Homemade Garlic Bread

This homemade garlic bread is a savory, delectable recipe that takes less than 20 minutes to make.

Covered in butter, generously sprinkled with garlic powder and roasted to a golden brown, the savory scent of homemade garlic bread in the oven will waft through your home.

This recipe for garlic bread is unique, making it a crowd-pleasing side dish on pasta night or a satiating appetizer.

Homemade garlic bread was a staple in our home when I was a kid. 

After playing for hours in the many feet of snow that define a Minnesota winter, I vividly remember coming inside on those cold winter nights, and being greeted by the overwhelmingly delicious scent of baking garlic bread in the oven.

To be honest, I had not made this garlic toast recipe for quite some time before pulling it out for this blog. It seems I had all but forgotten to make it for some reason. Life, I guess.

As I am sure you will find, this is the best recipe for garlic bread you will ever experience. To that, I am ecstatic to have this recipe back in rotation at our house.

Homemade Garlic Bread Ingredients

This homemade garlic bread recipe calls for only three ingredients, which belies the powerful flavor profile. I truly believe you can’t eat just one slice of this garlic toast.

Here is the short list of ingredients you will need in this recipe for garlic bread:

• Sourdough, French or Italian bread, thinly sliced - As bread is in the name of this recipe, bread is the main ingredient. French or Italian bread is most common to use for garlic toast, but we use sourdough. The flavor does not change all that much, but traditionally made sourdough is easier to digest than other breads. Be consistent with how thinly the bread is sliced to allow for more even cooking.
• Butter, salted - The butter in this recipe is where pretty much all of the sodium comes from, save for whatever is in the bread. I have found it’s better to slather on a good amount of butter (both sides) to bring out the saltiness.
• Garlic powder - Potent in its flavor profile, garlic powder is the true star of this recipe. Not all garlic powder is created equal, though. Read the next section on where to buy the best garlic powder.

Variations:

• Add garlic flakes to increase the potency of this garlic toast.
• Dunk garlic bread in olive oil for a richer flavor.
• Make this a cheesy garlic bread by adding a dollop of fresh, creamy burrata or mozzarella cheese.

Where to Buy the Best Garlic Powder

Tip: Be cognizant of where your garlic powder is sourced from. 

The best garlic in the world is grown in California, USA. I highly recommend McFadden Farm 100% Organic Garlic Powder, as well as their Garlic Flakes. I have no affiliation with this company; I just love their products.

The full name of the company is McFadden Family Vineyard & Farm. McFadden is well known for their garlic braids, a millennia-old tradition of storing garlic so it lasts for months. You can learn more about their process in the documentary series on the McFadden website.

As an alternative, you can also buy directly from McFadden’s on Amazon (ships from and sold by) or from McFadden’s on Etsy.

How to Make Homemade Garlic Bread

1. Arrange bread on a baking sheet pan in a single layer. I also recommend lining the pan with parchment paper.

2. Butter both sides of the bread.

3. Generously sprinkle garlic powder over both sides of the buttered bread.

4. Bake at 350 for approximately 12 minutes, turning halfway through. Given the variation in the thickness of the bread, as well as the type of bread, it may burn. With that in mind, it is important to check the bread regularly to ensure it doesn’t overcook.

5. Serve immediately or store at room temperature for approximately 2-3 days.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this homemade garlic bread as a side dish to a heaping bowl of pasta with red sauce. Garlic toast also makes a great snack or appetizer on its own.

• Side Dish - Serve this homemade garlic bread as a side dish, accompanying a heaping bowl of pasta with red sauce. Use the bread to soak up the last bits of sauce left in the bowl.
• Appetizer - As an appetizer, this recipe for garlic bread is easy to make, requiring little effort. So, for your next holiday party, serve this homemade garlic bread and watch as your guests swoon over the savory goodness.

• Snack - After school, after work or just because, homemade garlic bread—with its complex carbs, salt and a bit of protein from the butter—will satiate your hunger until the next meal.

Use tongs to serve garlic toast to keep the mess at minimal.

How to Store Garlic Bread

You can usually store garlic toast at room temperature for up to 3 days, preferably in a bag.

Refrigerating garlic bread may make it overly dry and most likely taste stale. It is best to consume within a few days. Like all breads stored at room temperature, look for signs of mold before eating.

You can also freeze homemade garlic bread as you would any other type of bread.