Share this easy-to-eat loaf with friends and family for a scrumptious snack or side.
How often do you crave garlic bread? For my family, it’s usually once a week. Sometimes we get by with simple garlic toast that we top with cheese. But on nights when we want something special and have extra time to have fun in the kitchen, a big, fluffy loaf of this pull-apart garlic bread is the way to go.
This dish is especially fabulous for parties where each person can grab a piece of bread at their leisure without the need of a knife. Scratch-made dough is combined with butter, minced garlic, and fresh parsley for an easy yet elevated version of garlic bread that takes your dining experience to the next level. Whether it’s for a satisfying snack or a side dish to soak up soup or pasta sauce, this bread delivers a lot of flavor. You get the deep yeastiness and rich buttery taste of homemade bread, plus some toasty caramelized notes from the Maillard reaction during baking. But the real star here is garlic! Because you dip each little ball into a bath of garlicky butter, every last morsel of the bread brings the savory, slightly sweet, and fragrant flavors of this pungent culinary superstar to your palate.
With a texture that’s similar to challah, this pull-apart garlic bread satisfies the biggest garlicky cravings. Plus, you can easily top it off with freshly shredded cheese if the mood strikes. So don’t miss out on trying this recipe—it might just be your family’s new favorite.
How does it pull apart so easily?
When you sample a piece of this garlicky loaf, you’ll notice how effortless it is to pull its pieces apart. This is the magic of a dough that’s cut into pieces and then baked together in the oven. Shaping the dough into small balls and arranging them in the pan creates built-in seams. As the bread rises and bakes, each ball expands and browns on its own, while the places where they touch remain extra soft and tender—perfect for pulling pieces apart. This technique takes advantage of the way bread dough rises and bakes, creating a loaf that’s not just fun to eat but also extra fluffy, with more flavorful crust in every bite. It’s almost like a bread sculpture!
How do I store leftovers?
Allow leftover pull-apart garlic bread to cool before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or storing it in an airtight container. You can store it at room temperature for 2-3 days or refrigerate it for up to 1 week. The fresher you enjoy it, the better it will taste, so dig in sooner than later. Cold storage can make the texture a bit tough or chewy, but a quick warmup in a 350°F oven (10-15 minutes) should restore that fluffy softness.
Serving suggestions
Give your loved ones the dinner they deserve by serving pull-apart garlic bread as a side to Spaghetti Bolognese, Steak And Potatoes, Scallop Risotto, or Chicken-Pesto Spaghetti Squash. Or keep it as a simple appetizer by pairing your pull-apart garlic bread with Bread Dipping Oil, Cheese Dip, or Red Pepper Hummus. I can’t tell you how many times my family has been satisfied by these fun little dips a couple hours before dinner!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup warm water about 110°F
- 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened (for dough)
- 1/2 cup milk warm (about 110°F)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted (for garlic butter)
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- Extra melted butter for brushing after baking
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- Add the softened butter, warm milk, and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually stir in the bread flour and knead on medium speed until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 7-10 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it loosely, and let it rise in a warm spot until it has doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley thoroughly.
- Cut the dough into small, round pieces and dip them in the butter mixture. Arrange the coated dough pieces in a greased loaf pan.
- Cover loosely and allow them to rise until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake until the bread is golden brown, about 30 minutes. If the 30 minutes have passed and the bread doesn't appear ready, cover it with foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the oven, brush with any remaining garlic butter, and let cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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