Garlic Bread Recipe

Preheat and slice

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Using a serrated knife, slice the baguette in half lengthwise (or make 1"-1.5" diagonal slices without cutting through the bottom if you prefer pull-apart style). Place the cut halves cut-side up on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.

Soften butter

If butter is cold, microwave in short 5–7 second bursts until just soft but not melted (or leave at room temperature 30–60 minutes).

Mince garlic

Peel and finely mince the garlic cloves. For a smoother spread, you can grate the garlic on a microplane.

Combine ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, olive oil, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan (if using), salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix thoroughly with a fork or spatula until well blended and slightly fluffy.

Spread butter

Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread. If making diagonal slices, use a spoon or small spatula to push butter into the cuts so the interior of each slice is flavored.

Optional add cheese

If you like extra cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle additional grated Parmesan or a shredded mozzarella blend evenly over the buttered bread.

Bake until golden

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the butter has melted and the edges are lightly golden. For a crisper top, switch the oven to broil for the final 1–2 minutes—watch closely to prevent burning.

Garnish and slice

Remove the bread from the oven. Sprinkle with extra chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. If you baked halves, slice into serving pieces. If you made pull-apart style, separate the pieces along the cuts.

Serve warm. Leftover garlic bread can be reheated in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–10 minutes or refreshed under the broiler for 1–2 minutes.