What To Do With Leftover Olive Garden Bread Sticks

Olive Garden Breadsticks – No, I didn't get inside Olive Garden's kitchen, but it feels like I'm enjoying their fresh breadsticks every time I make this recipe! These Olive Garden breadsticks are a must-bake. The buttery flavor and the fluffy texture will make this bread recipe stick with you forever!

Who Else Loves Olive Garden Breadsticks?

I have a ton of respect for Olive Garden; they offer a variety of tasty dishes which makes it difficult to decide on what to choose! Olive Garden isn't sponsoring this post, but it's fair to praise something that's praiseworthy.

Despite the impressive collection olive garden has, ordering extra breadsticks is like a ritual most of us follow. These breadsticks might look ordinary, but if you've had them once you'll know just how addicting they are!

The Best Copycat Recipe

You and I both know that homemade bread can beat store-bought ones any day! There is just nothing like freshly made bread, according to your own taste. It's the ultimate gift for your family, and it's something everyone appreciates at the dinner table!

And after reading this post, you'll know the perfect and easiest Olive Garden breadstick recipe that will wow your family. It's the perfect copycat for the delicious flavor we all know too well.

These breadsticks will make your home smell amazing while you're baking them! And even afterward since we'll brush them with some delicious homemade garlic-butter after they're done baking! I love making these at home because you also control the size of the breadsticks and make it to your own liking.

If you can't get to olive garden but crave their breadsticks, this recipe will take care of that craving for sure. They feel like a complete meal on their own but also go well with some homemade spaghetti or soup!

They're light and delicious and stay moist until the next day if you store in it a Ziploc bag.

I know that baking bread is intimidating to some, but making these breadsticks is easy and the dough is forgiving.

What You Need To Make These Breadsticks

This recipe requires the simplest ingredients ever! You'll most likely have these in your pantry already. Here's what you need:

Water: Using lukewarm water is essential for this recipe. The temperature for the water must be between 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 40 degrees Celsius), as anything warmer will kill the yeast. This will be water that feels tepid to the touch.
Yeast: This recipe requires active dry yeast. We'll activate it using warm water and sugar.
Sugar: This helps to activate the yeast and make the process faster as the yeast will have something to eat. It also helps to make the bread softer as some of the water will be absorbed by it and it slows down the formation of gluten strands.
Flour: All you need is some basic all-purpose flour (told you this recipe was super easy and simple!). No need for any bread flour at all!
Butter: Unsalted butter is the way to go! This will allow you to control how salty you want the bread to be. By adding this seemingly small amount of butter (only 2 tablespoons!), the bread will rise better and have a crispier crust!
Salt: This adds flavor and enhances the bread. By using unsalted butter and adding salt ourselves, we're making sure we control exactly how we want our bread to taste!
Garlic Butter: This bread will just be incomplete without basting it with some garlic butter! We'll make our own using some melted butter, garlic powder, and salt.

How to Make Homemade Breadsticks

This has got to be the easiest recipe for breadsticks you'll ever come across! Let's look at the steps to make it:

Melt butter and warm water: Now melt the butter and warm the water to a temperature of around 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (35 to 40 degrees Celsius). Anything warmer than this will kill the yeast, so this is really important. Water that is this warm should feel tepid if you put your pinky finger into it (make sure you wash your hands first though!)
Activate the yeast: Next, we'll activate the yeast by mixing sugar, yeast, and warm water in a large bowl. Mix it well and let it sit for 10 minutes. You'll notice a sweet, yeasty smell and it will look a bit frothy when the 10 minutes are over. This is a sign that the yeast has been activated correctly!
Add flour and salt : Add flour and salt to the activated yeast mixture and knead for a few seconds. Now add melted butter and knead for 7 minutes more, or until you get a smooth dough. You can do this step using a stand mixer. But don't worry, you can also do it by hand if you don't have one. Just make sure the dough is nice and smooth by the time you're done.
Proof: Now cover the dough in a greased bowl and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour in a warm place.
Shape : Knead the dough for 1 minute. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form 7 equal size balls from the dough should weigh 90 grams each. Roll out into 10" strips and place them on the lined baking sheet.
Second Proof : Cover and let the sticks double in size in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.
Preheat : Start off by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/200 degrees Celsius.
Bake : You're now ready to bake them! Bake the breadsticks in your preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes.
Make the garlic butter : While the breadsticks are baking, in a small bowl, mix ¼ cup butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt until well combined.
Add Garlic butter: When the breadsticks are out of the oven, brush them immediately with the butter and garlic mixture. Repeat the brushing more than one time since the breadstick will soak the butter mix rather quickly.
Cool or serve: Place the breadstick on a cooling rack to cool completely; you can then serve them or freeze them. More on how to freeze them later in the post!

