This easy air fryer garlic bread is the best thing to happen to garlic bread! Made with fresh garlic, homemade garlic bread is an easy side dish! This simple recipe is an easy way to get your garlic bread fix
I was so surprised when I first made buttery garlic bread in my air fryer.
It was speedy, easy, and tasted even better than the oven version. The best part is that it’s made with easy ingredients!
Now, I always air fry garlic bread because there is no better way.
Tips for making it
- Don’t crowd the garlic bread pieces in the air fryer basket. Use no more than 4 slices of bread, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- For best results, use a thick bread such as French baguettes and breads. It will give the garlic bread the best texture.
- If you use day-old or stale bread, set the time to 6-7 minutes only. Personally, I prefer using fresh bread in this recipe. I keep the stale bread to make croutons.
- Use a (Affiliate Link) silicone mat to line the bottom of the air fryer basket. It will make your cleaning tasks much easier.
- Every air fryer works differently, so your cook times will vary. Consult your manual for more specific instructions. I used a (Affiliate Link) Cosori Air Fryer.
Storing leftovers
I had to make a new batch to experiment with storing leftover garlic bread! My first batch never had any because they were devoured in minutes! Food blogger problems!
If you do have leftovers, make sure they’re cooled to room temperature. Then, wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Store in Ziploc bags or any freezer-friendly bags. Use it up within 3-4 days if you refrigerate it.
You can freeze them for up to 3 months. They are also great options for meal prep recipes.
Compound butter or plain butter?
Yes, garlic bread indeed requires three ingredients: Bread, butter, and garlic!
But, isn’t that just soooo boring?
I think it’s time to take the garlic bread out of its usual doldrums and put an interesting twist on it.
Enter: The Compound Butter!
Use your favorite garlic butter mixture. It could be my lemon balm butter, scallion butter, or my basil lime vegan butter!
I made a cheesy garlic pull apart bread with garlic jalapeno butter, and it was a game-changer! Have you tried it?
And how to serve this garlic bread?
I have always served this garlic bread with pasta recipes only. However, I discovered this no-cook Thanksgiving appetizer recipes post by A Couple in the Kitchen.
Garlic bread and garlic knots are the official side dishes to any pasta dinner. You can even make vegan garlic knots from scratch because they taste so good. Serve them with creamy pastas, dry pastas, or no-sauce pastas.
It’s the perfect side dish! Garlic bread and pasta dishes are definitely a match made in heaven, right? The best way to serve them is with a pasta main course, like:
- Grilled veggies pasta
- Low-carb penne pasta
- Pasta with vegan alfredo sauce or marinara sauce
- Pasta Pomodoro
- Fettuccine Pasta
- Ravioli bake
- Stuffed shells
Other unique recipes like soups and casseroles, where this garlic bread will impress everyone:
Do you like cheese on your garlic bread? Try my cheesy garlic bread too.
Ask me a question
Air fry garlic bread for 10 minutes using the “bread” option. For manual air fry, set the temperature to 320°F (or 160°C).
It’s not necessary, but it’s optimal to make it about 30 minutes to overnight. Store the butter in an airtight container. Avoid using plant butter. Use real butter because it is better!
– A baguette works best for garlic bread.
– Ciabatta – Leftover ciabatta is perfect for panko breadcrumbs.
– Rye
– Italian bread or sourdough bread.
– Any sturdy loaf of bread will work.
The strangest bread I have seen being used for garlic bread is brioche. If you are game, try it and let me know how it works.
– Fresh parsley or Italian seasoning
– Fresh basil can be a perfect addition too.
– Lemon balm
– Mint
– Thyme
The complete list of ingredients can be found below in the recipe card.
What to serve with garlic bread?
Garlic bread is best served with a buttery pasta, such as this Casarecce Pasta, or a red, saucy meal like this meatball casserole.
