A lot of people like to serve bread with dinner every night. I am definitely one of those people. I love bread and especially love garlic cheese bread. Or really any type of bread that includes garlic butter. This easy garlic bread recipe can be made without actually making the bread. This is my go-to garlic french bread recipe because it is easy and uses a french bread loaf you buy at the store.
You can add parmesan or omit it, depending on your tastes and how much you like garlic cheese bread. I personally think we should add parmesan to everything.
Garlic french bread goes really well with our chicken in white wine sauce recipe as well as anything you serve with our marinara sauce recipe with because garlic cheese bread and Italian food are a pair made in heaven. If you love lasagna you'll love this one. Or try this creamy chicken pasta. And don't miss our classic spaghetti and meatballs.
❤️ WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS HOMEMADE GARLIC BREAD RECIPE
✔️ Quick and easy! Use store bought or homemade french bread.
✔️ Perfectly crusty and buttery flavor.
✔️ Only takes 10 minutes and makes a great addition to any meal.
What is American French Bread?
It's important to note before I tell you more about french bread that we're talking about American french bread. Actual french bread is usually referring to a baguette which is longer and thinner than American french bread.
American french bread is a bit rounder and shorter with thinner crust while still being "crusty". It's a soft bread that can be found in most grocery bakeries.
How to Soften Butter:
This cheesy garlic butter recipe requires that you mix the butter with the seasonings and cheese. In order to do that well you'll need to soften your butter. Don't fall prey to the temptation of microwaving the whole stick of butter! If you must microwave, cut the stick into smaller pieces and microwave 5 seconds at a time so you don't melt the butter.
There is, however, a super easy way to soften a stick of butter. If you can remember to think ahead just pull your stick of butter out of the fridge and put it on the counter. Then turn a glass over on top of it. The heat trapped inside the glass will quickly soften the butter. It's not nearly as quick as the microwave but works very well and you don't have to worry about the butter melting.
Ingredients:
You may have all of these french bread ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts.
- 16 oz. loaf of French bread: Use premade bread or make your own.
- ½ cup salted butter: Use unsalted, if you prefer.
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt: You can use salt and garlic powder, or fresh garlic cloves (minced garlic) if you like. Remember that a little fresh garlic goes a long way.
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley: Or use 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley. Optionally, you can use Italian seasoning.
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese: Use fresh parmesan, not the kind that comes in a can in the pantry section of the store.
Doesn't that look amazing? It tastes oh so good as well. This is definitely the best garlic french bread recipe. If you love garlic cheese bread you'll love this.
If you don't have time to make your own bread, this easy garlic bread recipe is the next best thing!
How to Make Garlic French Bread:
PREP: Preheat oven to 425°F. Measure ingredients and soften butter.
MAKE BREAD: Slice loaf of French bread in half lengthwise. Open with cut side face up on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, stir together softened butter, garlic salt, parsley, and cheese. Spread garlic butter mixture onto bread loaf. If you want, sprinkle with more parmesan.
BAKE: Bake for 5-10 minutes or until toasty golden brown to make your garlic cheese bread.
When you remove the bread from the oven let it sit for a minute before cutting. Traditionally we cut garlic french bread into slices about 2" wide. Serve with dinner on a serving tray or in a bread basket. Cover with a cloth napkin to maintain some heat.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH GARLIC BREAD
This delicious easy garlic bread goes with almost anything! Of course it goes with classic Spaghetti, and Italian Meatballs. But it also goes perfectly with Air Fryer Lemon Chicken and Lemon Garlic Shrimp.
Yes you can! We love parmesan french bread but you could do a mozzarella or any of your favorite cheeses. The more cheese you put on it the more it will become like a cheese bread rather than a garlic bread.
If you don't like garlic and parsley you can omit them all together or use your favorite Italian seasonings. We prefer it with the garlic and parsley but try other combinations to see what you like.
Have any garlic butter left over? Use it to top a hot steak or chicken breast. Toss with some fresh pasta noodles. Or save the garlic butter the refrigerator to make some garlic cheese bread tomorrow.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. loaf of French bread
- ½ cup salted butter - softened
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese - grated or shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Slice loaf of French bread in half lengthwise.
- Stir together softened butter, garlic salt, parsley, and cheese.
- Use a spatula to spread butter mixture onto bread loaf and place the two halves face up on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 5-10 minutes or until toasty golden brown.
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