This super easy air fryer garlic bread is cheesy, buttery, and full of flavor with parmesan, fresh garlic, and herbs. It's crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and ready in under 10 minutes—the perfect side dish!
Air fryer garlic bread is a game-changer. It's cheesy, buttery, crispy, and so good you'll want it with every meal. Garlic bread just makes everything better—serve it with pasta, soups, zucchini turkey meatballs, chicken, chicken broccoli pasta bake, or even as a quick snack.
The best part? It only takes 5 to 7 minutes to cook—no waiting for the oven to preheat. The bread comes out perfectly golden, soft inside and crispy outside. Plus, the garlic caramelizes, and the cheese gets irresistibly melty.
You can use any bread you have on hand—baguettes, ciabatta, rolls, you name it. It’s a quick and easy way to upgrade any meal. Once you try it, you’ll never go back!
Why you'll love this air fryer recipe:
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 5-7 minutes—no oven needed.
- Cheesy & Buttery: Packed with bold garlic flavor and melty cheese.
- Customizable: Use any bread or make it gluten-free.
Ingredients
This air fryer garlic bread needs just five basic ingredients: a baguette, butter, garlic, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter: I used salted butter for that classic buttery flavor, but unsalted works too (just add ½ teaspoon of salt).
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic (3-4 cloves) is a must for bold, authentic flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a cheesy, savory kick to the bread.
- Fresh Parsley: Use fresh parsley for the best herbaceous flavor—skip the dried stuff!
- Baguette: A crusty baguette works great, but you can also use French bread, ciabatta, or even sourdough.
Instructions
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:
Mix the softened butter, minced garlic, half the parmesan, and parsley in a small bowl.
Slice the baguette in half horizontally and into smaller pieces if needed to fit your air fryer. Spread the butter mixture on each piece.
Place the bread in the air fryer and sprinkle the rest of the parmesan on top.
Air fry for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy. Garnish with parsley, slice if desired, and enjoy!
Top tips
- Soften the Butter: Make sure the butter is fully softened before mixing—this makes it much easier to combine with the garlic and spread evenly on the bread. Let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.
- Check Early: Since air fryers vary, check your garlic bread at the 4-minute mark to ensure it’s not browning too quickly. Adjust the timing as needed.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Freshly minced garlic, grated parmesan, and chopped parsley will give the garlic bread the best flavor. Pre-minced garlic or pre-grated cheese won’t have the same punch.
- Serve Immediately: Garlic bread tastes best hot and fresh out of the air fryer while the bread is warm, the cheese is melted, and the edges are perfectly crisp.
Substitutions & Variations
- Make It Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free baguette or rolls for the perfect gluten-free garlic bread.
- Make It Dairy-Free & Vegan: Swap regular butter with a dairy-free alternative like Earth Balance sticks for a delicious dairy-free version.
- Extra Cheesy: Add shredded mozzarella or cheddar on top for an ultra-cheesy twist.
- Spicy Kick: Sprinkle red pepper flakes or add a touch of cayenne for a hint of heat.
- Lemon Zest: Add a pinch of lemon zest to the butter mixture for a bright, fresh flavor.
- Bread: Use French bread, ciabatta, sourdough, or even sandwich rolls—whatever you have on hand! For a gluten-free version, use your favorite gluten-free bread or baguette.
- Parmesan Cheese: Replace parmesan with pecorino romano or skip it for a vegan version.
- Parsley: Substitute fresh parsley with fresh basil, chives, or cilantro for a different herb flavor.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Small mixing bowl
- Knife
- Measuring Tools
Storage
Storing: Store garlic bread for 1-2 days at room temperature. Avoid the fridge, as it can make the bread hard.
Freezing: Wrap the garlic bread in foil or plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for a crispy texture.
Reheating: To reheat, set the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer to 350ºF and heat for 5-10 minutes until warm.
What to eat with garlic bread
Garlic bread is a great side dish that goes with so many meals. Here are some tasty ideas:
- Pasta: Pair it with spaghetti, healthy chicken bolognese, healthy lemon caper pasta, or this easy chicken pasta bake.
- Meatballs: These juicy turkey meatballs are perfect with garlic bread.
- Soup: Enjoy it with dairy-free tomato soup or this one pot lasagna soup.
- Chicken: Garlic bread complements crispy air fryer chicken thighs or this balsamic feta stuffed chicken.
- Seafood: Great with shrimp scampi, crab cakes, or grilled fish.
- Salad: Try it with a mixed greens salad or blackened salmon Caesar salad.
- Pasta Salads: Serve it alongside chicken Caesar pasta salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
French bread or ciabatta works best for garlic bread, but you can use any bread you like!
It takes 5-7 minutes at 350ºF. Check halfway to ensure it doesn’t brown too quickly.
Yes! You can use stale bread. Just reduce the air fry time to 3-5 minutes.
Yes, frozen garlic bread works in the air fryer. Cook at 350ºF for about 8-10 minutes, following the package instructions.
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Did you make this recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 4 - 5 tablespoon salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 - 5 large garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, more if desired
- 2 teaspoon 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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