Oven Baked Garlic Bread 2 ways: Nice and Crispy or Soft and Chewy! (2024)

This incredible oven garlic bread recipe features 2 methods: one for those who prefer soft garlic bread and one for those who prefer crispy! All you need is some french bread, garlic powder, and butter (plus a little Parmesan cheese if you like) to make restaurant quality garlic bread at home!

Garlic Bread In The Oven

You'll be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn't love garlic bread. It is the classic compliment to any Italian dish, perfect for dunking in stew, and the leftovers make incredible croutons!

This garlic bread recipe is so incredibly simple, and it includes instructions on making your bread nice and crispy or keeping your garlic bread soft and fluffy. Either way is delicious, so it's whatever you prefer!

🥘 Ingredients

You only need 3 ingredients for this garlic bread (4 if using the Parmesan). My homemade French bread recipe is incredibly easy, or you can snag a loaf for a couple bucks from the bakery section at the grocery store!

• French Bread - 1 loaf of french bread(or Italian or a baguette).
• Butter- ½ a cup of unsalted butter, or 1 stick.
• Garlic Powder - 2 tablespoons of garlic powder.
• Parmesan Cheese (optional) - ½ a cup of Parmesan.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 Instructions

I think both soft and crispy garlic bread have their place, so choose what you prefer and what will complement your meal! You will need a baking sheet, a bread knife, a cutting board, and some aluminum foil.

1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Slice. Meanwhile, slice your 1 loaf of french bread in half length-wise.
3. Make garlic butter. In a small bowl combine ½ a cup of butter, 2 tablespoons of garlic powder, and optional ½ a cup of Parmesan until nice and creamy.
4. Spread. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly on each side of your french bread.

Method 1: Crispy Garlic Bread

1. Bake. Place each side of the bread onto a baking sheet facing upward in the center of the oven—Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes (or until golden and crispy).
2. Slice. Remove from oven, slice, and serve.

Method 2: Soft Garlic Bread

1. Put buttered bread together. Take both halves of your buttered french bread and place the buttered sides back together. Then, wrap the whole loaf in aluminum foil.
2. Bake. Place the foil-wrapped bread directly in the center of the oven and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.
3. Slice. After 10 minutes, remove the bread from the oven. Carefully unwrap the foil, slice, and serve.

I could argue that this oven garlic bread goes with any meal (because c'mon who doesn't love garlic bread). However, a few of my Italian favorites to serve it with are my Italian sausage bake and pasta e fa*gioli soup. Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

• Add a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley once your garlic bread comes out of the oven for a truly restaurant-worthy garlic bread!
• Storing: Once the garlic bread has cooled, it may be wrapped in foil and kept at room temperature on the counter for 3-4 days. Avoid airtight containers as the bread can become soggy and refrigeration will cause it to become dry and hard.
• Freezing: Once cooled, you may wrap the garlic bread in plastic wrap then foil and freeze it for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: No need to thaw frozen garlic bread, just preheat your oven to 350°F(175°C) and pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes on a baking sheet.

🥖 More Bread Recipes

• Rustic Bread
• White Bread
• Traditional Irish Soda Bread
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Focaccia Bread
• Cob Loaf

📖 Recipe Card

More Side Dishes