Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

These Homemade Breadsticks are better than Olive Garden! Ready in one hour from start to finish!

Wondering what to dunk them in? Try my Pasta fa*gioli soup, this Rigatoni Pasta Bake, or this Italian Sausage Soup!

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (1)

Table of Contents

  • Can I use active dry yeast in this breadstick recipe?
  • Can I use whole wheat flour in these breadsticks?
  • How to freeze breadsticks:
  • Homemade Breadsticks Recipe

I’ll be the first to admit that Olive Garden breadsticks are the only reason I go to Olive Garden at all.

There is just something about fresh yeast breads that can’t be beat, and homemade breadsticks, buttery and garlicky, and sprinkled with herbs and Parmesan are just hard to beat.

These breadsticks are soft and fluffy, with Italian seasoning and garlic in the dough, and brushed with garlic butter and sprinkled with Parmesan fresh out of the oven.

They are irresistible on their own, but if you must have something to dunk them in, thisChicken Gnocchi Soup, thisSausage Tortellini Soupand thisLasagna Soup: Crockpot or Instant Potare the perfect additions!

Can I use active dry yeast in this breadstick recipe?

You can definitely use active dry yeast in this recipe, but it will require a couple of swaps.

First, you’ll need to proof the yeast by dissolving it in warm water. Active dry yeast has larger granules so it needs to be completely dissolved before adding to your flour mixture.

You will also need to allow for longer rise times, so the complete process will take 3-4 hours.

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (2)

To make these breadsticks using active dry yeast, you will followthis Homemade Buns recipe exactly, but reducing the sugar to ¼ cup and adding ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.

Once your dough has risen in the bowl and you are ready to roll your breadsticks, you will come back to finish the recipe here.

Can I use whole wheat flour in these breadsticks?

You can definitely use whole wheat flour for this breadstick recipe — I usually do when I am making them for our family.

I prefer to first test a recipe with all purpose flour, to see how using whole wheat flour might change it, but we tend to eat mostly whole wheat breads.

You can start with 2-3 cups of whole wheat flour for a light whole wheat dinner roll, or use up to 100%. 100% whole wheat breadsticks will still be delicious but will not be as soft or fluffy.

When I make these for our family, I tend to stick with 50-75% whole wheat flour. I find adding even a bit of all purpose flour makes them fluffier than 100% whole wheat flour.

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (3)

How to freeze breadsticks:

These breadsticks are perfect for making ahead and saving in the freezer.

They reheat beautifully and are the perfect addition to so many meals!

To freeze breadsticks, let them cool completely — I usually let mine sit for 4-6 hours on a wire rack on the counter. Place in an airtight plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw, place on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any extra moisture and let sit at room temperature for an hour. You can also thaw them at a low temperature in the microwave, just be careful not to make them too hot or they can dry out.

To serve, I like to brush with additional garlic butter, wrap in foil and bake for 8-10 minutes until warm. They’ll taste just like they were fresh from the oven!

If you don’t want to use foil, you can always warm it on a low oven on a sheet pan, brushed with garlic butter.

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (4)

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (5)

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Homemade Breadsticks

written by Ashley Fehr

4.98 from 37 votes

These Homemade Breadsticks are better than Olive Garden! Ready in one hour from start to finish!

Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (7)

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Rise time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Bread and Baked Goods

Servings 24 breadsticks

Calories 176cal

Ingredients

  • 6-7 cups all purpose flour you can sub in whole wheat divided
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant or quick yeast
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 cups warm water noticeably warm but not hot
  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter

Garlic butter

  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Instructions

  • In a large bowl (the bowl of a stand mixer if you're using one), stir together 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast, salt, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

  • Add water and butter and stir until combined.

  • Stir in two more cups of flour with a spoon.

  • Put bowl in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, and gradually add remaining 3-4 cups flour, 1/2-1 cup at a time. As your dough gets closer to finishing, reduce the amount of flour you add at once so that you don't add too much. You can make this dough by hand as well — just stir in flour gradually until you can no longer use a spoon, then knead it in by hand, just until a soft and smooth dough forms. You want to stop adding flour when your dough is just past the sticky point.

  • Cover and place dough in a warm spot for 15 minutes (I like to turn my oven on to preheat for a few minutes, then turn it off before placing my dough inside). You can always let it rise longer if you want, up to 1.5 hours.

  • Uncover dough and divide into 4 even sections. Divide each section into 6 equal sections so you have 24 pieces. Keep remaining pieces covered to prevent drying out while you roll each breadstick.

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball, pinching the seams in the back and rolling until smooth. Place ball on the counter and roll back and forth with both hands to make a cylinder that is roughly 6" long and 1" wide.

