Garlic bread is a classic side dish. Delicious crusty bread, slathered in fresh garlic and butter and topped with a sprinkle of cheese – we always have homemade garlic bread whenever we eat bowlfuls of pasta. It’s the best for mopping up all that delicious sauce, wouldn’t you agree?
My children aren’t happy if I don’t make any alongside a main meal – it’s probably their all-time favourite side dish. And even though you can easily heat up shop-bought garlic bread, I promise once you’ve tried this easy recipe for homemade garlic bread, with just a few simple ingredients, you’ll realise how much better this garlic bread tastes. It’s so much fresher, the garlic butter spread is more flavourful, and it’s impossible to only have a couple of slices. And after all, you can’t really beat a homemade recipe.
Follow this recipe for homemade garlic bread
If you’ve ever wondered how easy it is to make homemade garlic bread then now’s the time to try – it won’t take you very long at all. With just a few basic ingredients including real butter, garlic cloves, crusty ciabatta, and fresh parsley, you can whip up this easy garlic bread recipe in only 10 minutes. The hardest part is waiting for the garlic bread to be grilled. So the first thing to do is get all your ingredients together. To make homemade garlic bread, you’ll need:
- a loaf of bread – I love to use a ciabatta loaf as I think the shape works well for garlic bread, but you could also use a loaf of French bread, or tiger bread. Choose the best kind of bread that you like to eat, that gives a good crunch once it’s baked. I would refrain from using pre-sliced regular bread you’d use for toast or sandwiches as they’re not thick enough.
- Butter – I choose unsalted butter. Why? Because you don’t want the garlic bread to be too salty. I add a little seasoning to this recipe so you can adjust according to taste.
- Garlic cloves – lots of them. The whole point of garlic bread is to have the aromatic flavour of this pungent and tasty ingredient.
- Fresh parsley – chopped as this adds a lovely freshness to the garlic bread.
- Grated parmesan cheese – for an extra kick and tanginess. This is optional, but cheese really elevates this easy garlic bread recipe.
Preheat your oven and prepare your bread
To start making your homemade garlic bread, preheat your grill to its highest setting. While the grill is heating up, slice your loaf of bread in half lengthways so you have two equal slices. I prefer to slice up my garlic bread once it’s finished grilling, however, if you’d like to grill it and then eat it straight away, you can cut the bread into thick slices after you’ve spread the garlic butter and grill them as smaller pieces. Place the bread on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper [optional] and then grill the bread crust side up for 1-2 minutes so it becomes crispy.
Make the garlic butter
Before you prepare the garlic butter, make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before starting, as it will be easier to mix with the other ingredients. If the butter is too hard, then you can soften it a little in a microwave for 3 seconds bursts. Get a small bowl, mix together softened butter, 4 cloves of minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly on each slice of bread, making sure you cover as much of it as possible. I find it easy to use the back of a spoon, but a knife or palette knife will work, too.
Can you use olive oil instead of butter and make a garlic mixture out of it this way? The best way to get buttery goodness is to use the real deal. But if you can’t get any butter, absolutely – mix a good glug of olive oil, then add the garlic, seasoning, and parsley, and brush onto the bread. It will still taste great.
Then sprinkle the parmesan
I like to use a little parmesan cheese on top of this easy garlic bread, as it adds a lovely salty tang. You can substitute the parmesan for other hard cheeses including grated cheddar cheese or pecorino. Or if you’d prefer not to have cheese skip this step altogether.
Finish off by grilling
Place the bread back on the baking tray. Grill for another 2-3 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on it, as you don’t want the bread to burn. Once done, remove it from the grill and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing up and serving. Enjoy your delicious homemade garlic bread with lots of your favourite meals – after all, it is the perfect side dish.
How long does garlic bread last?
If you happen to have any leftover garlic bread, then pop them in an airtight container or wrap it in cling film. Store in the fridge for up to three days, and then reheat in a preheated oven at 180c for around 6 minutes. You can also freeze garlic bread for up to three months and bake it straight from frozen in a preheated oven for around 15 minutes.
What to serve with this garlic bread
So many meals go with garlic bread – as long as there’s plenty of sauce to mop it up with – why not try these recipes?
Slow cooker bolognese
Aubergine parmigiana
Ham and pea soup
Mac and cheese
Beef and chorizo stew
Easy homemade garlic bread
Ingredients
- 1 ciabatta loaf or loaf of your choice
- 100 g butter softened
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsps of fresh parsley chopped
- 2-3 tbsps parmesan finely shredded
Instructions
- Slice the ciabatta loaf in half lengthwise,
- Put the bread slices on a baking tray, crust-side up, and grill for 2 minutes until crispy.
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, garlic, and parsley together. And mix well.
- Spread the butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread - making sure to cover all the bread with the garlic butter. Sprinkle the parmesan evenly on top.
- Place the bread back on a baking tray, face-side up, and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until toasty and golden.
- Let the bread cool for a minute or two before cutting it into slices and serving.
Nutrition
Did you make this homemade garlic bread recipe?
Please let me know if you made this quick garlic bread recipe. Leave a comment below and tag @cooksimplyathome on Instagram. You can find other easy meal ideas here.