This cheesy, buttery air fryer garlic bread is made with parmesan cheese, garlic, and fresh herbs. It’s easy to make and air fried in 5 minutes!
Buttery air fryer garlic bread
There is nothing better than a buttery piece of garlic bread! It’s my go-to dinner side dish for a reason… it’s addictive, and everyone loves it.
Air frying garlic bread is the best way to cook it. It only takes 5 to 7 minutes to air fry, plus you don’t have to wait 20 minutes for an oven to preheat. The garlic bread comes out warm, soft on the inside, and crispy on the outside. Plus, the minced garlic is perfectly caramelized, and the cheese is super melty.
One of the best things about this recipe is that you can use any type of bread you have on hand. I love using a baguette like French bread or ciabatta, but any type of loaf, roll, or bread will really work.
Serve this buttery garlic bread as a Game Day appetizer or as a side dish to this chicken broccoli pasta bake or these zucchini turkey meatballs. Garlic bread goes well with everything!
Why you’ll love this air fryer recipe
- This garlic bread is quickly air fried for 5 – 7 minutes.
- It’s cheesy, buttery, and has the best garlic flavor.
- Perfect side dish or appetizer for any time of year.
- Easily make it gluten free and dairy free.
- This is the best homemade air fryer garlic bread recipe.
- Lots of variations and flavor options (keep reading below).
- Everyone will love it, even picky eaters and kids!
- Try these air fryer pizza rolls for another fun and flavorful air fryer recipe.
Ingredients
Air fryer garlic bread calls for five simple ingredients. You’ll need a baguette, butter, garlic, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. Here is a list of all the ingredients, so you are prepared. Make sure that you scroll to the bottom of this blog post to see the entire recipe card with measurements.
- Butter: There is nothing better than buttery garlic bread. I used salted butter, but you can also use unsalted butter and add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
- Garlic: Grab 3 to 4 fresh garlic cloves. I highly recommend using freshly minced garlic for the best, most authentic flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: This adds a lot of flavor and also makes this garlic bread cheesy.
- Fresh Parsley: Make sure to use fresh parsley and not dried. Fresh parsley adds the best herb and Italian flavor.
- Baguette: Finally, you need 1 loaf or crusted baguette. I love French bread or ciabatta.
Kitchen tools required
You only need a few kitchen utensils to make air fryer garlic bread. Clean-up is so easy! Here is a list:
- Air Fryer
- Small mixing bowl
- Knife
- Measuring Tools: 1 teaspoon and 1/3 cup.
How to make air fryer garlic bread
Air frying is the easiest cooking method to make homemade garlic bread. It only takes 5 minutes to air fry and 3 minutes to prepare. Here are step-by-step directions and pictures for visual reference:
Step 1:
First, preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
Step 2:
Then, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, half of the parmesan, and parsley together in a small bowl.
Step 3:
After that, cut the loaf in half horizontally. Depending on the size of your air fryer, cut the baguette into quarters or a size that will fit into air fryer. You may also need to do two rounds if you have a large baguette.
Step 4:
Next, spread the butter mixture over each piece of bread, place them in the air fryer, and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese on top.
Step 5:
Finally, air fry for 5 – 7 minutes until golden and the cheese is slightly crispy on top. Then, garnish with extra parsley, cut into individually sized pieces (if desired), and enjoy!
Expert tips
Make sure the butter is at room temperature. I recommend letting the butter sit at room temperature for an hour before making this garlic bread. Room temperature butter is easy to spread and mix with the other ingredients.
Check at the 4-minute mark. Every air fryer is different, so I recommend checking the garlic bread at the 4-minute mark to see if it is cooking properly or browning quickly.
Only use fresh ingredients. Use freshly minced garlic, fresh parmesan, and fresh parsley for the best natural flavor. Trust me.
Make it dairy free. You can make this garlic bread dairy free by using dairy-free butter. I recommend Earth Balance sticks.
Make it gluten free. You can make this air fryer garlic bread gluten free by using gluten free baguette or rolls.
Garlic bread substitutions and variations
- Caprese Garlic Bread. Add 2 – 3 tomato slices to each piece of garlic bread while you air fry. Then after air frying, top the garlic bread with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and chopped up basil.
- Caramelized Onion Garlic Bread. Add 1/3 cup of caramelized onion on top of the garlic bread when there are 1 – 2 minutes of air frying left.
- Goat Cheese Garlic Bread. Add 2 – 4 ounces of crumbled goat cheese to the garlic bread before air frying. Check at the 4-minute mark and asses if you need to air fry for longer.
- Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread. Add 1/3 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese or Monterey Jack.
- Use sourdough or ciabatta. Instead of French bread, you can use thick slices of sourdough or ciabatta.
- Salted Butter. You can use unsalted butter, too; just add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the butter spread.
- Garlic Cloves. You can use pre-minced garlic if needed.
Air fried garlic bread serving suggestions
Air fryer garlic bread is fantastic with so many dishes! Here are a few ideas:
Pasta & meatball recipes:
Chicken & ground turkey recipes:
Soup recipes:
Vegetarian recipes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use sliced bread?
Yes, you can use sliced bread for this garlic bread. The air fry time will decrease to 3 – 5 minutes.
Can you use stale bread for garlic bread?
Yes, you can use slightly stale bread for garlic bread since the butter will help soften it as it cooks. Do not use super hard bread that has been stale for weeks.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
You can make gluten-free garlic bread by using gluten-free baguettes or rolls.
What type of bread is best for garlic bread?
French bread or ciabatta is the best type of bread for garlic bread.
Can I bake it if I don’t have an air fryer?
To bake garlic bread, preheat your oven to 400°F and bake for 10 – 12 minutes until golden, buttery, and crisp.
Does it keep?
Air fryer garlic bread is best stored at room temperature for 1 – 2 days. If you store it in the fridge, it can become hard and stale.
How to store and reheat leftovers:
Storing: Store leftovers in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Reheating: You can reheat garlic bread in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer. Set the oven, toaster oven, and air fryer to 350ºF and reheat the bread for 5 – 10 minutes until warm.
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Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 4 – 5 tbsp salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 – 5 large garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, more if desired
- 2 tsp minced fresh parsley
- 1 baguette, French bread or ciabatta
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, minced garlic, half of the parmesan, and parsley.
- Cut the loaf in half horizontally. Depending on the size of your air fryer, cut the baguette into quarters or a size that will fit into air fryer.
- Spread butter mixture over each piece of bread, place them in the air fryer, and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese on top.
- Air fry for 5 – 7 minutes, until golden and the cheese is slightly crispy on top.
- Garnish with extra parsley, cut into individually sized pieces (if desired), and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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