well.
I'll confess to having even used hot dog rolls to use up the garlic butter the next day. (Don't serve those to guests!) The garlic butter is liquid gold in my house!
Yes! It’s delicious with just the garlic butter. If you're skipping mozzarella, you can sprinkle on a little parmesan for extra flavor or enjoy it as garlic toast.
What to serve this with!
Cheesy Garlic Bread with Fresh Garlic Butter
Ingredients
- Italian bread cut into slices about an inch thick French bread or a baguette can also be used
- 3 medium cloves of fresh garlic cut into slivers or minced not garlic powder!
- 1 stick butter salted or unsalted butter is fine
- ¼ cup olive oil or grapeseed oil
- mozzarella cheese shredded (optional - but a necessity in my house!)
- fresh parsley as an optional garnish.
Instructions
- In a small frying pan, melt the butter over low heat with the olive oil.
- Peel and slice the garlic into thin slivers—or mince if you prefer. Add it to the butter mixture. My kids never liked the garlic pieces on their bread. If you have larger pieces, the garlic can stay in the pan.
- Let the garlic cook gently for 2–3 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the garlic sit in the butter for 10–15 minutes to infuse the flavor.
- Dip or lightly brush the garlic butter onto each slice of bread. Don’t oversaturate - just coat the surface.
- Want Cheesy Garlic Bread?Top each slice with shredded mozzarella after dipping or brushing with garlic butter.Toast it one of these ways:Oven: 450°F for 6–8 minutesToaster oven: 400°F for 5–6 minutes
- If you have parsley handy, sprinkle some on top! It makes it look extra appetizing.
- ***Only one side of the garlic bread is toasted. Usually, the bottom gets a little toasty on it's own. And if it doesn't, everyone is focusing on the top!
Notes
A perfect side dish - the best garlic bread recipe!
Enjoy this wonderful side to an Italian meal. It can also be a nice, easy snack, especially when you add the cheese on top. I find this makes a meal if you eat it with a salad or with your favorite soup. It is your choice if you want to add cheese (or maybe just a bit of parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella) or just eat it as garlic toast.What to do with leftovers
Honestly, it is so rare that we have any garlic toast left over! If you do, wrap it in foil and keep refrigerated. It's fine for a few days. You will want to reheat in the oven so it becomes toasty again. Do not microwave because it gets soggy with the oil & butter mixture on it.Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)
Love Italian Food? Here is the recipe for my moist and delicious Italian meatballs!
Italian Meatballs with Spaghetti Sauce.
Soup recipes that this garlic bread would be great with
imarancher
I am going to make some now. And yes, the olive oil sounds like a nice touch.