Easy Garlic Bread In Just 10 Minutes: Butter, Broil, Done!
For the longest time, the recipe PWWB readers requested most was garlic bread. A few years ago, I finally developed what I think is the ultimate version: my Garlic Lover’s Triple Garlic Bread, made with roasted, fresh, and granulated garlic on a whole loaf. Yes please!
I’m still crazy for that recipe, but can admit it has one flaw: it requires the foresight to roast a head of garlic before dinner. Delicious…but not very helpful when you’re sitting down to eat and think man, I really want garlic bread with this. Been there. 😅
I found the solution last year in this scrappier, throw-together garlic bread, made with sliced bread and toasted right under the broiler. It’s still from scratch (no store-bought spread!) and still gloriously garlicky – but you can whip it up in 10 minutes flat.
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Key Ingredients
🍞Quick note on the sliced bread: I love making garlic bread with sourdough. Its natural tang balances the richness of garlic butter, plus its sturdy crumb holds up beautifully under the broiler. I usually have a boule from my favorite bakery on hand, and just slice up a few pieces whenever I want garlic bread (as pictured). That said, any sliced bread works great here – feel free to use Italian, French, whole wheat, or standard sandwich bread.
Essentials for Last-Minute Garlic Bread
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Buy Now →Your Broiler is the Secret to The Fastest Garlic Bread
Really good garlic bread all comes down to a few non-negotiable details: crispy edges, tender through the center with some chew, and butter that’s truly cooked into the bread – not just melted on top. The challenge of making garlic bread fast is finding a method that can create all these elements quickly: baking it in the oven takes time, a classic toaster doesn’t allow you to cook with butter, and a skillet dries out the bread.
🔥I found the solution in my favorite tool in the kitchen: the broiler. Its open flame toasts the bread fast and evenly, all while leaving the most delicious faint smoky char along the edges. And because the butter goes under the heat with the bread, it really soaks into each slice. Best of all, there’s no preheating involved – the broiler’s ready to go the moment you light it.
👩🏻🍳Broiling Tips! ⇢ Set the oven rack in the top third of the oven so the bread is close to the heat, but not directly under the flame – which will scorch the top before the rest of the slice catches up. And keep a close eye on the bread as it toasts: bread can go from perfect to burnt in a matter of seconds.
👩🏻🍳It’s important to chop the fresh garlic as finely as you can here. The butter only cooks for a minute or two under the broiler and larger chunks of garlic won’t soften in that time. I use a microplane to finely grate the garlic – it basically turns into a paste that melts right into the butter, so every bite is garlicky, but never sharp or raw.
👩🏻🍳 Tip! ⇢ Through recipe testing, I found it’s best to butter the side you toasted first. It’s had a few minutes to cool while the second side cooked, so it’s less prone to scorching in the final few minutes under the broiler.
I can’t wait for you to try this Last-Minute Garlic Bread! If you do, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy cooking!
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Last-Minute Garlic Bread From Sliced Bread
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 slices 1x
- Category: Breads & Cakes, Side Dishes
- Method: Baked, Broiled
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
When you need garlic bread and you need it now, this Easy Garlic Bread is your go-to recipe: made with whatever sliced bread you have on hand and a quick homemade garlic butter…and you don’t even need to preheat the oven!
A double pass under the broiler—first to toast the bread, then to melt the butter—does all the work. The result is perfectly golden-crisp edges, a satisfying chewy bite, and bold garlic flavor in every piece.
Simple, scrappy, and ready in just 10 minutes, it’s the best last-minute side dish for pasta, soup, salad, or whenever a garlic bread craving strikes!
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough bread (about ½ one small boule), sliced 1-inch thick (see Recipe Notes)
- 2 tablespoons very soft unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- heaping ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- heaping ¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- optional: 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
- optional: 1 tablespoon finely chopped leafy fresh herbs (e.g. basil, parsley, oregano, etc.)
- optional: 1 cup shredded melty cheese of choice (e.g. mozzarella, fontina, asiago, etc.)
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
Method Overview:
Position rack in top third of oven. Broil sliced bread 2-3 minutes per side. Mix the garlic butter (garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, S&P, plus any optional add-ins). Flip so the side toasted first faces up, spread with garlic butter (top with optional shredded cheese if desired), and broil 1-3 minutes more until melted and fragrant.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Quick Note: Prep and cook time overlap, so there’s no need to mise everything out before you start. You can mix the garlic butter while the bread toasts.
- Prep: Turn on your oven’s broiler to its highest setting, ensuring a rack is positioned in the top third of the oven. Line a small baking sheet with parchment or foil for easy clean up.
- Toast the bread under the broiler: Arrange the sliced bread on the prepared baking sheet. Broil 2-3 minutes per side, just until toasty and golden. Watch closely – broilers vary and the bread can burn quickly.
- Meanwhile, mix the quick garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine softened butter, chopped garlic, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and optional add-ins (grated parmesan cheese, fresh herbs). Season with kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste. Mix to combine well.
- Prepare and finish the garlic bread: Once both sides of the bread are nicely toasted, carefully flip the bread so the side that was toasted first is facing up. Spread the prepared garlic butter evenly over that side.* Return to the oven and broil 1-3 minutes longer, until the butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant. (*For easy cheesy garlic bread, sprinkle shredded cheese over the butter before returning to the oven, then broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.)
- Serve immediately with your favorite pastas, soups, or salads. Enjoy!
Notes
- Bread Choice: I love making garlic bread with sourdough. Its natural tang balances the richness of garlic butter nicely, and its sturdy texture holds up beautifully under the broiler. I prefer slightly thicker slices (about 1 inch) cut from a bakery loaf because they give you crisp edges with a soft center. That said, this method works with any sliced bread you have on hand—including Italian, French, whole wheat, and standard sandwich bread—just reduce the broiling time slightly since thinner slices toast faster.
- Optional Add-Ins: This recipe is meant to be quick and pantry-friendly, so the base garlic butter is simple by design and plenty flavorful on its own. If you happen to have grated parmesan, fresh herbs, or shredded cheese on hand, feel free to add them!
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