It's hot, buttery, garlicky, herbaceous and a little crispy. Perfect with your family dinner, date night at home, or dinner party with friends. Meet the very best Baguette Garlic Bread Recipe you'll ever make!
A really good garlic bread is the perfect appetizer or side dish to so many at-home parties. Having a great recipe that you can make in short order is such a gift and makes Tuesday night Spicy Vodka Pasta or Christmas eve Shrimp Cannelloni equally magical.
What you'll need for this baguette recipe:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
French baguette: A baguette is the best bread for my money, but you have plenty of options to pull off this perfect garlic bread. A loaf of Italian bread will make an excellent garlic bread loaf, but you can also grab a large loaf of French bread, seeded bread or even a round country loaf.
Fresh herbs: the recipe calls for chives and flat leaf parsley, the perfect combination for this buttery bread. Substitute a bit of tarragon, fresh basil or a bit of diced thyme leaves.
Full ingredient list and measurements included in printable recipe card below.
Step by step instructions:
1. Cook garlic
To begin, preheat your oven to 375℉.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet. Add grated garlic, salt and pepper. Cook over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes, until the garlic is tender and fragrant. Remove from heat to cool slightly while preparing the bread.
2. Cut bread
Using a bread knife, slice the baguette in 1-inch pieces, but leave the loaf attached at the bottom, similar to a Hasselback potato (cut a little more than ¾ of the way through the loaf).
Place the sliced loaf on a sheet pan that has been covered with aluminum foil and a sheet of parchment paper (the parchment should be directly under the bread, foil directly under the parchment and on top of the large baking sheet).
3. Make garlic butter
Combine the remaining 6 tablespoons of softened butter, ½ cup parmesan, 2 tablespoons of parsley and fresh chives, lemon zest and softened garlic (in melted butter) from the skillet in a small bowl. Use a fork to mix well.
4. Prep bread
Using a knife or rubber spatula, spread the garlic herb butter between each slice of bread, ensuring you have an equal amount on each slice. Spread any remaining compound butter mixture over the top of the loaf.
4. Bake bread
Wrap loaf in the parchment, then the foil.
Bake at 375℉ for 10 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven. Carefully unwrap the loaf (watch out for steam!) then return to oven.
6. Serve and enjoy
Bake for an additional 6-8 minutes, until the exterior of the loaf is a little crisp and the interior is still soft and pillowy. Remove and serve.
Looking for more Italian favorites?
- Mediterranean Tossed Salad for a Crowd
- Shrimp Scampi Fettuccine
- Creamy Tomato Lobster Ravioli Sauce Recipe
FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:
Fresh garlic makes this cheesy garlic bread extra special, but garlic powder will also work in the garlic butter mixture. Start with 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and then taste and adjust from there. I don't recommend using garlic salt in the same ratio, as the garlic flavors will be overwhelmed by the salt. If using garlic salt, start with ½ teaspoon in the garlic compound butter, then taste and adjust. Omit the additional salt in the recipe.
Fresh basil and even a tablespoon of fresh thyme would be delicious in this easy baguette garlic bread recipe. Create your own mix of herbs with the real garlic butter, just be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning.
A baguette is the best bread for me, but you have plenty of options to pull off this perfect side dish. Of course a loaf of Italian bread will make a good garlic bread loaf, but you can also grab a large loaf of French bread, seeded bread or even a round country loaf. Almost any type of bread will work with this easy recipe.
Any Italian food main course is just begging for a delicious side order of this garlic bread. I love to serve it with Stuffed Calamari, Shrimp Cannelloni, Shrimp Rasta Pasta and Shrimp Scampi Fettuccine. Garlic bread is a classic side dish to serve with Italian favorites like your lasagna dinner, Flounder Piccata or chicken piccata and even a big Italian Tossed Salad.
I love the slightly mellowed flavor of the cooked garlic, but if you're looking for a more pungent experience, skip the sauté step and add your grated raw garlic directly to the garlic butter mixture.
To store leftover garlic bread, move to airtight container or wrap tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, leave wrapped and warm in oven at 375℉ for 8-10 minutes until hot.
Best Garlic Bread Baguette Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Ingredients
1 large French baguette
8 tablespoons butter, softened and divided
6 cloves garlic, grated
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, diced
2 tablespoons fresh chives, diced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- To begin, preheat your oven to 375℉.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet. Add grated garlic, salt and pepper. Cook over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes, until the garlic is tender and fragrant. Remove from heat to cool slightly while preparing the bread.
- Using a bread knife, slice the baguette in 1-inch slices, but leave the loaf attached at the bottom, similar to a hasselback potato (cut a little more than ¾ of the way through the loaf). Place the sliced loaf on a sheet pan that has been covered with aluminum foil and a sheet of parchment paper (the parchment should be directly under the bread, foil directly under the parchment and on top of the large baking sheet).
- Combine the remaining 6 tablespoons of softened butter, ½ cup parmesan, 2 tablespoons of parsley and fresh chives, lemon zest and softened garlic (and melted butter) from the skillet in a small bowl. Use a fork to mix well. Using a knife or rubber spatula, spread the garlic herb butter between each slice of bread, ensuring you have an equal amount on each slice. Spread any remaining compound butter mixture over the top of the loaf.
- Wrap in the parchment, then the foil. Bake for 10 minutes. Unwrap. Bake for additional 6-8 minutes, until exterior is a little crisp and the interior is still soft and pillowy. Remove and serve.
Notes
A baguette is the best bread for my money, but you have plenty of options to pull off this perfect garlic bread. A loaf of Italian bread will make an excellent garlic bread loaf, but you can also grab a large loaf of French bread, seeded bread or even a round country loaf.
Substitute a bit of basil, tarragon or thyme leaves in the garlic herb butter mix.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: appetizer, side
- Method: oven, stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Leave a Reply