Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the garlic butter mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before using. You can also spread the butter on the bread and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking.

What type of bread works best?

While any bread will work, I recommend using a sturdy bread like French bread, Italian bread, or a good quality sandwich bread. Avoid very soft bread as it may become too soggy with the butter.

Can I freeze garlic bread?

Absolutely! You can freeze the unbaked garlic bread for up to 3 months. Simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. When ready to bake, you can bake it straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Garlic Bread with Sliced Bread: The Ultimate Side Dish

Name: Garlic Bread with Sliced Bread
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American / Italian-Inspired
Ingredients: 6 slices of sandwich bread (white, whole wheat, or sourdough); 4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, softened to room temperature; 3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder); 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley); 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra flavor); Pinch of black pepper; Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Ingredients

6 slices of sandwich bread (white, whole wheat, or sourdough)

4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, softened to room temperature

3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for extra flavor)

Pinch of black pepper

Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Instructions

1. **Preheat:** Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

2. **Make the Garlic Butter:** In a small bowl, mash together the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper until well combined.

3. **Spread:** Arrange the slices of bread on the baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter mixture generously over one side of each slice, going all the way to the edges.

4. **Bake:** Place in the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are crispy and the center is golden brown.

5. **Broil (Optional):** If you like it extra toasty, switch the oven to ‘Broil’ for the last 1–2 minutes. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn!

6. **Serve:** Remove from the oven. Slice the bread diagonally (or into sticks) and serve hot alongside pasta or soup.

Notes

Stovetop Method: Don’t want to use the oven? You can cook these like a grilled cheese! Butter one side, place butter-side down in a hot pan, cook until golden, then flip briefly to toast the other side.

Air Fryer Method: Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 4–5 minutes until golden and crispy.

Cheesy Version: For ‘Cheesy Garlic Bread,’ sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the butter layer before baking.

Bread Type: Stale bread actually works best for this recipe as it crisps up faster than fresh soft bread.

Author: Anna Lovae
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 10
Category: Side Dish
Method: Oven or Stovetop
Cuisine: American / Italian-Inspired
Diet: Vegetarian