Olive Garden Breadsticks – make your favorite Olive Garden breadsticks right in your own kitchen! These super soft, tender, buttery and garliky breadsticks will go with all your favorite soups, pastas and just about anything else.
We all know that I have a soft spot for carbs. I would eat pasta pretty much every day. And this Tuscan Chicken Pasta is pretty much my go to. And what goes best with pasta? More carbs! These soft breadsticks are heavenly and perfect with that bowl of pasta or soup.
I love Olive Garden Breadsticks and pretty much always have. I used to pick to go there when I was a kid any time I got the chance. There are a few other copycat recipes on the blog from there already, like this Chicken Gnocchi Soup. And we all know you can’t have soup without bread, so here we are!
There is just something about the smell of fresh bread baking in the house, and these homemade breadsticks are no different. Plus, they are easier to make then you probably think. Yes, there is yeast involved. But no, you don’t need to be afraid of it!
A lot of people are afraid of yeast, but they don’t have to be. Below are a few simple tips to help you tackle your fears. It really is about following the directions and understanding just a couple things. Then you will be baking all the fresh bread, and my all time favorite Rosemary Focaccia in no time!
Ingredients For Breadsticks
- Warm Water
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Salt
- Bread Flour
- Melted Butter
- Garlic Salt
I use the garlic salt that has the dried parsley flakes, hence why my pictures have flecks on the breadsticks.
Tips For Baking With Yeast
- Don’t kill the yeast. Most recipes will tell you a temperature that the water should be. Follow it. Too hot and it will kill the yeast and your bread won’t rise. Not hot enough and your yeast won’t activate. So use a thermometer and use what the recipe says.
- Yeast feeds on sugar, so leave it in! Often times people will try to cut down on the sugar in a recipe or think it is unnecessary in a bread. But that is what makes the yeast grow, so leave it in there.
- Yeast needs a warm place to grow and do its thing. Around 80 degrees is ideal. So if your house is cold you can heat your oven to 100 degrees, then turn it off and let the bread rise in there. This will stay warm enough to let the dough rise.
- Store your yeast in a cold place. The fridge or even freezer is best, it will last longer and be fresh when you need to use it.
- There are 2 kinds of yeast; active dry yeast and rapid rise yeast. Different ones are called for in different recipes and they are not interchangeable. So just use what the recipe calls for and you should be fine!
- Pay attention to the time. When a recipe says knead for 5 minutes, you actually need to knead for 5 minutes. But you can use your stand mixer and let it do the kneading for you!
How To Make Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Start by “blooming” your yeast. It sounds complicated, but it is super simple. In a small bowl combine the sugar, yeast and warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy. Once it is foamy, the yeast has bloomed and is active.
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour and salt. Add the foamy yeast mixture and melted butter. Mix until it starts to come together in a ball.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. You can use an electric stand mixer for 5 minutes on low if you prefer.
- Form the dough into a square on your counter. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a bread stick.
- Place the breadsticks on a lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400º F. Bake bread sticks for 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Mix together the butter and garlic salt. Brush over the cooked bread sticks.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving
This Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe is going to be perfect with all of your soups this winter. You can even make my Olive Garden Minestrone soup and pretend you are there. No need to leave the house, you can enjoy your favorites at home!
Homemade breadsticks are a little work, but they are so light and fluffy it is definitely worth it. The butter and garlic brushed on the top take them to a whole new level you are not going to want to stop eating them!
Want Even More Copycat Recipes
- Panera Macaroni and Cheese – Reader Favorite
- Idaho Nachos – from Granite City Brewery
- Canes Sauce – perfect for all your dipping needs!
- Pokey Sticks – the BEST cheese breadsticks ever!
- Pasta Milano – from Macaroni Grill
- Red Lobster Tartar Sauce – so good with fish
Soft Bread Sticks
Olive Garden Breadsticks - Soft and fluffy bread sticks topped with a butter garlic mixture.
Ingredients
For the breadsticks
- 1 1/2 cups warm water, (110 degrees)
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, (1 package)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 4 1/4 cups bread flour
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
For the topping
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the sugar, yeast and warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and butter. Mix until it starts to come together in a ball.
- Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
- Form the dough into a square on your counter. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll into a bread stick.
- Place on a lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake bread sticks for 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Mix together the butter and garlic salt. Brush over the cooked bread sticks.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving
Notes
Adapted from You Made That
Nutrition Information
Yield
12Serving Size
12 ServingsAmount Per Serving Calories 232Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 15mgSodium 229mgCarbohydrates 36gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 6g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
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Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says
Oh wow!! I am so excited to try these over the weekend!! They are incredible!
Catalina says
I can only immagine the smell of these bread sticks! Must make!
Jessica Clark says
Is it a problem if they sit for more than 45 minutes? I want some for apps and some for the meal but am not sure if the extra time might be problematic.
Erin S says
Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town. Yes, they will continue to rise if you do not bake them right away. You could just warm them again in the oven when it is time for dinner.
Kelly G. says
My dough was way too dry and got really hard. They did not rise at all. I followed the recipe to the T
Erin S says
If they didn’t rise at all, that is usually 1 of 2 problems. 1 – your yeast is expired or was not stored properly, ideally you want it in the fridge. 2 – your water was not the right temperature. If it is too hot or too cold it will not activate the yeast. And when you say your dough was too dry, that sounds like too much flour was used. Make sure to use the spoon in method to properly measure your flour, so you don’t get too much. Hope these tips help.
Kelly says
Thank you, they actually did bake really well and they look amazing, just hard to roll