Pull Apart Garlic Bread

Forget those foil-wrapped garlic breads from the store—this homemade Pull Apart Garlic Bread will take your meal up a notch. It’s soft, buttery, packed with garlic flavor, melts right in your mouth, and easily pulls apart for sharing. The dough is made from scratch, rolled into bite-sized pieces, coated in homemade garlic butter, and baked until fluffy and tender.

Garlic bread has a magical way of adding comfort and warmth to any meal. But there’s something extra special about garlic bread fresh out of the oven—soft, warm, and fragrant. As these little dough bites bake, they develop a golden-brown crust, soaked with rich garlic butter flavor. They’re irresistibly snackable and perfect for grabbing by the handful to dip into marinara sauce or homemade pizza dip. Yum!

Whether you’re whipping these up for a quick weeknight treat or serving them to guests at Thanksgiving, this pull apart garlic bread recipe is one to keep close for many cozy dinners ahead.

Why You’ll Love This Pull Apart Garlic Bread Recipe

• 100% homemade goodness. Unlike packaged garlic breads loaded with preservatives, this recipe uses straightforward, wholesome ingredients you likely already have. You’ll taste the difference!
• Simple to make. Don’t let the idea of pull apart bread scare you. It’s actually easy! Simply slice the dough into pieces, toss them with garlic butter, layer in the pan, and bake. No fuss, all flavor.
• Garlic butter magic. Instead of just spreading plain butter and garlic, we simmer the garlic and herbs with butter to infuse that buttery goodness with incredible flavor. Trust me, this step makes all the difference.
• Flavor in every single bite. Because the dough pieces get tossed in that tasty garlic butter, every nibble bursts with rich, buttery garlic goodness that keeps you reaching for more.
• Made for sharing. This pull-apart bread is perfect for family meals or parties. Serve it as a crowd-pleasing appetizer during the holidays or alongside favorites like our Easy Meat Lasagna or classic Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Ingredient Notes

To create this mouthwatering pull apart garlic bread, here’s what you’ll need (the full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below):

• Water – this hydrates the dough and makes it soft and stretchy for easy shaping.
• Active dry yeast – activates quickly to give you fluffy bread in under two hours. Instant yeast works just as well.
• Honey – feeds the yeast and provides a subtle touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors.
• All-purpose flour – perfect for tender, soft bread. You can swap some with bread flour or whole wheat flour if you prefer a heartier bite.
• Butter – softened butter adds richness to the dough, plus you’ll need more for the irresistible garlic butter coating.
• Salt – essential for bringing out the flavors in the bread.
• Garlic – fresh is best here, finely minced or grated for maximum flavor. Garlic powder can work, but it won’t be as robust.
• Fresh parsley – adds a bright pop of color and a nice fresh flavor on top. Chives or green onions can be fun swaps.
• Italian seasoning – blends dried herbs that soften in the butter and give that classic Italian flavor.

How to Make the Best Pull Apart Garlic Bread

First, let’s make the dough.

1. Activate the yeast. In a large bowl, combine ½ cup of warm water, yeast, and honey. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is foamy and bubbly—proof that the yeast is alive and ready.

1. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix in the flour, softened butter, and salt. Slowly add the remaining ½ cup of water, stirring as you go until the dough forms a soft, slightly sticky ball. If the dough feels too wet, sprinkle in a little more flour to make it manageable.

1. Knead the dough. Work the dough by hand or in a stand mixer with a dough hook for 7 to 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic. To check, press your thumb into the dough—if it springs back, it’s ready to rise.

1. Let the dough rest. Cover your bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm room until it doubles in size, about an hour.

Next, let’s whip up the garlic butter.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once it’s just melted, stir in the garlic, parsley, and Italian seasoning. Let it cook gently for about 2 minutes so all those flavors get cozy in the butter, then take it off the heat.

Finally, let’s shape and bake our bread.

1. Shape the dough. Once risen, roll the dough into a long tube about 1 inch thick. Slice into 1-inch pieces — these will be your pull-apart bites.

1. Toss in garlic butter. Drop the dough pieces into the saucepan with the garlic butter and toss gently to coat every bite fully.

1. Bake to golden perfection. Transfer the coated bites into a greased 8×4 inch loaf pan. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, until the bread is beautifully golden brown. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a lovely pop of color.

Recipe Variations

• Turn it cheesy. Add shredded parmesan or mozzarella cheese between dough bites before baking. The cheese melts into gooey pockets of flavor that everyone will love.
• Use store-bought dough. Short on time? Grab some premade pizza dough from the store—it’s a great shortcut that still tastes incredible.
• Make mini bite-sized rolls. Instead of one big loaf, place a few dough bites into each muffin cup. These mini versions make fun dinner rolls and are a hit with kids. Just bake a bit less time — keep an eye on them!
• Get festive with shapes. For holidays or special gatherings, arrange the dough bites in a bundt pan to make a wreath-shaped bread. Place a small bowl of pizza dip or marinara in the center for easy dipping.

How to Serve

This pull apart garlic bread shines as a tasty appetizer at dinner parties or as a comforting side alongside hearty Italian dishes. Here are some meals it pairs beautifully with:

• Stuffed Shells
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Vegetable Lasagna
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Pasta Bake with Sausage

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Patience is key for the dough. Dough rises differently depending on your kitchen’s temperature and humidity. Let it fully double in size for the best, fluffiest texture. Rushing it will leave you with denser bread.
• Keep butter gently melted. When coating the dough bites, make sure your garlic butter is just melted—not too hot to burn the garlic or butter. I like to prepare it right before shaping the dough for best timing.
• Knead well. Proper kneading activates gluten so the dough becomes smooth and elastic. If it feels loose or sticky after kneading, add a little flour and keep working it. A stand mixer with a dough hook makes this step easier if you have one.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Once your garlic bread cools to room temp, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. You can refrigerate it for longer storage, though the bread might dry out a bit.

How to Reheat

The best way to warm it up is to pop it in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for about 5-6 minutes. An air fryer works too—just 3-4 minutes will do. For a quick warm-up, microwave individual pieces for around 15 seconds, but avoid overheating or it gets chewy.

How to Freeze

If you happen to have leftovers (lucky you!), tightly wrap the bread in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing. It keeps well frozen, but honestly, this bread disappears way too fast to freeze often!

FAQ

How do you make pull apart garlic bread from scratch?

Many pull apart garlic bread recipes start with store-bought bread, but this one is all homemade—from the dough to the garlic butter. The dough is tender and enriched just right for pull-apart bites tossed with garlicky, herb-infused butter then baked until golden. Expect your family to love sneaking pieces straight from the pan!

How long does it take to make pull-apart garlic bread bites from scratch?

From start to finish, this recipe takes under 2 hours. That includes mixing and kneading the dough, letting it rise, shaping the bites, and baking. It’s a pretty quick homemade bread that’s perfect for weeknights or special occasions.

Can you make vegan pull-apart garlic bread?

Absolutely! Swap regular butter for a good quality vegan butter to keep that rich flavor. Replace honey with sugar or agave nectar to feed the yeast. The rest of the ingredients are naturally vegan-friendly, so you’ll have a delicious plant-based version in no time.