Garlic Bread

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Homemade garlic bread recipe with crunchy slices topped with a simple three-ingredient garlic spread. Crushed cloves of roasted garlic give the bread a slightly caramelized and savory flavor. It’s a tasty side to serve with any feast, my family always requests it on pasta night!

slices of garlic bread on a cutting board

Who doesn’t love hot, buttery pieces of tender bread with a savory garlic spread on top? At our house, whenever I set a basket of garlic bread on the table, it disappears fast! This recipe is a family favorite and one that’s inspired by my mom Janet. With a family of five to feed, she would always make it whenever we had spaghetti night.

Instead of jarred crushed garlic, I roast an entire bulb in the oven for the most luxurious and tender paste. The roasted garlic is combined with mayonnaise and green onions then layered on top of two pieces of French loaf, then baked until golden brown. This homemade version highlights sweet garlic notes, complemented by fresh green onion slices.

roasted garlic cloves, green onions, and mayonnaise in a bowl

Garlic spread ingredients

What makes this recipe unique is the use of whole roasted garlic cloves. It might take a little extra time to prepare, but I think the flavor transformation is worth the wait. The cloves soften and deepen in color & flavor, and the spicy, raw taste diminishes. To add back in a mild fresh onion taste, green onions give a hint of bite.

The garlic is then mashed into a paste and combined with mayonnaise and green onion. I like to make my own homemade mayonnaise, but if you’re in a pinch for time store-bought works well. Since mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil and eggs, it creates a creamy texture on the surface, which bursts with garlic flavor. As the spread heats in the oven, a golden-brown crust forms on the surface, giving a wonderful contrast of textures.

side by side photo of spreading butter and garlic on a french loaf of bread

How to make garlic bread

To feed a crowd, grab a large 1 pound French loaf or Italian bread from the store. Slice the loaf in half and then spread some softened butter on top. This not only adds extra flavor but also creates a protective layer between the bread and the spread so it doesn’t become soggy.

Evenly distribute the garlic spread on both halves of bread then sprinkle with more green onions. I bake this at a lower oven temperature, 325ºF (163ºC) which makes the bread crunchy around the edges, and gives ample time for the garlic paste to become golden on top.

If you like the bread to be extra crispy, broil for a minute or two just before serving, but keep a close eye that it doesn’t burn! The garlic bread tastes the best when fresh out of the oven, but I never have to worry about it cooling down too much because it gets devoured in seconds!

garlic spread on two halves of French loaf bread

Additional toppings

This recipe makes for a classic garlic bread base, but it’s easy to add in other ingredients to switch up the flavor. If you’re missing that strong garlic bite, chop up a raw clove or two and stir it into the spread.

Freshly grated parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, chopped parsley, chives, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, black pepper, or minced jalapenos can all be mixed in or sprinkled on top.

garlic bread from the oven cooling on a wire rack

More bread recipes

Bake on a wire rack

If you have a baking rack that you can set on top of a sheet pan, use it! The air is able to circulate under the bread, so that it stays crisp around the entire loaf, instead of creating a harder bottom of the bread from the direct contact with the pan.

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Garlic Bread

Homemade garlic bread recipe with an easy three-ingredient garlic spread. Crushed cloves of roasted garlic give the bread a slightly caramelized flavor. 
4.93 from 14 votes
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 16 pieces
Course Appetizer, Bread
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 loaf French bread
  • ½ cup mayonnaise, store bought or homemade
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions, divided
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

Instructions 

  • Set the oven rack to center position. Preheat to 400ºF (204ºC).
  • Peel the white papery skin off the head of garlic, making sure to keep the cloves intact with the root.
  • Cut about ¼-inch off the top of the head of garlic. If any cloves on the sides don't get cut then carefully use a knife to slice off the top.
  • Place garlic in the center of a piece of foil large enough to completely wrap. Drizzle olive oil over and tightly wrap.
  • Roast until garlic is fragrant, lightly browned in color, and tender when pierced with a fork, 40 to 60 minutes. Check garlic at 40 minutes, then every 10 minutes for doneness.
  • When roasted garlic has cooled slightly, remove the cloves and transfer to a small bowl.
  • Lower oven temperature to 325ºF (163ºC).
  • Slice bread in half lengthwise. Place on a baking tray topped with a wire rack.
  • Combine roasted garlic cloves, mayonnaise, and 2 tablespoons of sliced green onions in a small bowl. Use a fork to mash and mix the ingredients into a smooth spread.
  • Spread equal amounts of softened butter over the sliced bread.
  • Spread equal amounts of garlic mixture over each half of bread.
  • Sprinkle additional green onions on top.
  • Bake until bread is crispy, the topping is set and lightly golden, about 12 to 15 minutes.
  • For extra crunch, broil for 1 to 2 minutes. Slice and serve hot.

Recipe Video

Equipment

Nutrition Facts
Garlic Bread
Amount per Serving
Calories
150
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
8
g
12
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
10
%
Cholesterol
 
10
mg
3
%
Sodium
 
173
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
39
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
14
g
5
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
95
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
0.6
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
15
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Jessica Gavin

I'm a culinary school graduate, cookbook author, and a mom who loves croissants! My passion is creating recipes and sharing the science behind cooking to help you gain confidence in the kitchen.

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9 Comments Leave a comment or review

  1. Paula says

    Made this last night for a dinner party….. best garlic bread I’ve ever made. Thanks for the recipe. Made the spread the day before and assembled the bread before arrived… refrigerated until shortly before putting in oven. Delicous

  2. Maggie Morris says

    Jessica,
    This is Maggie. Katie’s sister in the Midwest. I tried this garlic bread Sunday to go with homemade meatballs and spaghetti. The garlic bread was awesome.
    In these times of using everything up – I saved the extra mayo in the refrigerator and then pulled it out tonight for a dip with artichokes.
    Very very yummy! My husband said it would be great on a burger also.
    Thanks for inspiring the cooking in my kitchen.
    Be safe.
    Maggie Morris

  3. Maria T. says

    I was looking for additions to my usual garlic bread spread to add more flavor and temper the bite of raw garlic, which is what I usually use. I thought about roasting garlic but never did. I never thought about mayonnaise or adding green onion as a topping. I added mayo to my softened butter, roasted garlic, parmesan, salt and pepper. I sprinkled a little more parmesan on top of the slathered bread before putting it in the oven. It turned out great. I am always inspired to do better because of your recipes and videos.

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