Olive Garden Bread Sticks (Copycat Recipe)

These easy to make Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re soft and fluffy, yet perfectly chewy with that signature buttery garlic flavor that makes them completely irresistible. 

 

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

One of the things Olive Garden is famous for is that yummy Italian salad and those irresistibly soft and chewy unlimited breadsticks! Don’t get me wrong, there are other fabulous copycat recipes from Olive Garden that are always crowd pleaser, like this Chicken Fettucine and this Alfredo Sauce (that’s perfect for dipping these breadsticks in)!. But let’s face it, those garlicy breadsticks are the best. Now, you can make them in your own kitchen with just a few basic ingredients.

If making homemade bread seems intimidating, these copycat breadsticks are going to be a huge confidence builder. With only a handful of ingredients and super easy step-by-step instructions, you’ll make the most amazing breadsticks every single time. 

They’re perfect with any of your favorite soups, salads ,or pasta dishes. Or you can simply serve them with a side of marinara sauce or Alfredo sauce or any of your favorite sauce recipes that would be good for dipping.

Why We Love This Recipe

• Perfect texture: One of the best things about this easy breadsticks recipe is how the dough bakes up so fluffy, soft with a slightly chewy texture.
• Easy recipe: With simple ingredients and a few easy steps you can have endless breadsticks anytime the craving hits!
• Freezer friendly: You can freeze the dough before baking, or the baked bread sticks.

Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe Ingredients

• Lukewarm water (110° – 115° F)
• Active dry yeast
• Sugar (or honey)
• Bread flour
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Unsalted butter
• Garlic powder
• Fine sea salt

Olive Garden Breadstick Recipe Tools

• Stand Mixer with large bowl
• Sheet pan
• Parchment paper or silpat
• Large glass bowl
• Small mixing bowl
• Measuring cups

How to Make Homemade Bread Sticks Just Like Olive Garden

1. Prepare the Yeast

• Place the warm water, yeast, and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir. 
• Let stand for 10 minutes until frothy.

2. Add Dry Ingredients

• Add the oil, 3 ½ cups of flour and salt to the yeast mixture and use the paddle attachment until combined. 

3. Knead the Breadstick Dough

• Using the dough hook, turn on low speed, adding a little of the remaining flour as needed until the dough isn’t sticky. 
• Then continue kneading on medium speed until the dough turns loose from the sides of the bowl and is smooth and elastic.

4. Rest the Breadstick Dough

• Roll the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. 
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place and let the dough rise for 1 hour.

5. Form the Breadsticks

• Place a little bit of additional flour on a flat surface.
• Punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal portions. An easy way to make sure they are equal is to use a kitchen scale to weight the pieces. They should be approximately 200 grams each.  
• On a floured surface, roll each dough piece into 9-inch-long rolls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or silpat liner.
• Cover and allow them to rise again for about 30 minutes.

6. Bake, Brush, and Serve!

• Heat the oven to 400° and bake them for 12 minutes or until they are golden brown.
• Melt butter in the microwave in a small bowl or on the stove in small sauce pan. Add the garlic powder and salt to the melted butter.
• Brush the garlic butter over the warm breadsticks.

Serve the buttery breadsticks warm.

Tips for Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

• Always check the expiration date on the yeast. If it has expired, it will cause your dough not to rise properly.
• Place the dough in a warm spot in the kitchen. I like to put mine in a closed microwave or inside the oven (not turned on) so it’s not as likely to experience temperature changes.
• A pro tip that bakers use to help bread rise nice and tall is to place a hot cup of water close to the dough. Yeast loves a warm moist environment.
• Let these breadsticks rise till doubled, then shape and rise again for best results. Don’t rush the second rise, it’s where you the best results for fluffy breadsticks.
• If you want the right shaped breadsticks, make sure to make them 9 inches long. If they are shorter, they will look like small rolls.
• If you make this dough recipe using instant yeast or rapid rise yeast, you won’t need to proof, just add with the flour.

Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks Recipe Variations

• Cheesy breadsticks: If there is one thing that goes with garlicky breadsticks, it’s parmesan cheese. A great way to add even more flavor to these amazing breadsticks is to top them with some finely grated parmesan cheese.
• Herb flavored: Add some dried Italian seasoning to the butter and garlic salt before brushing the tops. You can also add some to the dough for extra flavor.
• Dinner rolls: You can use this exact same recipe to make round dinner rolls too. Instead of making long stick shapes with the dough, just form the dough into balls.
• Cinnamon sugar breadsticks: After you form the breadsticks and place them on the sheet pan, brush the tops with melted butter. Make a cinnamon and granulated sugar mixture using ¼ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the dough, cover them and allow them to rise. You’ll bake them the same amount of time. 

Can I use all purpose flour for copycat olive garden breadsticks?

While you can use all-purpose flour in this recipe, bread flour will give you the best results. Bread flour contains more protein than regular flour. The more the protein in the flour the better the gluten develops. These means bread made with bread flour will have a lot more structure and will rise better. 

Olive Garden Bread Sticks Storage

Allow the breadsticks to cool to room temperature. Then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.

More like this Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks Recipe

• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
• Dollywood Cinnamon Bread
• The Best Carrot Cake Bread
• Eggnog Bread
• Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe
• Easter Resurrection Rolls