Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Soft, fluffy garlic breadsticks inspired by the ones served at Olive Garden. They’re lightly crisp on the outside, tender inside, and brushed with garlic butter while they’re warm.

Recipe at a Glance

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 to 15 minutes
• Bake Time: 12 to 15 minutes
• Chill Time: Not applicable
• Rest Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes for the dough rises
• Total Time: About 2 hours 5 minutes
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Servings: 12 breadsticks
• Oven Temperature: 425°F

What You Need

The current recipe information lists the ingredients below but does not contain measurable quantities. I have kept those ingredients unchanged rather than inventing amounts.

• All-purpose flour
• Warm water
• Active dry yeast
• Sugar
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Garlic powder

How to Make Them

1. Activate the yeast. Stir the active dry yeast and sugar into warm water. Let the mixture sit until the yeast looks foamy. Water that is too hot can damage the yeast, so warm rather than scalding is the goal.
2. Make the dough. Add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a soft dough forms and there are no large dry patches.
3. Knead until elastic. Knead the dough until it becomes smoother and more elastic. If it feels extremely sticky, give it a short rest before deciding whether it truly needs more flour. Adding too much flour can make breadsticks heavy.
4. First rise. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise until doubled in size.
5. Shape. Gently deflate the dough and divide it into 12 portions. Roll each portion into a long, even breadstick and place them on a baking sheet with room between them.
6. Second rise. Cover the shaped breadsticks and let them become puffy before baking. This rise helps create a softer center.
7. Bake. Bake at 425°F for 12 to 15 minutes, watching for a lightly golden surface rather than a deeply browned crust.
8. Make the garlic butter. Melt the butter and stir in the garlic powder.
9. Finish while hot. Brush the warm breadsticks generously with the garlic butter as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve warm.

Why You’ll Love These Olive Garden Breadsticks

• Soft and fluffy: The dough stays tender instead of turning into a hard breadstick.
• Garlic-butter finish: Brushing them while they’re hot gives every breadstick that savory, buttery topping.
• Make-ahead friendly: You can prepare the shaped dough ahead and bake it when you’re ready.
• Great with dinner: Serve them alongside pasta, soup, salad, or any meal that needs something warm for soaking up sauce.

Tips and Troubleshooting

• Dough is very sticky: Give it a short rest first. If it remains unusually wet, add flour sparingly, one small amount at a time.
• Dough is dense: Check that the yeast foamed before mixing and give both rises enough time. Cold kitchens can slow yeast activity.
• Breadsticks spread: Avoid overproofing the shaped dough. They should look puffy, not collapsed.
• Bottoms brown too fast: Use a lighter-colored baking sheet or move the pan to a higher rack.
• Tops are dry: Brush with the garlic butter immediately after baking while the breadsticks are still hot.

Substitutions

• Use instant yeast if that is what you have, adjusting the mixing method to the package directions.
• Use unsalted butter for the garlic topping and add salt separately to taste.
• Use a dairy-free butter alternative if needed, understanding that flavor and browning may differ.

Storage and Reheating

Store cooled breadsticks in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat them briefly in the oven or air fryer so the outside warms without drying out the center. You can also freeze fully cooled breadsticks and reheat them from frozen.

Shop the Kitchen

These are the specific tools I’d reach for when making a batch at home:

• KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer for kneading the dough
• Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet for baking
• OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush for the garlic-butter finish

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Featured image: “2023-03-15 12 01 22 Garlic breadsticks at Clayton Hall…” by Famartin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2023-03-15_12_01_22_Garlic_breadsticks_at_Clayton_Hall_on_the_campus_of_the_University_of_Delaware_in_Newark,_New_Castle_County,_Delaware.jpg

What to Serve With Olive Garden Breadsticks

These are especially good with creamy pasta, marinara, chicken Alfredo, or a bowl of soup. For another cozy copycat dinner, try our Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo. You can also serve them with Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup for an easy soup-and-breadsticks meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these ahead?

Yes. Shape the breadsticks and refrigerate them covered before the final rise. Let them warm and rise before baking.

Can I freeze them?

Yes. Freeze fully cooled breadsticks in an airtight container and reheat before serving.

Planning the rest of dinner? Use What Should I Make? for ideas, browse Recipes by Budget, or shop baking tools through Shop My Kitchen.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.