Soft Olive Garden Breadsticks

When these buttery, cloud-soft garlic breadsticks come out of your oven, your whole house will smell amazing. They've got that same fluffy inside and golden outside that makes everyone love the ones at Olive Garden. Making them at home isn't just about copying a restaurant favorite though – it's about getting the hang of bread-making while creating something that makes your kitchen feel cozy and inviting.

Every Sunday dinner, my kids beg me to make these breadsticks. The first batch I ever pulled from the oven, seeing my children's eyes grow wide as they grabbed the warm, garlicky bread made all the work and waiting totally worth it.

Fantastic Ingredients

• Active dry yeast: Must wake up in warm water (110°F) – it should feel like comfortable bathwater for best results
• All-purpose flour: Gives just the right texture; try to grab unbleached for better taste and color
• Unsalted butter: Lets you decide how salty they'll be; splurge on good European butter for extra richness
• Garlic powder: Makes sure every bite has flavor; check that it smells strong and isn't sitting in your cabinet for years
• Fine sea salt: Brings out all the tastes; don't swap in chunky salt as it won't mix in well

Breadstick Making Steps

Waking Up Yeast:

Mix warm water, yeast and sugar together, then wait for the exciting moment when it gets bubbly and puffy.

Creating Dough:

Combine flour, soft butter and salt with your yeast mixture, then knead until it feels smooth and stretchy in your hands.

First Puffing:

Put your dough somewhere cozy without drafts and let it grow twice as big while the yeast does its thing.

Stick Shaping:

Split and roll the dough into even sticks, then lay them carefully on your baking tray.

Second Puffing:

Give those shaped sticks time to get fluffy and plump before they hit the oven.

Baking Beauty:

Cook until they turn golden, then slather them with garlic butter while they're still hot.

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I've learned that the second rise really makes all the difference. When I first started making these, I'd rush this part, but taking your time here is what gives you that true Olive Garden fluffiness. My Italian grandma always told me bread needs time to grow its character, and I see she was right every time I make these breadsticks.

Tasty Pairing Ideas

Make your breadsticks even better by offering some rich marinara sauce on the side. These bready delights go great with everything from a Caesar salad to a hearty bowl of minestrone, but they're just as good as starters with some herby whipped butter or a dish of olive oil for dipping.

Exciting Variations

Take your breadsticks up a notch by mixing fresh rosemary or thyme right into the dough. Make a cheese version by adding Parmesan to both the mix and the top. Want some heat? Throw some red pepper flakes into your garlic butter or sprinkle the tops with everything bagel mix before they go in the oven.

Storage Tips

Keep your breadsticks in a paper bag for a couple days to maintain their texture without getting soggy. You can bring day-old sticks back to life with a quick warm-up in a 350°F oven for 3-5 minutes. If you want them later, freeze the shaped but unbaked sticks, then thaw and bake them whenever you're hungry.

After tweaking the recipe many times, these breadsticks have become what everyone expects me to bring to family get-togethers. There's something special about taking a fresh batch out of the oven, brushing on that garlic butter while they steam, and watching everyone drift toward the kitchen, pulled in by that smell. They're not just bread - they're little happiness sticks that make any meal feel like a special occasion.

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Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I freeze breadsticks once made?

Yes, freeze them after baking but before adding garlic butter. Reheat in the oven, then brush with butter before eating.

→ Why isn’t my dough rising properly?

Make sure your yeast is active and the water is warm—around 110°F. Cold or very hot water could stop it from working.

→ Can this dough be prepped in advance?

Absolutely, refrigerate it overnight after the first rise. Let it warm up before shaping into sticks.

→ How do I keep leftovers fresh?

Store them in a sealed container for up to 2 days. To freshen them up, just pop them in the oven for 5 minutes.

→ Can I swap in instant yeast here?

Yes, you can. Use the same quantity and skip proofing—just mix it right with the dry stuff.