Store bought garlic bread can be a quick and convenient option for serving alongside pasta dishes, soups, and salads. However, basic garlic bread from the grocery store often lacks flavor and can taste stale or boring. With just a few extra ingredients and steps, you can easily spruce up basic garlic bread and make it restaurant-quality.
What are some quick ways to enhance store bought garlic bread?
Here are some easy ways to enhance basic store bought garlic bread:
- Add extra garlic – Rub or brush extra minced garlic, garlic powder, or garlic salt over the top of the bread for an extra hit of garlic flavor.
- Grate fresh Parmesan cheese over the top – Freshly grated Parmesan adds a delicious layer of cheesy flavor.
- Brush with olive oil or melted butter – Coating the bread with olive oil or melted butter helps crisp up the crust and adds richness.
- Sprinkle with Italian herbs – Dried basil, oregano, parsley or an Italian herb blend enhances flavor.
- Add roasted vegetables – Toppings like roasted red peppers, tomatoes, onions or zucchini make it hearty.
- Layer with sliced fresh mozzarella – Fresh mozzarella adds an extra layer of creamy, cheesy goodness.
Making homemade garlic butter
One of the easiest ways to take garlic bread from basic to gourmet is to whip up some homemade garlic butter to spread over the top. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened, unsalted butter
- 2-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
- In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper until well combined.
- Spread or rub the garlic butter generously over store bought garlic bread loaves.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes until the butter is melted and bread is crispy.
The savory garlic butter adds tons of buttery garlic flavor to plain bread, and broiling it briefly crisps up the crust. Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste.
Making cheese garlic bread
For next-level garlic bread, turning it into cheese garlic bread takes it to a whole new level of indulgence. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf Italian bread or baguette, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter and minced garlic.
- Spread the garlic butter evenly over the cut sides of the loaf.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley.
- Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the garlic buttered halves of bread.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is crispy.
- Slice and serve warm.
The combination of melted cheese with garlic butter makes this garlic bread irresistible!
Topping ideas
In addition to homemade garlic butter and cheese, you can top store bought garlic bread with all kinds of tasty ingredients. Get creative with these topping ideas:
| Topping | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Bruschetta | Chopped tomato, basil, olive oil, balsamic glaze |
| Caprese | Mozzarella, tomato, basil, balsamic glaze |
| Pesto | Homemade or store bought pesto |
| Caramelized onions | Thinly sliced onions, cooked down with butter and thyme |
| Artichokes | Marinated artichoke hearts |
| Mushrooms | Sautéed mushrooms with garlic and parsley |
Get creative mixing and matching toppings to create your own signature garlic bread!
How to make pull-apart garlic bread
For an especially crowd-pleasing appetizer, turn basic garlic bread into pull-apart garlic bread. Kids and adults alike love tearing off pieces of this fun, shareable bread.
Ingredients:
- 1 round loaf bread or buns
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a round baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Slice the bread loaf horizontally into halves. Then make vertical cuts every inch or so without fully separating the pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix together the butter and minced garlic. Brush over the cut sides of bread.
- In another bowl, mix together the shredded cheese and parsley. Sprinkle over the buttered bread.
- Place bread in prepared baking dish, pulling apart pieces slightly. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Pull apart and serve immediately.
The pull-apart bread is great for sharing at parties or as an appetizer. Bake it in a cast iron skillet for a rustic look.
Storing and reheating leftover garlic bread
Like many bread items, garlic bread is best fresh and crispy right out of the oven. But leftover garlic bread can be stored and reheated. Here are some tips:
- Allow garlic bread to cool completely, then store in a sealed container or resealable plastic bag.
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place chilled garlic bread on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes until warmed through and crust is crispy.
- Leftover garlic bread also reheats well wrapped in foil and placed directly on oven racks at 300°F for 10-15 minutes.
- It can also be reheated quickly using a toaster oven or skillet.
- For best results, reheat any sauces, cheeses or toppings separately and add onto the garlic bread just before serving.
With proper storage and reheating, you can still enjoy garlic bread’s flavors and textures instead of needing to make a whole new batch.
Serving ideas for homemade garlic bread
Homemade garlic bread is so versatile. Here are some delicious ideas for serving garlic bread:
- Garlic bread slices alongside a bowl of pasta with marinara sauce
- Garlic bread wedges with minestrone or tomato soup
- Cheese garlic bread as an appetizer for Italian dinner parties
- Pull apart garlic bread slices for dunking in spinach artichoke dip
- Bruschetta topped garlic bread as an appetizer
- Garlic bread croutons for Caesar salad
- Open faced garlic bread sandwiches with pizza toppings
The possibilities are endless! Garlic bread is a simple accompaniment that can make any meal feel like a party.
Conclusion
It’s easy to take basic store bought garlic bread from boring to gourmet with just a little extra effort. Homemade garlic butter, cheese toppings and creative mix-ins elevate it to restaurant quality. Pull-apart garlic bread and open-faced variations make great appetizers for your next Italian meal or party. With proper storage and reheating, you can continue enjoying leftover garlic bread too. So don’t settle for basic garlic bread – spruce it up with these simple ideas for maximum flavor.