Sides / Casseroles & table breads
Crusty Garlic Bread with Parmesan and Parsley
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Garlic warmed in butter and olive oil, brushed over a split baguette, and broiled for the last minute until the edges crisp. The smell reaches the living room first, and somebody always shows up holding a plate.
The short version
Warm butter and olive oil with minced garlic for 2 minutes, brush it over a split baguette, add Parmesan, and bake at 400°F for 8 minutes. Broil for a minute to brown. About 20 minutes from start to table.
What makes ours better
why ours wins the argument at dinner
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Cook the garlic in the butter first. A couple of minutes over low heat takes the raw sting out of the garlic and flavors the whole pan of butter. Raw garlic spread on bread can taste harsh.
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Add olive oil to the butter. Butter gives flavor and olive oil keeps the surface crisp instead of greasy. The mix browns better than butter alone.
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Bake, then broil. The oven heats the bread through and melts the butter in. A minute under the broiler browns the top and the cheese.
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Top with Parmesan and parsley. Parmesan toasts into a salty crust, and parsley added at the end looks and tastes fresh.
What you need
the stars of the show
- Unsalted butter6 tablespoons
- Olive oil2 tablespoons
- Garlic4 cloves
- Baguette1 pound
- Finely grated Parmesan⅓ cup
- Chopped fresh parsley3 tablespoons
read it twice. buy it once.
Steps
go slow. the good part can’t be rushed.
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Heat the oven
Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat it to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
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Cook the garlic butter
Melt the butter with the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and salt and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, until it sizzles gently and smells sweet. Take it off the heat.
Pale garlic is right. If it turns brown it will taste bitter, so pull the pan early.
About 2 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Split the bread
Cut the baguette in half crosswise so it fits the pan, then slice each piece in half lengthwise, like a sandwich. Set the halves cut side up on the baking sheet.
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Brush and top
Spoon and brush the garlic butter evenly over the cut sides, getting all the way to the edges and using every bit, garlic bits included. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top, and the red pepper flakes if you're using them.
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Bake
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are golden and the butter is bubbling. The bread should feel warm and a little crisp when you tap it.
About 9 min. Cook mode has a timer for this step.
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Broil to finish
Switch the oven to broil. Slide the pan back in on the top rack for 1 to 2 minutes, watching it the whole time, until the cheese is spotted brown.
Don't walk away. Garlic bread goes from toasted to burnt in under 30 seconds under the broiler.
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Sprinkle and slice
Scatter the parsley on top and cut the halves crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Serve right away.
Good to know
read this before somebody asks for seconds
- A baguette gives the crispest edges. A soft Italian loaf or ciabatta makes a softer, chewier garlic bread.
- To make it ahead, brush the bread and top it with cheese up to 4 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.
- For a softer, steamed bread, wrap the buttered loaf in foil and bake it 15 minutes, then open the foil and broil for 2 minutes.
- Storage. Best the day it's made. Leftovers keep wrapped at room temperature for 1 day, or frozen for 2 months; reheat at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp.
Questions, answered
asked and answered at the kitchen counter
Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?
You can, in a pinch. Use ½ teaspoon of powder in place of the four cloves, but fresh garlic cooked in butter is the whole point of this recipe.
How do I keep garlic bread from getting soggy?
Brush the butter on evenly, don't wrap it in foil, and bake it on a sheet pan. Foil traps steam and softens the crust.
Can I make garlic bread ahead of time?
Yes. Brush and top the bread, cover, and refrigerate for up to 4 hours, then bake. Or freeze it unbaked and bake from frozen for a few extra minutes.
Why did my garlic burn?
Minced garlic is small and cooks in seconds. Keep the heat at medium-low, stop as soon as it smells sweet, and keep the bread a rack or two away from the broiler.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes. Leave out the added salt and taste before you add any.
From the table
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Published October 29, 2026.