Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Easy homemade Olive Garden style breadsticks are crispy, golden, and irresistible. After making these many times, I’ve perfected the technique for that perfect chewy interior and crispy exterior. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Chipotle Honey Chicken Thighs with Gouda Mashed Potatoes and Creamy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Ready in 25 Minutes.
Why This Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Perfect for dipping in marinara or garlic butter
- Better than takeout, and so much cheaper
- Easy to make ahead and freeze
What You'll Need for Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- All-purpose flour
- Instant yeast
- Salt
- Sugar
- Warm water
- Melted butter
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Instant yeast: Active dry yeast can be used as a substitute.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — Makes dough preparation a breeze → See on Amazon
- Pizza Stone — Ensures even baking and a crispy crust → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
- Make the dough: Combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and water in a stand mixer. Mix until a dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes.
- Let it rise: Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Shape the breadsticks: Roll out the dough, cut into strips, and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with garlic butter: Melt butter with minced garlic, brush onto hot breadsticks, and sprinkle with seasonings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid over-kneading the dough to prevent tough breadsticks. If they're tough, let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Tip: For a softer crust, brush the breadsticks with olive oil before baking.
- Tip: To make ahead, shape the breadsticks, let them rise, then freeze. Bake frozen breadsticks for 15-20 minutes.
Storing & Reheating Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store 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.
Freezing Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Freeze shaped, uncooked breadsticks for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a chewier crust, brush the breadsticks with egg white before baking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the instant yeast with active dry yeast, but let it bloom in warm water with a pinch of sugar first.
- Make-ahead: You can shape the breadsticks, let them rise, then freeze. Bake frozen breadsticks for 15-20 minutes.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are not rising, check that your yeast is not expired and that the water is warm but not hot.
Want to level up this recipe?
Digital Kitchen Scale — Ensures accurate measurements for consistent results → Check price on Amazon
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Instant yeast
- Salt
- Sugar
- Warm water
- Melted butter
- Olive oil
Seasonings
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
Optional Toppings
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Make the dough: Combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and water in a stand mixer. Mix until a dough forms. Knead for 5 minutes.
- Let it rise: Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Shape the breadsticks: Roll out the dough, cut into strips, and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with garlic butter: Melt butter with minced garlic, brush onto hot breadsticks, and sprinkle with seasonings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a chewier crust, brush the breadsticks with egg white before baking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the instant yeast with active dry yeast, but let it bloom in warm water with a pinch of sugar first.
- Make-ahead: You can shape the breadsticks, let them rise, then freeze. Bake frozen breadsticks for 15-20 minutes.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are not rising, check that your yeast is not expired and that the water is warm but not hot.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze shaped, uncooked breadsticks for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.
- Make ahead: You can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 180
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge overnight. You can also shape the breadsticks, let them rise, then freeze. Bake frozen breadsticks for 15-20 minutes.
Over-kneading the dough can make breadsticks tough. If they're tough, let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Yes, you can make these breadsticks in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C), spray the breadsticks with cooking oil, and air fry for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.
Active dry yeast can be used as a substitute. Let it bloom in warm water with a pinch of sugar first.
Yes, these homemade breadsticks are crispier, fresher, and cheaper than takeout. Plus, you can customize them with your favorite seasonings.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe 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!
