This easy garlic toast recipe is buttery, crisp on the edges, and ready in just 10 minutes, plus it includes six simple flavor variations using pantry ingredients. Whether you're serving pasta, soup, or a quick weeknight dinner, homemade garlic toast is one of the fastest ways to make the meal feel complete. 👇👇
Also try my homemade garlic bread and easy garlic toast pizzas next!
What is garlic toast?
Garlic toast is sliced bread spread with garlic butter and baked until crisp on the edges and soft in the center. It's a quick side dish often served with pasta, soup, or salad.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fast weeknight side. Bakes in about 10 minutes with pantry staples.
- Family-friendly flavors. Cheesy, buttery, and familiar tastes everyone actually eats.
- Easy to customize. Works with sliced bread, Texas toast, or a French loaf.
- Budget friendly. Costs far less than store-bought garlic bread.
Note From Andi:
Homemade garlic toast is one of the easiest upgrades you can make to dinner. It feels special, but it takes almost no extra time.
My daughter even makes this in the air fryer for after-school snacks, which tells you how simple it really is. Around here, a tray of warm garlic bread beside pasta or soup disappears fast.
Recipe Ingredients 👇👇
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread
- ½ cup salted butter, softened or olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tsp) or 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped or 1 tsp dried
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional for deeper flavor
Best Bread for Garlic Toast
- French bread - crispy edges, soft inside
- Italian bread - slightly chewier texture
- Texas toast - thick slices, extra buttery
- Sourdough - tangy flavor with crisp crust
Watch How To Make It 👇👇
Step-By-Step Instructions 👇👇
STEP 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
STEP 2: Make the Garlic Butter
Stir together ½ cup softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, and Parmesan until smooth and spreadable.
STEP 3: Spread Evenly
Slice the French or Italian bread in half lengthwise or into thick slices. Spread the garlic butter evenly to the edges.
STEP 4: Bake
Bake for 5 minutes until butter melts and edges turn lightly golden.
Broil 1 to 2 minutes for a crisp top, then slice and serve warm.
How To Make Garlic Toast in the Air Fryer
Cook at 375°F for 4 to 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
Air frying creates crispier edges faster than the oven.
Garlic Toast Variations (6 Easy Flavor Ideas)
Margherita Garlic Toast
After baking the garlic toast, top each slice with fresh mozzarella, thin tomato slices, and chopped basil. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese melts and edges begin to bubble. This version tastes like classic margherita pizza on crispy bread.
Classic Buttery Garlic Toast
Spread an extra layer of garlic butter and parsley over the bread before baking. The result is soft in the center, lightly crisp on the edges, and rich with simple garlic-butter flavor that pairs with any pasta or soup.
Pizza Garlic Toast
Before baking, spread a thin layer of pizza sauce, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella and pepperoni slices on top. Bake until the cheese is fully melted and slightly golden, creating an easy mini pizza-style side dish kids love.
Ranch Garlic Toast
Mix 1 to 2 teaspoons dry ranch seasoning into the garlic butter, then spread and bake as directed. The finished toast has a savory, herby flavor similar to cheesy ranch breadsticks from a pizza shop.
Lemon Garlic Toast
Stir fresh lemon zest into the garlic butter before spreading on the bread. Once baked, the toast tastes bright, buttery, and slightly citrusy, which pairs especially well with seafood, chicken, or light pasta dinners.
Pesto Garlic Toast
Spread a thin layer of basil pesto over the bread before baking, then finish with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese. This version is garlicky, cheesy, and packed with fresh basil flavor, similar to Italian bakery garlic bread.
Recipe Tips
- Use softened butter. Melted butter can make bread soggy.
- Watch the broiler closely. Garlic toast browns very quickly.
- Try day-old bread. Slightly dry bread crisps better in the oven.
- Reheat in oven or air fryer. This keeps edges crisp instead of soft.
Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes
- Bread turns too soft. Bake a few minutes longer to crisp the edges.
- Garlic burns under broiler. Move rack lower or reduce broil time.
- Butter pools on top. Spread all the way to the edges for even melting.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.
- Freeze: Wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Bake at 400°F for 5 minutes until warm and crisp.
What To Serve With Garlic Toast
- Spaghetti or baked lasagna
- Creamy pasta or ravioli
- Hearty soup or stew
- Fresh green salad
- Cozy casserole dinners
Garlic Bread vs Garlic Toast
Garlic toast and garlic bread use the same garlic butter spread, but the texture is different. Garlic toast is made from individual slices baked until crisp, while garlic bread is usually a halved loaf with a softer center and buttery edges.
Both styles work with this recipe depending on the bread you have at home.
What to serve with
- Add cheese and turn these into a simple party appetizer.
- Serve alongside my spaghetti casserole or baked ravioli lasagna for an easy dinner.
- Pair with cozy soup like my italian meatball soup, classic tomato soup, or loaded potato soup.
- Cut into cubes for homemade crouton salad toppers.
Try my chili garlic pizza bread for another easy side dish next!
If you're looking for more easy bread sides, try my twisted pizza breadsticks, soft dinner rolls, or classic garlic knots to round out your meal.
FAQs
French bread, Italian bread, sourdough, or thick Texas toast all bake well and hold the garlic butter.
Yes. Use extra virgin olive oil or dairy-free butter for a simple swap.
Bake until golden and avoid covering tightly while hot so steam doesn't soften the bread.
Easy Garlic Toast Recipe With 6 Flavor Ideas
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Ingredients
- 1 loaf French or Italian bread
- ½ cup salted butter - softened (or olive oil)
- 4 garlic cloves - minced (2 tsp) or 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley - or 1 tsp dried
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese - optional
Instructions
Classic Buttery Garlic Toast:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Mix ½ cup softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, and Parmesan until smooth and spreadable.
- Slice 1 loaf French or Italian bread in half lengthwise or into thick slices. Spread garlic butter evenly to the edges.
- Bake for 5 minutes until butter melts and edges turn lightly golden. Broil 1-2 minutes for a crisp top, then slice and serve warm.
Margherita Garlic Toast:
- Top baked garlic toast with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and chopped basil, then broil 1-2 minutes until melted and lightly bubbly.
Pizza Garlic Toast:
- Add pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni slices before baking until the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Ranch Garlic Toast:
- Stir 1-2 teaspoons dry ranch seasoning into the garlic butter before spreading and baking.
Lemon Garlic Toast:
- Mix fresh lemon zest into the garlic butter for a bright flavor that pairs well with seafood or chicken.
Pesto Garlic Toast:
- Spread basil pesto over the bread before baking and finish with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese.
Notes
- Use softened butter so it spreads smoothly without tearing the bread.
- Broil only 1 to 2 minutes and watch closely, since garlic can burn fast.
- Thicker bread slices stay softer inside, while thinner slices turn crispier.
- Great for make-ahead: assemble, wrap tightly, and freeze up to 3 months before baking.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer, not the microwave, to keep the edges crisp.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-calculated and meant to be an approximation only.
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