How to Make Italian Garlic Bread

How is This Italian Garlic Bread Easy? 

I don’t have time to always cook homemade bread. So it’s tempting to just buy store-bought garlic bread. However, I find these breads are too buttery and garlicky for my tastes.

However, by purchasing a plain Italian loaf from a bakery, I have the freedom to season and prepare the garlic bread the way I like it whether it’s for a Christmas buffet or Sunday dinner. This recipe is from my mother and how my Italian father always liked it.

Plus it only take about 10 minutes to bake and heat through since the bread is already baked.

Garlic Bread Tips

Although this is a quick recipe, there are still a few things I want to note based on my own experiences.

• Cook times can vary. Depending on the type of bread you purchase and the fact that ovens themselves can vary, baking times may not always be the same. If in doubt, follow the instructions on the bread packaging and adjust as needed for the desired level of doneness.
• Set a timer and check it periodically. It’s very frustrating when you’re trying to get a nice dinner, especially a Christmas holiday dinner on the table and you forget to check the bread and suddenly you can smell it burning. Yep, guilty!
• Use foil (or parchment) to protect the edges from over baking. I found that this one simple step helps keep the inside moist and the crust nice and crisp.

Ingredients

• Italian or French artisan bread. Save yourself a lot of time and buy a good Italian or artisan bread from a local bakery. I even use french baguettes sometimes!
• Butter. I generally use unsalted butter.
• Extra-virgin olive oil. Always use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil, ideally first cold-pressed.
• Garlic. For a stronger garlic flavor I prefer to use freshly minced garlic (not from a jar). If all you have is garlic powder, you can use that instead.

Step by Step Instructions

To make this quick garlic bread, simply follow these steps below.

Step 1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

Step 2. Slice the bread lengthwise on its side so you have 2 long pieces of bread, the top and the bottom.

Step 3. Melt the butter over low heat in the microwave or on the stove in a small saucepan.

Step 4. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and garlic so that the butter and oil emulsify.

Step 5. Evenly spread the garlic mixture on the open sides of the bread with a brush or spoon.

Step 6. Place bread face up on parchment-lined baking pan and bake for about 5 to minutes. It will cook quickly so be careful of it burning – check periodically.

Pro Tip: The parchment makes for easier clean up.

Step 7. When ready, remove from oven and slice into desired thickness. 1 inch thickness is pretty typical, but do what you prefer.

What Goes with Garlic Bread

Garlic bread can be served with a variety of Italian recipes. Here are few that you might like.

This spinach and rolled chicken is easy and goes great with garlicky bread.

For a quick authentic dish, try this pasta arrabbiata.

Red pepper sauce goes great with any pasta, but also makes dipping your bread in absolutely delicious!