Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Everyone knows Olive Garden is all about the breadsticks. They’re soft, buttery, and just the right amount of garlicky—the kind of irresistible appetizer that’s almost impossible not to fill up on. It’s been a minute since I last indulged in Olive Garden’s breadsticks, but knowing how easy they are to make at home, I’ll definitely be enjoying them more often now. Trust me, once you whip up a batch, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making these alongside your fettuccine Alfredo all along.

You don’t need any fancy equipment to pull off this recipe. If you don’t have a stand mixer, don’t sweat it. Making the dough by hand is totally doable. Once the yeast is activated, combine the ingredients in a bowl using a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it until it’s smooth and elastic—8 to 10 minutes. Sure, that might sound like a lot, but think of it as your workout for the day and then you get the ultimate reward: warm fluffy breadsticks! If the dough starts sticking to your hands or the counter, sprinkle in 1 Tbsp. flour at a time until it’s manageable.

If you really want these to mimic Olive Garden's, take them out before they start to brown too much. They're much more delicious with browning, but won't be an exact copycat, so keep that in mind. These breadsticks are a blank canvas, so if you’re in the mood to zhuzh things up, then mix some fresh parsley or Italian seasoning into the garlic butter for a herby upgrade, or sprinkle grated Parmesan over top as soon as they come out of the oven for a cheesy kick.

If you have leftovers, keep the cooled breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or pop them in the fridge for up to four. To bring them back to life, warm them in a 325° oven for a few minutes.

Have you made this recipe? Let us know how you like it in the comments below!