Is there anything better than homemade garlic bread? Honestly, it’s the one side dish that never gets left behind — and this garlic bread spread is the reason why. It’s buttery, herby, garlicky heaven that turns even plain old bread into something you actually look forward to eating. I started making this when I got tired of store-bought versions that either tasted like nothing or like weird fake cheese. Now I just keep a jar of this in the fridge and slather it on anything even vaguely bread-shaped.
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This one’s got real roasted garlic, fresh herbs (or dried if it’s 9pm and you’re in pajamas), and an option to make it cheesy if you’re feeling extra. It works for quick dinners, fancy-feeling pasta nights, or making garlic bread sandwiches when no one’s looking. Let’s do it.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is flexible — feel free to tweak to your taste!
- 1 head of garlic (roasted)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: ¼ cup grated parmesan or shredded mozzarella
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat
Step 1: Roast the Garlic (Totally Worth It)
Take your whole head of garlic, slice off the top just enough to expose the cloves. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast at 190°C / 375°F for 30–35 mins. The cloves should be soft, golden, and buttery. Let it cool a bit, then squeeze out that roasted goodness into a bowl. (It smells ridiculously good.)
Step 2: Mix It All Up
In the bowl with your roasted garlic, add softened butter, olive oil, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mash everything together with a fork until it’s creamy and spreadable. If you’re going cheesy, now’s the time to stir in that grated parmesan or mozzarella. Taste it. Adjust. Try not to eat the whole bowl with a spoon.
Step 3: Use It Everywhere
Spread it generously on slices of baguette, sandwich bread, or halved ciabatta rolls. Bake in the oven at 200°C / 400°F for 8–10 minutes until golden and bubbling. Or broil for 2–3 mins if you like it crispy. This also works as a dip with warm breadsticks, or as a sneaky layer in grilled cheese.
Storage Notes
Keep it in a sealed jar or container in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it in portions using an ice cube tray (yes, really) and pop one out whenever garlic bread cravings hit.