Textual Chef Textual Chef

Garlic Bread

Toasted bread slices slathered with garlic butter and herbs. The perfect side for pasta and Italian meals.

15 minEasyServes 6180 cal/serving

Italian-AmericanSideOvenVegetarianLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette, sliced diagonally into 1-inch thick pieces
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

  2. 2

    Slice 1 baguette sliced diagonally into 1-inch thick pieces, but don't cut all the way through the bottom crust if you want to keep the loaf intact.

  3. 3

    In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup softened to room temperature butter, 2 minced or pressed garlic cloves, 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.

  4. 4

    Drizzle 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil into the butter mixture and stir to combine. This helps create a more spreadable consistency and adds flavor.

  5. 5

    Using a butter knife or small spatula, generously spread the garlic butter mixture on each slice of bread, making sure to get some into the crevices between slices.

  6. 6

    If using a whole loaf, wrap it loosely in aluminum foil, leaving the top partially exposed to allow for browning. If using individual slices, place them directly on the prepared baking sheet.

  7. 7

    Sprinkle 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the bread.

  8. 8

    Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden brown and crispy, and the butter is melted and bubbling.

  9. 9

    For extra crispiness, open the foil (if using) during the last 2 minutes of baking or switch to the broiler setting for 1 minute (watch carefully to prevent burning).

  10. 10

    Remove from the oven and serve immediately while hot and crispy. The garlic bread pairs perfectly with pasta dishes, soups, or as part of an Italian meal.

Questions

Can I make Garlic Bread dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature, 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Garlic Bread gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1 baguette, sliced diagonally into 1-inch thick pieces. Swap the bread or crumbs for a gluten-free loaf or gluten-free panko. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Garlic Bread keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Can I halve or double Garlic Bread?

Yes. As written it serves 6. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,504 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.