Does your pasta dinner need some garlic bread? This 15 minute garlic ciabatta bread recipe is not only fast but it is the perfect base for a chicken caprese sandwich or to dunk in some creamy tomato bisque. You'll be amazed at the crispy crunch ciabatta bread brings to easy garlic bread!
While it is definitely plays a supporting role on most menus, garlic bread can easily steal the show especially if it's as good as this one! If your family is anything like mine, paying big attention to menus and food is an event. And a recipe like this garlic ciabatta bread made with simple ingredients that comes together in 15 minutes?
Star of the show.
Craving garlic bread?
I mentioned 15 minutes. That is made possible thanks to a cheesy garlic paste that gets slathered all over the ciabatta.
The whole loaf gets baked (not broiled, believe it or not!) and you'll end up with the crunchiest ciabatta on the outside and the most decadent parmesan garlic mixture on the inside.
⇢ Recipes that require some garlic bread: pancetta tomato sandwich, classic Italian red sauce, and classic Alfredo sauce...so good!
Good Stuff You'll Need
Here's what goes into making the best garlic bread recipe.
Garlic bread spread:
- Fresh minced garlic. About 7-8 cloves for one loaf.
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese. Please, please grate your parmesan fresh. You and your garlic bread will be very happy you did.
- Unsalted butter. Preferred but if all you have is salted then reduce the salt quantity mentioned in the recipe card
- Oregano. The magic juju that sends marries the garlic with the parmesan.
Best bread for garlic bread
Ciabatta is the perfect choice for garlic bread because of its shape and texture.
Flat and wide in shape, Ciabatta is a rustic Italian bread with a dry, floury crust that is slightly firm and chewy. Baked ciabatta creates a crispy shell, with an airy crumb that soaks in the garlic paste.
How to make ciabatta garlic bread
First let's clear one thing up.
- Mash the softened butter and add the garlic, parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and seasoning [1].
- Mix all together to make a creamy garlic spread [2].
- Take a little taste and add more seasoning to suit your preference.
Slice the ciabatta loaf lengthwise in half. On each side, smear a healthy amount of the zesty garlic paste making sure to go all the way to the edges of the bread. (no need to be shy here, my friend).
Lay both halves on a baking tray or aluminum foil to bake until golden brown and crispy.
Garlic Measuring Tip
7 cloves of garlic = approx. 2T mashed garlic
What to do with leftover garlic bread
Ok. You might be thinking, "no way am I going to have any leftover garlic bread!" But if you've eaten a big plate (with seconds) of pasta with my homemade Italian red sauce and some arugula salad, you might have a smattering of garlic bread leftover.
Here are some ideas of what to do with it:
- Salad Base- Whip up this oh-so-yummy Italian chopped salad and use the garlic bread as the base for it (although those homemade crostinis are darn good!)
- Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. Take some leftover Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham and layer it on the garlic bread along with some cranberry sauce.
- Cube It - Cut the garlic bread into small pieces and use as a topping for a comforting soup recipe.
Helpful Tips
Garlic. To finely chop or mince garlic, you can use a knife or a garlic press depending on what you're comfortable with.
Cooking time. Using my oven, the garlic bread cooked in about 15 minutes.
Make it pretty. A sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley adds a pop of green to the top of the loaf.
MAKE A BIG BATCH OF GARLIC PASTE
Use your small bowl of a food processor to mix up a big batch of garlic paste to have for when the garlic bread craving hits!
Serving & Storage
- Serve in a pretty bread basket or on a large wooden cutting board rustically cut into diagonal pieces.
Storage. Refrigerate leftovers in a resealable bag or container for up to 3 days.
Make ahead
You can make the paste and spread it on the bread earlier in the day you plan to bake it. Refrigerate until you're ready to bake the bread.
Reheating
Reheat on a piece of tin foil or a baking sheet in a 350˚ oven until warmed through and re-crisped.
Freezing
You can freeze the garlic paste by making it ahead. Either form the paste into a small log wrapped with plastic wrap or spoon into in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Made this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Easy Ciabatta Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 7 cloves garlic, finely minced. Ok to use a garlic press
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus a little extra!
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- crushed red pepper , optional
- fresh parsley, optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°.
- Slice the ciabatta loaf lengthwise in half and lay each halve on a foil or parchment covered baking tray or sheet pan.
- In a small bow, mix the softened butter with the minced garlic until a paste forms. Stir in the parmesan cheese, kosher salt and oregano.7 cloves garlic, ½ cup butter, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Spread half of the garlic butter mixture on one side of the ciabatta and the rest on the other half. Spread the butter all the way to the edges! You want all the garlicky goodness!
- Sprinkle over a little extra parmesan cheese and pop into the oven for 15 minutes or so until golden brown and toasty.
- Remove from oven and garnish with crushed red pepper if desired and a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley.
- Serve in a pretty bread basket or on a large wooden cutting board rustically cut into diagonal pieces.
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