So simple to make and easy to embellish, this easy garlic bread spread is versatile, tasty and goes with a variety of dishes.
This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases when you purchase using the links on this page. It doesn't increase the price of the items for you, and it helps me cover the costs of bringing great recipes to you.
This easy garlic bread spread recipe is the result of decades of making garlic bread. It pairs up so well with so many dishes, and they don't have to be Italian dishes, either. I love to serve it with this Buffalo Chicken Dip and with my Shrimp Dip, too. Any sort of soup or stew just begs to have garlic bread on the side to soak up the broths and gravies.
If you want to try making your own Italian bread, King Arthur Baking Company has a good recipe here.
Top Tips
- I prefer to use butter to make garlic bread, because the ingredients stay blended in the mixture. However, olive oil is a great alternative that I have used, but I find the ingredients don't stay blended while I'm trying to dress each bread slice.
- This garlic bread spread recipe can be used on plain sandwich bread, too. When possible, though, I recommend using Italian bread, French bread (my preference) or other rustic type bread - even sourdough.
- Be generous when spreading the mixture onto the bread slices, so that some butter or olive oil seeps into the bread a bit.
- Generally, I use the toaster oven to bake garlic bread so I don't have to heat the big oven for just the dozen or so pieces of bread, but a conventional oven works just as well.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap out olive oil for the butter for a healthier version, olive oil garlic bread. I prefer to use butter because the garlic stays mixed during the spreading process, rather than sinking to the bottom.
- Parsley is a wonderful garnishment for color and adds a nice flavor. It's completely optional, though. And you can use dried parsley instead of fresh.
- Cheese - especially parmesan - makes a great addition. Other cheeses that work well are romano and even part-skin mozzarella.
- Garlic powder can be used in place of minced garlic to make the garlic butter with garlic powder. Simply use one-half teaspoon for each garlic clove you swap out.
Ingredients
- Garlic
- Butter or olive oil
- Parsley
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
With butter softened, add minced garlic (or garlic powder) and minced parsley (or dried parsley). Mix thoroughly and spread onto one side of sliced bread. Bake at 350℉ for about five minutes, or until the bread begins to brown just a little. Don't overbake, to avoid drying out the bread.
📖 Recipe
Easy Garlic Bread Spread
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt If you use salted butter, omit this.
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or 4 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped or minced parsley (optional) or dried parsley
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (optional) or romano or mozzarella
Instructions
- Soften the butter to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350℉.
- In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the butter (or olive oil), garlic and parsley until blended evenly.
- Spread the mixture generously onto sliced rounds of bread. A knife will work for the butter mixture, but a baster or spoon will work better for an olive oil mixture. Use enough on each slice so the butter or olive oil will seep into the bread a bit.
- Bake for five minutes or until the bread just begins to brown. Overbaking can cause the bread to dry out. Serve immediately.
Comments
No Comments