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The Recipe · No.127 · Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread, and where to source it

Garlic Bread — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Garlic Bread Italian 5best2buy.com

Real garlic bread starts with a real crusty loaf and butter you can taste, not a spread from a tub. Grate the garlic raw into softened butter so it perfumes every bite, and finish under the broiler for the crisp top.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep10 min
Cook12 min
Makes1 loaf
CuisineItalian
Cost$$
Vegetarian
Contains  dairy · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 1 loaf
Crusty bread
A real Italian or sourdough loaf with an open crumb that soaks up the butter and still crisps.
1 loaf
Cultured butter
Softened and the base of the whole thing, so use a butter with real flavor.
6 tbsp
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Grated into the butter and over the top for a salty golden crust.
1/2 cup grated
Garlic and parsley
Fresh garlic grated raw into the butter, chopped parsley folded through.
4 cloves, handful parsley
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
Air fryerSheet pan
The Method
  1. Make the butterMash softened butter with raw grated garlic, half the Parmesan, chopped parsley, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Split and spreadHalve the loaf lengthwise and spread the garlic butter thick into every crevice of the cut faces.
  3. BakeBake cut-side up at 400F for 8 to 10 minutes until the butter melts in and the edges color.
  4. Broil to finishSprinkle the rest of the Parmesan and broil 1 to 2 minutes until the top is golden and crisp. Watch it, it burns fast.
The Toolkit

Bread knife · Sheet pan · Fine grater

Straight Answers
Can you make Garlic Bread in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.

Can you freeze Garlic Bread? — Not ideal

You can, but the crisp coating softens. Freeze the cooked pieces, then re-crisp them in a hot oven or air fryer — never the microwave.

Can you make Garlic Bread ahead of time? — Prep ahead

Best fried to order — the crunch fades if it sits. Do the breading or shaping ahead and cook it fresh when you serve.

Is Garlic Bread gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).

Is Garlic Bread vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.127

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