If you are like me, you can’t eat pizza without garlic bread. My recommendation is this delicious air fryer pizza. I also have my homemade pizza sauce with extra garlic, which can serve as a base for a pizza or a dip for your garlic bread.
How to make it
- Start by making the compound butter. In a small bowl, mix lemon balm, lemon pepper, salt, and fresh herbs into a half-stick of softened butter. I went with unsalted butter.
- Add fresh garlic cloves (or roasted garlic) to the butter and set it aside for 30 minutes. If you don’t have garlic, use garlic powder.
- Cut 4 thick slices from a Fresh baguette. I kept my baguettes 2 inches thick.
- Take the first piece of bread and butter on both sides using a butter knife. Do the same to the other pieces of sliced bread. Leave the buttered slices aside for 1-2 minutes.
- Place fryer-safe paper on the air fryer basket.
- Put the 4 slices on the paper in a single layer and set the basket back into the air fryer.
- Turn the air fryer on and choose the bread option (320°F or 160°C). The cooking time should be 8 minutes, and cook until golden brown.
- When finished cooking, don’t open the air fryer for about 2-3 minutes. I like to wait for the inside to cool down.
- Open, and this delicious garlic bread is ready to serve ASAP1
I wonder how this air fryer would taste when dipped into an olive oil dipping oil?
Did you know that you can grow your own lemon balm?
Try these air fryer recipes
These tiny little potato nibbles are incredibly addictive! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Make a complete protein vegan dinner in your air fryer! I love air fryer tempeh so much, and I make it often.
Candied sweet potatoes are best made in the air fryer. They are effortless and delicious!
Sharing is caring
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Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Equipment
- COSORI Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 slices baguette cut to about 2 inches thick
- 4 Tbsp butter vegan or regular (half a stick)
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and grated, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
Optional herbs to add to the butter
- 6 leaves lemon balm
- 1 leaf Cuban oregano
- 4 leaves mint
- 2 leaves purple basil or regular basil
Instructions
- Add garlic to the butter (See notes #1)
- Butter both sides of the cut baguette slices with the butter
- Place a fryer safe paper on the air fryer basket
- Put the 4 slices on the paper and place it in the air fryer
- Turn the air fryer on and choose the bread option (320° for 8 minutes)
- When finished cooking, don’t open the air fryer for about 1 minute.
- Open and serve immediately.
To make the lemon balm butter (optional)
- Mix lemon balm and fresh herbs
- Add the grated garlic, lemon pepper and salt to the butter
- Add the melted butter to the herbs mixture
- Use this butter on the cut baguette slices
Video
Notes
More tips
- Use thick cut bread slices because it will be soft and moist. Thin cut slices tend to get rock hard when they cool down.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket because you will get uneven garlic bread. Use no more than 4 slices of bread per round of air frying
- For best results, use a french Baguette that is freshly baked. It will make the garlic bread very soft!
- If you use day old or stale bread, set the time to 6-7 minutes only. Personally, I prefer using fresh bread in this recipe.
- Use a silicone mat to line the bottom of the air fryer basket. It will make your cleaning tasks much easier.
- Every air fryer works differently, so, your cook times will vary. Consult your manual for more specific instructions. I used a COSORI Air Fryer.
- When the garlic bread is done, you can serve it immediately. Or, wrap it in aluminum foil. Serve it within an hour of wrapping it.
- I don’t have the time to preheat the air fryer and I personally don’t think it is necessary. But, you can set it to 350° while you prepare the garlic bread.
Simple and delicious. It was perfect as a side for pasta. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you, Sonia
This was great – totally easy to make with some spaghetti for dinner and everyone was happy! Thanks for the recipe.
That sounds delicious! Thank you, Gen
This was perfect for a small batch!
Thank you, Emily. 🙂
I love my air fryer and the garlic bread was gobbled up by my family!
Thank you, Mandy
My family loves garlic bread with spaghetti and this recipe is simple and delicious. Thank you for sharing
Thank you, MacKenzie