How to make roasted garlic bread with just a handful of ingredients, including buttery, mellow roasted garlic. By combining this roasted garlic butter with the bread of your choice, you have a simple and flavorful side dish for tons of meals! Gluten-free and dairy-free methods included!
Follow this method for roasted whole garlic heads – slice off about ½ inch from the end of the garlic roots, brush with oil, fold into a tin foil parcel, and roast at 400ºF/200ºC for 30-50 minutes, or until golden and tender.
Step 2: Prepare the bread
Once the garlic has been roasted, slice your bread. I sliced mine in half lengthwise. However, you could also cut individual round slices or slice the top "Hasselback" style like store-bought garlic bread (slicing every 1 inch into the bread until the bottom crust but not all the way through). Of course, if you're using a flatbread or focaccia, then no slicing is required.
Step 3: Prepare the roasted garlic butter
Finely chop the parsley.
Combine the butter, parsley, chili flakes, and salt & pepper in a small bowl.If the butter isn't soft enough, you can microwave it for just a few seconds.
Mash the roasted garlic. It should be easy to remove all the garlic cloves while the head is still warm. Simply use your hands to squeeze the garlic out onto a small dish, using a small knife or fork to help remove any stubborn pieces.Once removed, use the fork to lightly mash the garlic into a slightly chunky puree.
Mix the garlic into the butter mixture and combine well.
Step 4: Brush and bake the bread with roasted garlic butter
Using a pastry brush/silicone brush, brush the garlic butter mixture over your bread slices (or spread between, for the Hasselback style version). I like to do so quite liberally, for lots of flavor. Any leftover topping can be saved for another time.
Then bake the bread slices at 350ºF/175ºC for about 10 minutes (the time will vary based on your bread choice and size), or until golden brown with slightly crispy edges. Then slice into smaller sections and enjoy!
How to Store Roasted Garlic Bread?
Make ahead: it's easy to prepare the roasted garlic butter mixture in advance and store it in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month. Then, when ready, heat it until lightly melted and brush over your bread of choice, then roast.You can also freeze the basted but unbaked bread. To do so, lay the bread on a tray making sure no pieces are touching. Freeze until solid, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in a Ziplock bag, if possible – for up to 3 months. You can then bake the bread from frozen. Adding a few minutes to the baking time.Store: roasted garlic bread is best enjoyed fresh while warm. However, you can store any leftovers wrapped in foil at room temperature for 2-3 days.Freeze: I prefer to freeze the garlic bread pre-baking, so it's fresh when eating. However, you can also freeze the roasted garlic bread after baking. Thaw before reheating.Reheat: place the thawed bread back in the oven at 350ºF/175ºC and bake until just warmed through. Don't leave it too long, or it will become overly crispy/burnt. You could optionally sprinkle it with a bit of water before baking for slightly softer results (or wrap in foil).
Notes
For softer baked bread: you can wrap the roasted garlic bread loosely in foil before baking if you'd prefer softer slices rather than crispy edges. For somewhere in-between, remove the bread from the foil in the last 5 minutes of baking.
The baking time: this time will vary based on the type of bread you use and whether it's whole or sliced. I recommend checking on the bread at the 10-minute mark and every couple of minutes after that.
For a slightly more robust garlic flavor: you can add dried garlic powder into the roasted garlic butter mixture (I recommend adding 1 Tbsp then increasing to taste).
You can also make garlic pizza: by spreading this mixture over unbaked pizza dough then baking as usual. Top with cheese, too, if preferred.
For more aromatic roasted garlic bread: you can roast the garlic with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary. The flavor will be infused into the garlic as it bakes.
Enjoy a "cheat" method: if you're in a rush, simply toast your bread of choice, brush with a little oil, and then rub with a garlic clove (or spread with some roasted garlic, if you have any). Sprinkle with any extra herbs if preferred – no baking (or dairy) required!
What's the best bread to use for garlic bread? I love using a fresh baguette – French or Italian are the most common. If you use a loaf that is too "soft" (like regular white bread) to begin with, it can become soggy when baked. On the other hand, if you use one that's too sturdy, it may toughen up while baking. However, you could also use ciabatta, focaccia, or even pizza dough.
Optional Add-ins and Recipe Variations:
Cheese: mozzarella and Parmesan are my favorite options, though cheddar will also work. Simply sprinkle the grated cheese (one or both) over the bread before roasting. Alternatively, add the grated cheese after baking and broil for a minute or two until melted.
Spice: instead of red pepper flakes, you can add a little chili sauce into the roasted garlic butter mixture.
Paprika: another addition that I love adding to the roasted garlic butter is a bit of sweet or smoked paprika. Usually, ½-1 tsp is more than enough.
Dairy-free: this roasted garlic bread is incredibly easy to make dairy-free. Simply use your favorite vegan butter (and cheese, if using).
Gluten-free: make sure to use a gluten-free baguette. Otherwise, the ingredients are all naturally gluten-free.
Check the blog post for more tips and serving suggestions!