You’ll love these soft Italian garlic breadsticks that taste like breadsticks at Olive Garden, one of my favorite restaurants.
These copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks make soft and fluffy golden brown garlic bread sticks.
If you loved my Asiago Cheese Focaccia Bread, then you’ll love these soft, garlic breadsticks.
These easy homemade breadsticks go perfectly with one of your favorite soups. I like to serve these fresh bread Italian breadsticks with my Instant Pot Tomato Soup or Lasagna Soup.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Side Dish – This breadstick recipe makes a wonderful side dish for the dinner table. It is probably one of my favorite bread recipes.
- Comfort food – When served with a bowl of minestrone, this warm breadstick makes it seem like all is well in the world.
- Easy Recipe – These Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are surprisingly easy to make with only a few simple ingredients, yet they taste like you slaved for days!
Why This Recipe Works
- Tried and True Recipe – This recipe has been made and tested many times with great results.
What You’ll Need To Make Breadsticks
Equipment
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Ingredients
Below I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions in case you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Warm Water
- Active Dry Yeast – If you use Instant Yeast or Rapid Rise Yeast instead, then you won’t need to proof. Just add flour.
- Olive Oil – I use olive oil, but you could use vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- Bread Flour – I used bread flour but you can use all-purpose flour as well.
- Kosher salt
- Unsalted Butter – I like to use unsalted butter. However, if you use salted butter, then you may need to reduce the amount of additional salt added to the recipe.
- Garlic Powder – If you use garlic salt instead, leave out the additional salt.
- Salt
Directions
Place the warm water, yeast, and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir. Let stand for 10 minutes until frothy.
Add the oil, 3 ½ cups of flour, and salt, to the yeast mixture, and use the paddle attachment until combined.
Using the dough hook, turn on medium speed, adding a little flour as needed until the dough isn’t sticky. Then continue kneading on medium speed until smooth and elastic.
Roll the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
Punch the dough down and divide it into 12 equal pieces, approximately 200 grams each. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into 9-inch long rolls.
Cover and allow the dough to rise again. This second rise will be for about 30 minutes.
Heat the oven to 400° F. Place the breadsticks on a prepared sheet pan and bake for 12 minutes.
Combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and salt and brush over the hot rolls.
Serve warm, and you the best breadsticks you can imagine!
Recipe Tips
- Rise: For the best results, let these breadsticks rise until they are doubled, and then shape and rise again.
- Size: If you want breadsticks that look like Olive Garden Breadsticks, make each breadstick 9 inches long. If they are shorter, they will look like small rolls instead of breadsticks.
- Proof: If you use instant or rapid-rise yeast, you won’t need to proof; just add with the flour.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze before baking or after baking for up to 3 months. See FAQs below regarding freezing.
Variations
Cheesy Breadsticks – Add some parmesan or your favorite cheese on top of the breadsticks to make cheesy breadsticks.
Homemade Rolls – If you prefer rolls instead of breadsticks, just shape the dough into small balls instead of long and narrow breadsticks.
What To Serve With Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Garlic Butter Sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Marinara Sauce
- Chopped Vegetable Salad
- Beer Cheese Soup
FAQs
How Do I Store Italian Breadsticks?
Store the breadsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How Long Do Breadsticks Last In The Refrigerator?
Breadsticks stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator can last up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze Olive Garden Breadsticks?
Yes. You can freeze either before baking or after baking the breadsticks, for up to 3 months.
To freeze before baking, allow the dough to rise the first time but before the second rise. Wrap the breadsticks tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe container or bag.
To freeze after baking, store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
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Recipe
Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Ingredients
Breadsticks
- 1 1/4 cups warm water 110° F
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 2 Tbs granulated sugar
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 3 1/2 – 4 cups bread flour
- 2 tsp kosher salt
Butter Topping
- 3 Tbs unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place the warm water, yeast and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir. Let stand for 10 minutes until frothy.
- Add the oil, 3 ½ cups of flour and salt and use the paddle attachment until combined.
- Using the dough hook, turn on medium speed, adding a little flour as needed until the dough isn’t sticky. Then continue kneading on medium speed until smooth and elastic.
- Roll the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal pieces approximately 200 grams each. Roll each piece into 9 inch long rolls.
- Cover and allow to rise again for about 30 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 400° and bake for 12 minutes.
- Combine the melted butter, garlic powder and salt and brush over the hot rolls.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Rise: For the best results, let these breadsticks rise until they are doubled, and then shape and rise again.
- Size: If you want breadsticks that look like Olive Garden Breadsticks, make each breadstick 9 inches long. If they are shorter, they will look like small rolls instead of breadsticks.
- Proof: If you use instant or rapid-rise yeast, you won’t need to proof; just add with the flour.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze before baking or after baking for up to 3 months. See FAQs below regarding freezing.
Diana Dale says
How does one prepare the frozen breadsticks? Must they thaw & then allowed to rise before cooking?
Michele says
Hi Diana,
Yes, they will need to thaw and rise before baking.
Thanks,
Michele