Garlic Bread Spread with Garlic Powder

Make garlic bread spread with garlic powder for an incredibly easy punch of flavor right from your pantry. Use real butter for the best flavor and slather it on any bread of your choice or bake it in to a dough. This one is a staple you’ll want year round.

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Control the quality of your ingredients, save money and never have to tip the Door Dash guy again when you learn to make fundamental recipes like garlic bread spread with garlic powder. You got this!

Where does garlic bread come from? 

In ancient Roman times, garlic grew in abundance in southern Italy. The Romans would rub garlic on toasted bread, drizzle it with olive oil, and add simple seasoning to make a simple, flavorful snack. As the decades advanced, they started adding chopped tomatoes dressed in olive oil and herbs to make bruschetta.

This concept of garlicky bread made its way to America and took hold. Early on, Americans threw their own spin on it. They used butter instead of olive oil (it was more widely available) and often added cheese. 

Why this garlic bread spread is better than store bought

It can be tempting to buy garlic spread from the store, brush it over a French baguette, and bake it in the oven. Sure this method is quick and easy but you are far better off making your own spread at home. I’ll tell you why. 

• It’s better for your health. Store-bought spreads often contain inflammatory oils, stabilizers, and/or preservatives. All things your body will not thank you for. If you make your own at home, you won’t have to worry about this. 
• It’s real butter. Many store-bought versions use butter substitutes such as margarine, or blends of bad-for-you oils. These spreads just won’t yield the same rich flavor you get from real butter. Plus, they burn much more easily than real butter and no one likes burned garlic bread. 
• You’re in control. If you make your own spread at home, you can use as much or as little garlic powder as you’d like. You can also play with other seasonings such as oregano, fresh parsley, or onion powder.  
• Better flavor. The overall flavor of the garlic and herbs in the spread will be much brighter if made from scratch. The flavors in store-bought spreads lose their potency as they sit on the shelf.  

Tips for choosing the right bread

Picking the perfect loaf for this garlic bread will take it from good to out-of-this-world. Steer clear of the temptingly soft $2 loaves at Walmart. They are just too soft and will start to dissolve the moment the spread begins to melt in the oven.

You need something sturdier. I suggest reaching for a crusty load of ciabatta, fluffy focaccia, or thick-sliced Texas toast.

Want to make your own? Try making a loaf of stand mixer white bread , put a layer on this single loaf french bread or slather a layer on these copycat Little Caesar’s cheesy breadsticks.

Ingredients for garlic bread spread made with garlic powder

• unsalted butter, softened
• garlic powder
• parmesan cheese
• fresh parsley
• Italian seasoning

Finding good ingredients

This is a simple recipe with simple ingredients. As such, it is crucial to purchase quality ingredients that will shine. Here are some tips on selecting optimal ingredients for garlic bread.

• Keep it real. Go the extra mile and buy real butter. The flavor is better and it won’t burn as easily as artificial substitutes. Go for real parmesan as well. Forget the powdered shaker cans. 
• Keep it fresh. Use fresh parsley or make your own Italian seasoning with fresh herbs instead of dried ones. Mix together finely chopped parsley, oregano, and rosemary. Yum! 
• Keep it organic. When selecting a garlic powder and an Italian seasoning (if using dried), I highly recommend looking for non-irradiated, organic products. The flavor is better and they are safer health-wise. 

How to make garlic bread spread

Use softened butter.

If yours isn’t soft, you can cut it in to small cubes and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes and it should soften enough to work with. You can also use the microwave if you’re gentle. Don’t melt it.

From there, just dump in all of the ingredients and stir to combine.

Sometimes I find that I like a little salt in my garlic bread spread. Because this recipe uses unsalted butter but also calls for real parmesan cheese, it’s fine to give it a taste once everything is mixed up and decide if you’d like a pinch in yours.

Slather your beautiful mixture on bread and bake!

How long do you heat garlic bread in the oven?

It depends! If the bread you are using is fresh (which I highly recommend), heat the garlic bread in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 375 degrees F. If the bread is frozen, heat it in the oven for 7-10 minutes at 425 degrees F. 

How to store garlic bread spread

Make a double batch of this garlic spread and save it for a rainy day. Just seal it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

Can garlic bread spread be frozen?

If you don’t anticipate using the spread in 2 weeks’ time, go ahead and pop it in the freezer (again, stored in an airtight container). The texture might be a little bit different upon thawing, but the flavor will still be excellent.  

What to serve with garlic bread

Garlic bread is arguably one of my favorite side dishes of all time. Serve it alongside a tasty entrée or salad. Here are some ideas for you.

• Pasta. There’s nothing quite like pasta and garlic bread. Pair your favorite pasta with my homemade pasta sauce or this basil pesto. You could even whip up this quick-baked ziti or these three cheese stuffed shells with spinach.
• Salad. This garlic bread goes great with a little greenery. Serve it with apple, pear, and chicken arugula salad, charred Caesar salad, or this flank steak salad with blue cheese. 
• Steak. Use your garlic bread to sop up the juices from a broiled skirt or flank steak or this prime rib.  
• Shrimp. Garlic bread is wonderful served alongside a simple shrimp dish, such as this easy roasted garlic shrimp. Baked shrimp scampi pasta would also be a great option.