Easy Ina Garten Garlic Bread Recipe: Buttery Homemade Bliss

Garlic bread transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences with its irresistible aroma and rich, buttery essence.

Everyone craves that magical combination of crispy exterior and soft, flavorful interior that makes this side dish so memorable.

Professional chefs and home cooks understand the transformative power of perfectly prepared garlic bread.

Each slice promises a golden-brown crunch and intense flavor that tantalizes taste buds and complements countless main courses.

Simple ingredients combine to create something far more impressive than their individual components might suggest.

The magic happens when quality butter, fresh garlic, and perfectly selected bread meet in delicious harmony.

The result is a crowd-pleasing accompaniment that elevates any meal from ordinary to spectacular: prepare to be amazed.

Why Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread is the Ultimate Crispy Side Dish

• Infuse Aromatic Elegance: Slow-cooked garlic transforms ordinary butter into a rich, mellow flavor bomb that elevates the entire bread experience with minimal effort.
• Customize Flavor Explosion: The combination of Parmesan, lemon zest, fresh parsley, and red pepper flakes creates a multi-dimensional taste profile that makes this garlic bread anything but boring and predictable.
• Quick Gourmet Magic: In just 32 minutes, you can transform a simple baguette into a restaurant-quality side dish that looks impressive and tastes absolutely incredible, making even weeknight dinners feel special and sophisticated.

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread

• Crusty French Baguette: Classic base for garlic bread, provides crispy texture and sturdy structure for absorbing butter.'
• Unsalted Butter: Core ingredient for creating rich, smooth garlic spread with deep flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated cheese adds sharp, salty depth to the garlic butter.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright green herb provides fresh, herbal notes and visual appeal.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall flavor profile.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds subtle heat and complexity to the garlic bread.
• Garlic Cloves: Primary aromatic ingredient that infuses butter with intense, rich flavor.
• Lemon Zest: Bright citrus element that adds subtle, refreshing tang to the garlic butter.
• Fleur de Sel or Sea Salt: Elegant finishing salt for extra flavor and texture.

Step-by-Step Guide to Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 450°F. Quickly wipe down the oven interior to prevent any unwanted smoky surprises during baking.

Step 2: Create Magical Garlic Butter

Grab a small saucepan and gently melt unsalted butter over low heat. Toss in peeled garlic cloves and cover the pan. Let the garlic slowly simmer and infuse for 20 minutes. Once done, allow the mixture to cool slightly, then mash the garlic into the butter until perfectly blended.

Step 3: Jazz Up the Butter Mixture

• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Finely chopped fresh parsley
• Bright lemon zest
• Spicy crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Stir everything together until the ingredients create a harmonious blend.

Step 4: Prepare the Bread Canvas

Take a crusty French baguette and slice it in half lengthwise. Create diagonal cuts across each half, being careful not to slice completely through. These strategic cuts will help the butter sink deep into the bread’s core.

Step 5: Generously Coat with Flavor

Lavish the prepared garlic butter across the baguette halves. Work the mixture into those diagonal cuts, ensuring every nook and cranny is packed with garlicky goodness.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place the butter-coated baguette halves on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes until the bread transforms into a crispy, golden delight.

Step 7: Serve and Savor

Pull the bread from the oven and let it cool for a moment. Slice into convenient serving pieces, sprinkle with a touch of fleur de sel or sea salt. Serve warm and watch as your guests devour this irresistible garlic bread alongside their favorite dishes.

Pro Tips for Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread

• Broil Boldly: Watch carefully for golden edges that crisp up perfectly without burning, transforming your garlic bread from good to extraordinary.
• Roast Garlic Gently: Create a milder, sweeter flavor by slow-roasting whole garlic bulbs before mixing into the butter, which mellows the sharp raw taste.
• Blend Cheesy Layers: Combine unexpected cheese friends like mozzarella and Gruyère with Parmesan for a melty, stretch-worthy pull-apart experience.
• Sprinkle Herb Magic: Crush fresh thyme or rosemary between your fingers to release intense aromatics that elevate the bread's overall flavor profile.
• Brush Butter Generously: Ensure every inch of bread gets coated with herbed garlic butter, guaranteeing maximum flavor in each delicious bite.