  • Place cylinders on prepared baking sheet, about 1.5" apart (you can place them closer together if you want them to tough — they will then have softer sides). Optional: you can let the breadsticks rise up to 1 hour before baking.

  • Bake at 400 degrees F for 13-15 minutes, until light golden brown.

  • Combine melted butter, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Brush over breadsticks while warm. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 176cal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 2mg

Keywords breadstick recipe, homemade breadsticks

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Homemade Breadsticks [READY IN 1 HOUR] - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade bread softer? ›

How can I make bread really soft? Use around 5% sugar (percentage of flour), use of milk and honey in the recipe keeps the bread soft and moist after baking if kept covered and protected from dry environments. Use of oil in the recipe also keeps the bread softer.

How do you reheat breadsticks so they are soft? ›

Heat your leftover breadsticks in the oven for 7-10 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C) for the best results. You can also use a microwave or air fryer to revive leftover breadsticks. Season your leftover breadsticks with garlic salt and butter to add some flavor back into them.

Do you refrigerate leftover Olive Garden breadsticks? ›

Tips for Keeping Your Breadsticks Fresh

Wrap them in foil or plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. This will prevent them from drying out and becoming stale. Keep them at room temperature: Store them at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days.

Can you put an Olive Garden breadstick bag in an air fryer? ›

Using the air fryer is also an option if you already have it out on your counter. However, the best reheating method if you want that same texture and flavor you love when it comes to the table at the Olive Garden is to bake the breadsticks again in your oven.

What makes homemade bread light and fluffy? ›

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Does using milk instead of water make bread softer? ›

It adds nutritional value to baked goods. Mainly protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 which are all necessary for a heathy diet. But we don't only look for the nutritional benefits when using milk in our bread dough. The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter.

How do you keep bread moist when reheating? ›

🥖 all you have to do is soak the bread in water. 💦 I know 🧐… its weird but trust me! Then re heat the pastry or bread and the water will help it gain moisture back so it comes out of the oven soft and fluffy, instead of hard and crunchy!

How do you keep breadsticks warm for a crowd? ›

Place Warm Rice Under the Bread

All you need to do is to microwave some rice until it gets warm, wrap it with a dish towel or cloth napkin and then place it at the bottom of the container you're carrying your bread in. Make sure that the bread is also wrapped in material that will help it retain heat.

Can I eat breadsticks that were left out overnight? ›

While it's safe to keep many baked goods at room temperature, it depends on the item and should be taken on a case-by-case basis. For instance, breads and rolls can last up to four days at room temperature, but any bread with meat or hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours, according to the USDA.

What breadsticks does Olive Garden use? ›

Despite the rumors about the Franz breadsticks, it seems like Turano is the true supplier of Olive Garden's garlicky appetizer. Darden has previously praised the partnership with Turano, particularly when it comes to the quality of the breadsticks. In 2000, Darden awarded Turano with the William B.

Are Olive Garden breadsticks baked fresh? ›

Freshly Baked Breadsticks

Straight from the oven and ready to enjoy.

What is the breadstick rule at Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden does have a policy on breadsticks. Typically, a server is supposed to bring one stick per person plus one extra for the first basket. After that, the rule of thumb is one breadstick per person.

What containers not to use in air fryer? ›

Plastic and certain types of glass should never be placed in an air fryer. The high temperatures can cause those materials to warp, melt, or shatter, resulting in a seriously annoying and potentially dangerous cleanup.

Why not use olive oil in air fryer? ›

Using cooking oils that can stand up to a high temperature is key. Extra virgin olive oil is not an air fry-friendly oil due to its low smoke point, but extra light olive oil can be used for air frying because of its high smoke point.

How do you soften fresh bread? ›

In the oven: Preheat oven to 200° or Warm setting. Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place on a baking sheet, and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes. In the microwave: Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place it on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave on high for 10 seconds.

Why is my homemade bread so hard? ›

Baking quick breads at too high temperatures can cause a hard outside crust. Most quick breads bake in a moderate oven (350°F to 375°F). Double check your recipe to see the temperature they recommend. Oven thermostats can vary over time, requiring adjustments by the baker or calibration by a professional.

How do you keep homemade bread soft? ›

Bread boxes, if you have one, work great, but you can also use wax paper, a beeswax and linen bag, or even a dishcloth. A clean dish towel is one of Hartzheim's favorite options. "Plastic bags help keep the crumb (the interior of the loaf) soft but also make the crust soft.

What makes bread soft and tender? ›

Usually it's gluten (a product of the protein in flour) that determines bread's texture. Bread where gluten plays a prominent role will be chewier. When the gluten level is lower, or when gluten is tamed by the addition of “softeners” like milk, butter, eggs, or oil, the bread will be more tender.

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