
Yields:
12
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 40 mins
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!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 Tbsp.
granulated sugar
- 1
(1/4-oz.) packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp.)
- 3 cups
(360 g.) all-purpose flour
- 4 Tbsp.
plant-based or regular unsalted butter, melted, cooled
- 1 Tbsp.
kosher salt
- 1 tsp.
extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic Butter & Assembly
- 4 Tbsp.
plant-based or regular unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp.
garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
Store-bought or homemade marinara sauce, for dipping
Directions
Dough
- Step 1In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine sugar and 1 cup lukewarm water (105° to 115°). Sprinkle yeast over. Let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Step 2Add flour, butter, and salt. Beat on low speed until a dough starts to form, 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium and continue to beat until a smooth ball forms, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Step 3Remove dough hook, drizzle oil over dough, and form into a ball in bowl (dough will be a little sticky). Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise at room temperature until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Step 4Punch down dough, transfer to a work surface, and cut into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 8" long. Transfer to 2 parchment-lined baking sheets, cover, and let rise 20 minutes.
Garlic Butter & Assembly
- Step 1Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 400°. In a small bowl, mix butter, garlic powder, and salt. Lightly brush each log with some garlic butter.
- Step 2Bake breadsticks, rotating sheets top to bottom halfway through, until lightly golden (to look more like the breadsticks at Olive Garden), about 12 minutes, or until more browned, if desired, about 20 minutes. Immediately brush with remaining garlic butter. Serve with marinara alongside for dipping.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Copycat Costco Sheet Cake

Best Copycat Desserts

Best Copycat Soups & Sides

26 Best-Ever Copycat Dinners
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below