How to Store Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread

• Air-Tight Preservation: Shield your garlic bread in heavy-duty aluminum foil or a sealed container to lock in moisture and prevent staleness. Refrigerate immediately after cooling to extend its delectable quality for three full days.
• Freezer Protection: Individually wrap each slice with plastic wrap, creating a protective barrier against freezer burn. Transfer wrapped pieces into a robust freezer bag, removing excess air to preserve texture and taste. Frozen garlic bread maintains its deliciousness for up to one month, ready for quick reheating whenever craving strikes.
• Thawing Strategy: Remove frozen garlic bread from the freezer and let it defrost naturally at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to restore its crispy exterior and warm, aromatic center, ensuring each slice tastes freshly baked.

Creative Twists on Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread

• Mediterranean Magic: Replace Parmesan with crumbled feta cheese, add dried oregano, and sprinkle chopped Kalamata olives over the garlic butter for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Southwest Kick: Mix in ground cumin, chili powder, and diced jalapeños to the garlic butter. Top with cotija cheese and chopped cilantro after baking for a zesty southwestern profile.
• Herb Garden Blend: Swap parsley for a mix of fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage. Add a touch of roasted garlic instead of raw garlic for a more mellow, complex herb-infused bread.
• Truffle Umami Upgrade: Drizzle white truffle oil over the bread after baking and sprinkle with finely grated pecorino romano cheese. Include a pinch of dried porcini mushroom powder in the garlic butter for an intense umami experience.

Ina Garten’s Garlic Bread: A Flavorful Crunch to Any Meal

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s legendary garlic bread, transforming simple ingredients into a Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece.

Classic French baguettes become luxurious carriers of aromatic garlic and herbal notes, promising sensory delight with each slice.

Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley dance together, creating complex flavor profiles that elevate humble bread into gourmet territory.

Lemon zest adds unexpected brightness, while red pepper flakes contribute subtle heat and complexity.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this recipe bridges home cooking and professional technique with remarkable ease.

Passionate cooks and bread enthusiasts: share this delectable discovery, comment with your personal twists, and spread the deliciousness across social media platforms – your taste buds will thank you!

Ina Garten Garlic Bread Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s garlic bread delivers classic Italian comfort with a crispy, buttery exterior and rich garlic flavor. Fresh herbs and quality ingredients elevate this simple side dish, ensuring you’ll savor each golden, aromatic slice straight from the oven.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 crusty French baguette (20 to 24-inch-long)
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 1 cup freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese

Seasoning and Herbs:

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fleur de sel or sea salt

Fat and Binding:

• 12 tablespoons (170 grams) unsalted butter

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Elevate your oven temperature to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius), creating an optimal baking environment and ensuring a pristine cooking surface to prevent unwanted smoke.
2. Transform unsalted butter into a luxurious base by gently melting it in a compact saucepan over minimal heat. Introduce peeled garlic cloves into the liquefied butter, covering the pan to allow a slow, methodical infusion for approximately 20 minutes. After cooking, permit the mixture to cool momentarily before thoroughly mashing the softened garlic into the butter.
3. Enhance the garlic butter with a symphony of flavors: fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, finely chopped fresh parsley, delicate lemon zest, a whisper of crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir meticulously to create a harmonious blend.
4. Transform the crusty French baguette by carefully slicing it lengthwise, then crafting precise diagonal incisions across each half – taking care not to completely separate the bread sections. These strategic cuts will facilitate deeper butter penetration.
5. Lavishly distribute the aromatic garlic butter across the baguette’s exposed surfaces, ensuring the flavorful mixture infiltrates every carefully carved diagonal channel.
6. Position the prepared baguette halves onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, then slide into the preheated oven. Bake for 5-7 minutes, watching for a golden, crisp exterior that promises delectable texture.
7. Extract the transformed bread from the oven, slice into elegant serving portions, and garnish with a delicate sprinkle of fleur de sel or sea salt. Serve immediately while warmth and flavor are at their peak, ready to complement any accompanying dish.

Notes

• Elevate your dining experience with this restaurant-style garlic bread that turns a simple side into a gourmet sensation.
• Slow-cooking whole garlic cloves in butter mellows their sharp bite, creating a deeply sweet and aromatic base.
• Diagonal slicing allows garlic butter to penetrate every crevice, ensuring maximum flavor explosion in each crispy bite.
• Fresh Parmesan cheese contributes a nutty, salty dimension that perfectly balances the rich, creamy butter.
• A quick 5-7 minute bake guarantees a golden, crunchy exterior while maintaining the bread’s tender interior.
• Optional lemon zest and fresh parsley add bright, herbaceous notes that cut through the bread’s luxurious richness.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 470 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 37 g
• Saturated Fat: 23 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg