This Air Fryer Garlic Bread is crispy on the edges, soft in the center, and ready in under 10 minutes. Infused with irresistible garlicky goodness that melts into all of the bread nooks and crannies, it is absolutely divine!
The key to a great air fryer garlic bread, is to use a mixture of butter and olive oil. The milk solids in the butter help the bread brown evenly and the olive oil adds fruitiness and a complex flavor.
Luckily, this garlic bread is ready in about 10 minutes, which is exactly the same amount of time it takes to boil pasta as in chicken and mushroom pasta or any of these chicken pasta recipes.
The best bread for air fryer garlic bread is Italian or French bread. It is soft enough to soak up all the garlic butter without getting too crispy as it air fries.
The major difference between air fryer and traditional oven-baked garlic bread lies in the cooking method and time required.
Garlic bread prepared in the air fryer boasts irresistibly crispy edges, thanks to the hot air that crisps it up perfectly. Additionally, it is incredibly convenient when you want just a few slices instead of an entire loaf.
Whereas, due to the longer cooking time, traditional oven baking may allow for more profound flavor development and browning. It also has a uniform texture with an even color and softer crust.
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Why you'll love this?
- Ready in under 10 minutes.
- 1000 times better than your super market garlic bread.
- Great stored in the freezer for a garlic bread craving anytime.
- Make it cheesy, spicy or garlicky. Totally customizable!
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Bread - I like to use Italian bread or a loaf of soft French bread, instead of a baguette, to get those soft and thick slices.
- Butter - Like our shrimp and rice recipe, use a good quality butter that you have around. It takes it from plain to extraordinary!
- Garlic - The key for a true garlic flavor, is to use lots of fresh garlic cloves.
- Olive oil - A little bit of olive oil, makes the butter easily spreadable and allows the bread to soak up the garlic butter without browning too fast.
- Parsley - Use freshly minced or dried parsley. Fresh parsley adds a little bit of freshness and a pop of green color.
- Salt: You need salt to make the flavors pop. Skip it if using salted butter.
Tip: Choose a softer bread. While I love baguettes, they tend to get really hard and don’t soak up the butter as readily as a slightly softer loaf, in the short air frying time.
Variations
- Parmesan - Stir in some finely grated parmesan cheese along with the garlic butter for some umaminess.
- Cheese - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese during the last minute of cooking and let the cheese melt - An epic cheesy air fryer garlic bread!
- Spicy - Add a dash of red pepper flakes for a hint of spiciness.
- Herbs - Skip parsley and stir in Italian seasoning or dried oregano.
- Make it vegan - Simply substitute the regular butter with vegan butter.
- Garlic Powder: A dash of garlic powder in addition to the freshly minced garlic brings home the garlic flavor!
- Pesto - Like in our pesto rice, stir in some basil or sun dried tomato pesto into the garlic butter.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Cut the bread into ¾-inch thick slices.
2. Mix butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley and salt together in a small bowl, until well combined.
3. Spread some garlic butter on one side of each slice.
4. Place 2 or 3 slices into your air fryer basket and cook at 340°F for 4 to 5 minutes, or it is golden brown on top. Remove and cook the remaining slices.
Tip: We do not preheat the air fryer for this recipe. This ensures that the garlic browns slowly and lets the butter melt into the nooks and crannies of the bread slice.
How to serve?
- Don’t forget to dip it in this amazing arrabbiata sauce or your favorite marinara sauce!
- Alongside cheesy instant pot chicken pasta or chicken broccoli pasta bake.
- Dunk in instant pot tomato soup, vegan tomato soup or your favorite homemade soups.
- Along with chicken main course dishes, like air fryer chicken tenders or air fryer chicken nuggets.
Storage and reheating
Store any leftovers covered at room temp for 1-2 days. Simply heat it in your air fryer at 300 degrees for 1 to 2 minutes.
Freeze it for later
This air fryer garlic bread is freezer-friendly! It’s such a great way to have a delicious side on hand at any time. Here’s how to freeze it:
- After slathering the bread slices in the garlic butter mixture, place them in a single layer in a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours or partially frozen.
- Transfer the slices into a zip lock and freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to eat, add the frozen garlic bread slices to your air fryer and air fry as directed — you may just need to add 3-5 more minutes.
Helpful tips
- Avoid stacking the slices in the air fryer as you want them to be evenly toasted.
- Use softened room temperature butter.
- Make a large batch - Double the recipe and cook in batches.
- Use a softer bread such as Italian or French bread and not baguettes.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Using pre-sliced bread can be convenient and time-saving and particularly useful when you want to make smaller portions or need a quick and easy preparation. Just be mindful of the thickness of the bread slices, as it can affect how it absorbs the garlic butter and how crispy it gets when air fried.
The choice between fresh garlic and garlic powder depends on personal preference and convenience.
Freshly minced garlic offers a more robust, authentic garlic flavor with its slightly sweet and aromatic compounds.
Garlic powder is time-saving as it eliminates the need for peeling and chopping garlic cloves. However, it may lack the complexity and freshness that comes from using fresh garlic.
You can also use a combination of both fresh and powdered garlic for a more pronounced and well-rounded garlic flavor.
Using olive oil instead of butter gives the air fryer garlic bread a distinct Mediterranean flavor with fruity notes, and it's a great option for those looking for a dairy-free or lighter alternative.
Here are some tips to help you achieve perfectly toasted garlic in the air fryer without burning -
1. Make sure to chop the garlic into even thickness, which reduces the risk of smaller chunks burning while others remain undercooked.
2. Cook in a lower temperature, which gives you more control over the cooking process and help prevent burning.
3. Garlic can go from golden brown to burnt relatively quickly, so check the air fryer periodically, especially as you approach towards the end of the air frying time.
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Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ loaf Italian or french bread
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 to 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tablespoon minced fresh parsley or use 1 teaspoon dried
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste or as needed
Instructions
- Cut the bread into ¾-inch thick slices.
- Mix butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley and salt together in a small bowl , until well combined.
- Spread some garlic butter on one side of each slice.
- Place 2 or 3 slices into your air fryer basket and cook at 340°F for 4 to 5 minutes, or it is golden brown on top. Remove and cook the remaining slices. Tip: We do not preheat the air fryer for this recipe. This ensures that the garlic browns slowly and lets the butter melt into the nooks and crannies of the bread slice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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