Alright, so today I’m gonna walk you through how I whip up some quick and easy garlic bread. Seriously, I’ve tried a bunch of ways over the years, some fancy, some not so fancy, and this is the one I always come back to. It’s a real lifesaver when you want something tasty without a ton of fuss.
What I Grab From My Kitchen
First things first, let’s talk about what you need. It’s not a long list, which is probably why I love making it this way.
- Bread: Honestly, whatever you’ve got. An old baguette that’s seen better days? Perfect. Some leftover sliced bread? Works too. I’ve even used hot dog buns in a pinch. Don’t judge.
- Butter: The real stuff. I usually use salted, but unsalted is fine, you’ll just add a bit more salt later. I try to let it soften on the counter for a bit, makes mixing easier.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is king here. I use a few cloves. That pre-minced stuff in a jar? Yeah, I’ve used it when I’m feeling super lazy, but fresh just hits different.
- Herbs (optional): Sometimes I’ll chop up some fresh parsley if I have it. Dried parsley works too, or even a bit of dried oregano or Italian seasoning. Totally up to you. Sometimes I just go plain garlic and butter.
- A pinch of salt: Especially if you used unsalted butter.
Getting Down to Business: Making the Magic Spread
Okay, so here’s how I actually do it. I grab a small bowl. If my butter isn’t super soft, I might pop it in the microwave for like 10 seconds, just to make it easier to smoosh around. Not melted, just soft.
Then, the garlic. I peel my cloves and mince them up pretty fine. I used to just chop roughly, but then you get these big ol’ chunks of garlic, and sometimes that’s a bit much, even for a garlic lover like me. So, finer is better. I just use my knife, nothing fancy. Some folks use a garlic press; you do you.
Once the garlic is minced, I toss it into the bowl with the butter. If I’m using herbs and salt, they go in now too. Then I just get a fork and mash it all together. Really get in there and mix it until it’s all combined and looks like, well, garlic butter.
Pro tip from experience: I once made the mistake of fully melting the butter and then adding cold garlic. The butter kind of seized up in places. So, soft butter, not liquid, is my go-to now. Or if you do melt it, let it cool a bit before adding stuff.
Prepping the Star of the Show: The Bread
Next up is the bread. If I’m using a baguette, I slice it. I like ’em about half an inch to an inch thick. If it’s sliced bread, well, that part’s done for me. Easy peasy.
Then I take my glorious garlic butter mixture and spread it on one side of each slice of bread. I’m pretty generous here. I try to get it close to the edges because those crispy, buttery edges are just divine. No skimping!
Cooking This Bad Boy
Alright, time to cook it. I usually just lay the slices out, butter-side up, on a baking sheet. My go-to method is the oven broiler. I turn it on, let it heat up for a minute, and then slide the baking sheet in. You gotta watch this like a hawk. Seriously, under the broiler, it can go from perfectly golden to charcoal in, like, 30 seconds flat. I’ve learned this the hard way, believe me. So, I stand there and watch. It usually takes maybe 2 to 4 minutes, depending on your broiler.
If I don’t want to heat up the whole oven, sometimes I’ll do it in a toaster oven. Works great. Or even in a hot pan on the stovetop, butter-side down, for a couple of minutes until golden, then maybe flip it for a few seconds if the bread is thick. The goal is melted butter, toasted bread, and a kitchen that smells amazing.
The Delicious Payoff
And that’s basically it! Once it’s golden brown and bubbly, I pull it out. The smell alone is worth the minimal effort. It’s crispy on top, still a bit soft underneath, and just packed with that garlicky, buttery flavor.
I serve this with pasta, with soups, or sometimes, if I’m being honest, I just make a batch and eat it by itself. It’s so simple, but so good. Way better than most of the frozen stuff I’ve bought, and I know exactly what went into it. Plus, making it myself feels a tiny bit more accomplished, even if it is this easy.
So yeah, that’s my quick and easy garlic bread. Give it a shot; I bet you’ll stop buying the pre-made stuff too.