Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Easy homemade Olive Garden style breadsticks are crispy, golden, and so much better than takeout. After making these many times, I’ve perfected the technique for that perfect chewy-crispy texture. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Bowl Recipe and Sweet and Tangy Cranberry Meatballs for Easy Dinner.
Why This Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside
- Better than takeout, saves money
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
What You'll Need for Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Active dry yeast
- Warm water
- Sugar
- Salt
- Olive oil
- All-purpose flour
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Salt
- Butter
- Parsley
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Active dry yeast: Ensure it's fresh and foams when mixed with warm water.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer — Kneads dough quickly and evenly → See on Amazon
- Pizza Stone — Creates perfect crispy crust → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
- Make the dough: Mix yeast, water, sugar, and let it foam. Add flour, salt, and olive oil, then knead until smooth.
- Let it rise: Form dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
- Shape and cut: Punch down dough, divide into 20 pieces, roll each into a 10-inch stick, and place on a baking sheet.
- Let rise again: Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F, bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with garlic butter: Melt butter, mix with garlic powder, oregano, and parsley. Brush onto hot breadsticks.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid over-kneading dough to prevent tough breadsticks. Knead until smooth and elastic.
- Tip: For a crispier crust, use a pizza stone or preheat a baking sheet in the oven.
- Tip: To make ahead, shape and cut dough, freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag once solid.
Storing & Reheating Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Shape and cut dough can be made ahead and frozen. Bake from frozen.
Freezing Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Freeze shaped dough for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to baking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but avoid overheating to prevent rubbery texture.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a chewier crust, use bread flour instead of all-purpose.
- Make-ahead: Shape and cut dough can be made ahead and frozen. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to baking time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved easily.
- Troubleshooting: If dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour. If too dry, add a bit more water.
Want to level up this recipe?
Digital Kitchen Scale — Ensures accurate measuring for perfect dough → Check price on Amazon
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Active dry yeast
- Warm water
- Sugar
- Salt
- Olive oil
- All-purpose flour
Seasonings
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Salt
- Butter
- Parsley
Optional Toppings
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Make the dough: Mix yeast, water, sugar, and let it foam. Add flour, salt, and olive oil, then knead until smooth.
- Let it rise: Form dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour.
- Shape and cut: Punch down dough, divide into 20 pieces, roll each into a 10-inch stick, and place on a baking sheet.
- Let rise again: Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 425°F, bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with garlic butter: Melt butter, mix with garlic powder, oregano, and parsley. Brush onto hot breadsticks.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a chewier crust, use bread flour instead of all-purpose.
- Make-ahead: Shape and cut dough can be made ahead and frozen. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to baking time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved easily.
- Troubleshooting: If dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour. If too dry, add a bit more water.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze shaped dough for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to baking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-7 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but avoid overheating to prevent rubbery texture.
- Make ahead: Shape and cut dough can be made ahead and frozen. Bake from frozen.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 200
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe FAQs
Overbaking or using too much flour can cause hard breadsticks. Ensure you're not overbaking and adjust flour as needed.
Yes, you can make the dough ahead and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.
Ensure your yeast is fresh and the dough is in a warm, draft-free place. If still not rising, the dough may be too cold.
Yes, you can use instant yeast. The rise time may be slightly shorter.
Fresh, homemade breadsticks are always better than takeout. The key is to get the dough right and not overbake.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
