Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

These homemade breadsticks are soft, fluffy, and brushed with the most incredible garlic butter, just like the ones you get at Olive Garden. The dough comes together easily with simple pantry staples, and the smell of them baking will fill your entire kitchen. Once you pull these golden beauties out of the oven and brush them with that seasoned butter, you will never want to order takeout breadsticks again.

Why You will Love This Recipe

Soft, pillowy breadsticks just like the restaurant

Simple dough made with basic pantry ingredients

The garlic butter topping is absolutely irresistible

Perfect alongside pasta, soup, or salad

Makes a big batch that is great for feeding a crowd

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour rise time)

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes

Yield: 12 breadsticks

Ingredients

For the Dough

1 cup warm water (110 degrees)

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon salt

For the Garlic Butter Topping

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is foamy. This means the yeast is active and ready to go.

Add the flour, softened butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour one tablespoon at a time.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a stick about 7 inches long. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Cover and let rise for another 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the breadsticks for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown on top.

While the breadsticks bake, mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Brush generously over the hot breadsticks the moment they come out of the oven. Serve warm.

Kelvin Tips

Make sure your water is warm but not hot. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast and your breadsticks will not rise. Aim for about 110 degrees, which feels like warm bath water.

Do not skip the second rise after shaping. Those extra 15 minutes give the breadsticks their signature fluffy, pillowy texture.

Brush the butter on immediately when the breadsticks come out of the oven. The heat helps the butter melt into every crevice for maximum flavor.

These freeze beautifully. Let them cool completely, freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat in a 350-degree oven for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per breadstick)

Calories: 185

Protein: 4g

Fat: 6g

Carbohydrates: 28g

Fiber: 1g

Sodium: 280mg