Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

Name: Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 87 min
Ingredients: 1 cup water (warm (about 90 - 110°F)); 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet); 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar; 2 to 2 ½ cups bread flour (divided); 1 ½ teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons butter (melted); 1 teaspoon garlic salt

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks taste just like the ones you can’t stop eating at the restaurant! Make these soft garlic bread sticks as a side dish for your next Italian dinner.

Whether you choose homemade Garlic Bread or something easy like Puff Pastry Breadsticks, serving up a basket with your pasta is always a good idea!

Marble counter with breadsticks laying on top with small bowls of marinara and oil.

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Is it possible to go to an Olive Garden and actually save room for your meal?

Let me be honest for a moment: The only reason I like going to Olive Garden is for their breadsticks and the classic Olive Garden salad.

The entrees are fine but I can never resist that basket of unlimited breadsticks. By the time my food arrives I’m too stuffed to eat my lasagna and wind up taking it home in a box.

This Copycat Olive Garden recipe makes bread that’s perfect to dip in a marinara sauce, or eat alone.

And in case you’re wondering? I have the same problem with these homemade bread sticks as I do with the ones at Olive Garden.

Yeast Dough

What makes Olive Garden bread sticks so good is the soft texture and perfect amount of garlic seasoning.

To make soft garlic breadsticks, you knead a yeast dough together until soft and stretchy.
Letting the dough rest–once before shaping into sticks and once after–makes the finished bread sticks soft and puffy.
I also make sure not to bake them for too long to ensure they stay soft. The tops get lightly golden brown then brushed with melted butter and garlic salt.

How to make Breadsticks

Proof the yeast:

Stir active dry yeast in warm water with a bit of sugar and let stand until it’s foamy.

( If your yeast doesn’t get foamy after 5 – 10 minutes, that means it’s dead and won’t work in any bread recipe. Toss it out and get some new yeast!)

Mix the dough:

Combine the yeast mixture with flour, salt and olive oil in a stand mixer and mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for 7 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Depending on the humidity levels and altitude of your kitchen, you may not need the full amount of flour listed in the recipe. I add it a little bit at a time until I get the dough to the right consistency.

You can knead by hand on a clean surface or in the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. If you choose to knead by hand, it may take a few minutes longer to get the right elasticity.

PRO TIP: You know the dough is ready when you can pinch a section with your fingers and stretch it a few inches without the dough breaking!

Next, cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.

Dough shaped into breadsticks on a baking sheet prior to baking.

Shape the bread sticks:

Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, then slice it into about 10 strips. I make mine 8 – 9 inches long. Use a gentle touch to fold the sides of the strips in to make the edges more rounded.

Place the raw bread sticks on a baking sheet and cover. Let them rest another 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Bake:

While the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 400 F. Bake the bread sticks for 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

While the bread sticks are still warm brush them with melted butter and sprinkle each one with garlic salt.

Serve them warm right away! These are at their best when they’re fresh from the oven.

I don’t think you’ll hear any complaints about having to finish a basket of buttery garlic bread sticks while they’re hot and fresh, do you?

Baked breadsticks on a metal baking sheet being brushed with butter using a red pastry brush.

What to serve with Breadsticks

Make it a complete Italian Meal by making your favorite Instant Pot Lasagna recipe.

Start with a delicious batch of bruschetta and don’t forget to finish with some homemade cannoli.

Tips and Tricks

What kind of yeast to use: You need active dry yeast for this recipe. 1 packet is perfect. If you’re using the active dry yeast from a jar, measure out 2 teaspoons.
Even cutting: The best way to ensure evenly sized breadsticks is with a kitchen scale. Weigh the whole ball of dough first, then divide that number by 10 to figure out how much each breadstick should weigh. If you don’t have a kitchen scale or aren’t fussed about some slight size discrepancies, just eye ball it as best as you can.
How to store: Keep these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm, if you like.

Breadsticks in a wooden bowl with dipping bowls of marinara and oil on the side.

Recipe FAQs

How do you make cheesy bread sticks?

Grate fresh Parmesan cheese onto Olive Garden Breadsticks before baking for a cheesy touch. If you’re looking for a true cheese bread, try my Cheesy Garlic Bread recioe!

Can you freeze homemade breadsticks?

Yes, you can freeze these delicious soft bread sticks! Wrap them in foil, then place them in a freezer safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the microwave or the oven until warmed through.

Can I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt?

If you don’t have garlic salt, you can make your own by using 3 parts salt to 1 part garlic powder. For this bread sticks recipe, use 1/4 tsp of garlic powder to 3/4 tsp table salt.

Why is my dough crumbly?

Make sure not to skip the step of dissolving the yeast in water. The proofing step not only helps guarantee your yeast is alive; it also adds necessary moisture to the bread stick dough.

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Wooden bowl filled with breadsitcks and wrapped in a white and red striped linen.

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