Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
Easy homemade breadsticks are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just like Olive Garden’s. After making these many times, I’ve perfected the recipe for you. The secret is using warm water for the dough. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Tomato and White Bean Soup with Garlic Toast and Creamy Mushroom Risotto Recipe Easy Dinner Idea.
Why This Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside
- Better than takeout, and way cheaper
- Impress your family with this easy recipe
- Perfect for dipping in garlic butter
What You'll Need for Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Garlic powder, for dusting
- Melted butter, for brushing
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Coarse sea salt
📝 Ingredient Notes
- flour: You may need more or less depending on the humidity. Start with 2 3/4 cups and add more as needed.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — Makes dough prep a breeze → See on Amazon
- OXO Good Grips Silicone Pastry Brush — Evenly coats breadsticks with garlic butter → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups flour, salt, yeast, and sugar. Add warm water, melted butter, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms. Add more flour if needed.
- Knead and let rise: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 2 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the breadsticks: Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 10-inch rope and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter and dust with garlic powder.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
- : For extra crispy breadsticks, brush with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water) before baking.
- Common mistake and fix: If your dough is too sticky, add more flour. If it's too dry, add a bit more water.
- : For a softer crust, brush the breadsticks with melted butter after baking and before serving.
- : To make ahead, shape the breadsticks, let them rise, then freeze. Bake frozen breadsticks at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.
Storing & Reheating Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
Freezing Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
Freeze shaped, risen breadsticks for up to 1 month. Bake frozen at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until warmed through. (Microwaving may make the breadsticks soggy.)
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker rise, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm oven (around 100°F).
- Best substitution: You can substitute the instant yeast with active dry yeast. Use 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and let it bloom in the warm water for 5 minutes before adding it to the dry ingredients.
- Make-ahead: You can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.
Want to level up this recipe?
Norpro Stainless Steel Pastry Brush — Perfect for brushing garlic butter on breadsticks → Check price on Amazon
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp instant yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp olive oil
Seasonings
- Garlic powder, for dusting
- Melted butter, for brushing
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Optional Toppings
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups flour, salt, yeast, and sugar. Add warm water, melted butter, and egg. Mix until a soft dough forms. Add more flour if needed.
- Knead and let rise: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 2 minutes. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape the breadsticks: Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 10-inch rope and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter and dust with garlic powder.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker rise, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm oven (around 100°F).
- Best substitution: You can substitute the instant yeast with active dry yeast. Use 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast and let it bloom in the warm water for 5 minutes before adding it to the dry ingredients.
- Make-ahead: You can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze shaped, risen breadsticks for up to 1 month. Bake frozen at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until warmed through. (Microwaving may make the breadsticks soggy.)
- Make ahead: You can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 4g
- Carbs: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sat. Fat: 2.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks FAQs
Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. Bring to room temperature before shaping and baking.
Breadsticks can turn out hard if they're overbaked or not enough liquid was used in the dough. Make sure to keep an eye on them and use the right amount of water.
Yes, you can freeze shaped, risen breadsticks for up to 1 month. Bake frozen at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.
Yes, you can make these breadsticks in the air fryer. Preheat to 375°F, place the breadsticks in the air fryer basket, and cook for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.
The best way to reheat breadsticks is in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. Reheating in the microwave may make them soggy.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
