Olive Garden Breadsticks
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Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks will have you skipping takeout in no time! Enjoy warm, chewy bites of Italian bread sticks with plenty of buttery garlic flavor.
Enjoy a full batch of tender, savory breadsticks without ever leaving home, thanks to this copycat Olive Garden breadstick recipe!
Olive Garden Breadsticks
Pair these homemade Italian breadsticks with my copycat Olive Garden salad and recreate your favorite restaurant meals right at home!
I even have recipes for some of their popular dishes like Chicken Alfredo Pasta, Shrimp Alfredo, Zuppa Toscana, and Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
Short on time? Try these air fryer garlic knots instead — they’re made with refrigerated crescent roll dough, so you can have them on the table in 20 minutes.
Olive Garden Breadstick Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use lukewarm water. If it’s too hot, it will kill the yeast, and the dough won’t rise.
- Don’t whisk right away! Let the yeast get nice and foamy on the surface of the water mixture before blending it in.
If it doesn’t bubble up, it’s gone bad — you’ll need to toss it and start with a fresh package. - Be patient. You may be tempted to rush through the second rise. Trust me, it’s worth the extra time for perfectly fluffy Italian bread sticks!
- Add a dipping sauce! Classic alfredo or your favorite marinara are perfect if you want to enjoy this Olive Garden breadsticks recipe as a snack.
I even have a copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s marinara sauce! - Storage: Copycat Olive Garden breadsticks will stay fresh in a sealed container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.
Or, freeze them for up to 3 months and reheat in the oven before serving.
Italian Breadsticks Flavor Variations
While garlic salt is the classic topping, Italian or ranch seasoning would also be delicious on fluffy Italian breadsticks.
And you can never go wrong with a little fresh Parmesan!
Or, turn this Olive Garden breadstick recipe into a sweet dessert bread!
Instead of garlic salt, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the melted butter. You will want to reduce the salt in the dough to ¾ teaspoon as well.
Enjoy as-is or with a sweet glaze for dipping.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Stand mixer with a dough hook attachment
- Baking Sheets lined with parchment paper – Used for anything from cookies to roasting, a good baking pan will last for years.
- Large Bowl – You’ll need plenty of room for the dough to rise and a smooth surface so it releases easily.
- Basting Brush – Useful for everything from greasing pans to basting food.
Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe FAQ
Bread flour will result in a chewier texture with a bit more heaviness. I prefer it for that reason, but you can substitute all-purpose flour in a pinch.
Many other recipes recommend this, but garlic salt makes a world of difference. It’s actually what Olive Garden uses for theirs!
That, plus plenty of melted butter, is what makes Olive Garden breadsticks yummy.
To reheat, wrap them loosely in foil and place the packet in a warm oven at 325°F for about 5 minutes.
You could also pop them in the microwave, but you may need some extra moisture.
Place them on a heat-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel, then heat in 15-second bursts until warm.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 3/8 cups warm water, not boiling
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted and divided
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour, all-purpose can be substituted
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
Instructions
- Whisk together warm water, sugar, salt, and 3 tablespoons of the melted butter in the bowl of a standing mixer.
- Sprinkle the yeast over the water mixture and set aside for 5-10 minutes to allow the yeast to get foamy.
- Whisk foamy yeast into the water.
- Combine flour and salt and add this to the liquid ingredients.
- Use the bread hook attachment on the mixer to start combining the ingredients. Start the mixer on slow and speed it up gradually to high once the flour becomes fully incorporated.
- Knead the dough in the mixer for about 5 minutes until it forms a smooth, elastic-like ball.
- Transfer the dough ball to a large bowl coated in olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place.
- Allow the dough to rest and double in size – 60-90 minutes.
- Punch down the dough and divide into twelve equally sized pieces (about 2 oz. each)
- Roll each piece of dough into a rope about the width of your thumb.
- Place formed breadsticks on parchment lined baking sheets, 2-3 inches apart.
- Cover the breadsticks again and allow to rise a second time – about one hour more.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake breadsticks for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
- While the breadsticks are cooking, re-melt the remaining butter if it has firmed up.
- When the breadsticks come out of the oven, brush liberally with melted butter and sprinkle generously with garlic salt.
- Serve warm.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2021, updated and republished April 2023
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I have always wanted to replicate Olive Garden’s breadsticks! It really did come out just like them, only better! I can confidently say they go great with both pasta and soup!
What about us folks who don’t have a stand mixer????
Stand mixer not necessary!
just mix ingredients with a large wooden spoon or heavy rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.
Take the dough out of the bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface for 5-7 minutes.
I used a bread machine to make the dough. I didn’t change any measurements. They tasted exactly like olive garden’s but better. Thanks!!