Irresistible Sourdough Garlic Bread Recipe You’ll Crave

Just when you thought freshly baked sourdough couldn’t get any better, enter homemade sourdough garlic bread. This version relies on soft, sweet roasted garlic and a sturdy sourdough loaf for maximum flavor and texture.

The roasted garlic is the key: it mellows and caramelizes the garlic, giving the bread a rich, deep garlic flavor without the harsh bite of raw garlic. Use your favorite sourdough loaf — homemade or store-bought — and, if you like, spread with homemade butter for an extra-special touch.

This cheesy sourdough garlic bread works with many styles of sourdough. Below are a few loaf suggestions that bake and hold up well for this recipe.

Which Sourdough Bread To Use?

You can use any sourdough you prefer, including quality store-bought loaves. That said, certain loaves lend themselves especially well to garlic bread:

• Sourdough baguettes — slice lengthwise or accordion-style for a restaurant-like presentation.
• Sourdough pane di casa — a simple, soft loaf; consider making smaller loaves so they fit easily in a pan and are perfect for sharing.
• Classic sourdough boules or batards — these produce a rustic, chewy garlic bread when sliced and spread.
• Small-batch sourdough loaves — smaller loaves make nicely sized portions for garlic bread.

How To Make Sourdough Garlic Bread

Making sourdough garlic bread is straightforward. The most time-consuming part is baking the sourdough itself, if you choose to make it from scratch. Roasting the garlic is highly recommended — it transforms the flavor and ensures a smooth, spreadable texture.

Basic method:

1. Slice each loaf about 1 cm apart, stopping before you cut through the bottom so the slices stay attached.
2. In a bowl, combine soft butter, finely chopped parsley, salt, 20 g of grated Parmesan and the cooled roasted garlic. Mash the garlic into the butter with a fork until well blended.
3. Spread the roasted garlic butter generously between the slices and a little on top of the loaf so every piece gets flavor.
4. Place each loaf on a sheet of aluminum foil, sprinkle the remaining 20 g of Parmesan over the top, and wrap the loaf in foil.
5. Bake at 180°C (356°F) for about 15 minutes, then open the foil slightly and return to the oven for 4–6 minutes to allow the cheese to brown and bubble.
6. Remove from foil, sprinkle with chopped chives or extra parsley, and serve warm.

Why Roasted Garlic?

Roasting garlic softens the cloves and brings out a sweet, caramelized flavor. It tames raw garlic’s sharpness and adds a mellow, buttery note that spreads easily into the butter mixture. If you’ve ever eaten garlic bread that burned your mouth, that was likely from raw garlic — roasted garlic avoids that problem and gives a richer, more balanced taste.

What Else Can You Add?

This garlic bread is delicious as written, but you can easily adapt it to suit preferences or pantry items:

• Swap or add herbs: rosemary, thyme, chives or basil all complement the garlic butter.
• Add different cheeses: shredded cheddar or mozzarella create a gooey, cheesier result.
• Turn it into a quick pizza-style bread: top with marinara sauce and extra mozzarella, then bake until bubbly.

Want More Garlic Recipes?

If you enjoy this sourdough garlic bread, you may like other garlic-forward recipes such as garlic bread bites, whipped herb butter for spreading on fresh bread, or savory sourdough crackers with Parmesan and rosemary. These variations make excellent snacks, sides, or party bites.

• Sourdough garlic bread bites
• Whipped herb butter for spreading on sourdough
• Sourdough discard crackers with Parmesan and rosemary
• Jalapeño cheddar sourdough for a spicy twist