Easy to make Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe.

Tips for the Best Breadsticks

Kneading by hand for at least 7 minutes will ensure light breadsticks that will stay moist even after freezing and thawing them.
You can use olive oil instead of butter to baste the breadsticks, but the flavor and smell will be a little different.
If your kitchen is cold, the dough might take up to 2 hours to rise.
To help the dough rise faster, turn on the oven for 2 minutes, turn it off, and place the covered dough in it to increase in size. You can also set the bowl in a warm water bath; it will help the dough rise in a shorter amount of time.

Breadstick Variations:

Sesame Seed Breadsticks: You can brush the breadsticks with some egg wash (an egg that has been beaten) and sprinkle some sesame seeds on them. You can press the sesame seeds gently on the breadsticks with the back of a spoon to help them stick. Watch my video to see exactly how to do this!
Garlic Butter with Parmesan Breadsticks: You can also add a table of parmesan cheese to the homemade garlic butter and omit the salt. This is a super delicious combination too!

Can Breadsticks be Frozen?

Absolutely! To store the breadsticks, place them in a Ziplock bag, remove as much air from the bag as possible, seal it, and pop it into the freezer. They can be frozen for up to three months! To thaw frozen breadsticks, just place as many as you want to thaw in a microwave-friendly plate and microwave for a few seconds. They'll taste like you just baked them – yum!

What To Serve With Breadsticks?

These breadsticks go really well with different types of pasta, salads, and soups! They're the perfect starter for most meals. You can also dip them in your favorite sauce (for me that's some marinara sauce!).

You can also make a light sandwich like smoked turkey with a cheese sandwich. I love the combination, and it is perfect for breakfast.

I also prefer breadsticks to dinner rolls when it comes to saucy dishes, so definitely give it a shot whenever you cook anything of the sort.

Close up of Olive Garden Breadsticks, sowing how fluffy and light it is.

More Delicious Recipes To Try

Try these recipes along with the breadsticks if you want a full meal for your family:

Spaghetti Bolognese: This is a great-tasting meal with flavorful Bolognese sauce seasoned with spices available in every kitchen. It's simple to make and pairs beautifully with these breadsticks!
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup: This super unique and delicious recipe will make your family's day! Pair it with the breadsticks and you have a nutritious meal ready to go!
Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing: Want pasta and a salad? This dream combination tastes amazing alongside some breadsticks!

Small image of olive garden breadsticks 2021

For the breadsticks

1 cup warm water
¾ tablespoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
2 teaspoons + ¼ teaspoon salt

Butter garlic mix

¼ cup melted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, add sugar, yeast, and warm water, mix well and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
Add flour and salt to the previous mixture and knead for a few seconds. Add the melted butter and knead for 7 minutes or until you get a smooth dough. You can do this step using a stand mixer.
Cover the dough and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour in a warm place.
Knead the dough for 1 minute. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form 7 equal size balls from the dough should weigh 90gm each. Roll out into 10" strips and place them on the lined baking sheet. Cover and let the sticks double in size in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.
Preheat your oven to 400F/200C.
Bake the breadsticks for 12 to 14 minutes.
While the breadsticks are baking, in a small bowl, mix ¼ cup butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt until well combined.
When the breadsticks are out of the oven, brush them immediately with the butter and garlic mixture. Repeat the brushing more than one time since the breadstick will soak the butter mix rather quickly.
Place the breadstick on a cooling rack to cool completely; you can then serve them or freeze them. (Read the notes).

Kneading by hand for at least 7 minutes will ensure light breadsticks that will stay moist even after freezing and thawing them.
You can use olive oil instead of butter to brush the breadsticks, but the flavor and smell will be a little different.
If your kitchen is cold, the dough might take up to 2 hours to rise.
To help the dough rise faster, turn on the oven for 2 minutes, turn it off, and place the covered dough in it to increase in size. You can also set the bowl in a warm water bath; it will help the dough rise in a shorter amount of time.
To store the breadsticks, place them in a Ziplock bag, remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal it. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw frozen breadsticks, place as many as you want to thaw in a microwave-friendly plate and microwave for a few seconds.
Variation: In the video, I have brushed three breadsticks with egg wash and sprinkled sesame on top; later, I pressed the sesame gently on the breadstick using the back of the spoon to help it stick. You can also add a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese to the butter garlic mixture and omit the salt.
Serving suggestion: Although you can dip these sticks in your favorite sauce and enjoy every bite, you can make a light sandwich like smoked turkey with a cheese sandwich. I love the combination, and it is perfect for breakfast.
This post was originally published in 2017, and is updated with a video and more information.