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 very simple 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 thick bread like French baguette or French bread that is freshly baked. 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 just to know what to do with leftover garlic bread! My first batch never had any because they were devoured in minutes!
If you do have leftovers, make sure it’s cooled to room temperature. Then, wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Then, place it in a ziploc bag or freezer-friendly bag. Use it up within 3-4 days, if you refrigerate it.
They can be frozen for up to 3 months. They are also great options for meal prep recipes.
Compound butter or plain butter?
Yes, it’s true that garlic bread just needs 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 to 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!
And how to serve this garlic bread?
I have always served this garlic bread with pasta recipes only. But, recently, I discovered this no cook thanksgiving appetizer recipes by A Couple in the Kitchen.
Garlic bread and garlic knots are the official side dishes to any pasta dinner. You can even make a vegan garlic knots from scratch because it tastes 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
You can have garlic bread ready in the air fryer in just 10 minutes! This is a very easy recipe.
It’s not necessary, but try to make it ahead about 30 minutes to overnight, for the best flavor. Store the butter in an airtight container. If you can, avoid using plant butter. Use real butter because they are 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.
How to make it
- Start with 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
Don’t be shy, chime in in the comments. Let me hear your opinion on this air fryer garlic bread recipe. If you enjoyed this, please give it a star rating and share it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
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