Why go out, when you can enjoy Olive Garden Breadsticks at home? Spoiler alert: these might even be better than the ones you get at the restaurant!
Is Olive Garden the most authentic Italian restaurant? No. Yet can I eat just one of their famous breadsticks? Also, no! Fortunately, this is an easy copycat recipe, and I dare say they’re even better than the ones you get at the restaurant. They are soft, slightly sweet, and you can brush them with garlic butter to your heart’s content. The bonus? Knowing exactly what’s in the ones you make yourself.
The chain restaurant Olive Garden was started in 1982 in Orlando, Florida. They were at the forefront of the wave of popularity of all things Tuscan. Their motto, “When you’re here, you’re family,” encapsulates perfectly their Italian-American vibe, and iconic dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and chicken & shrimp carbonara are eclipsed only by their famous breadsticks. In a classic American twist, the breadsticks are unlimited, so you can enjoy as many as you like.
You will love making Olive Garden breadsticks because they are simple to make, even for cooks not used to working with yeast dough, and best of all, you can freeze them. Because really, who has time to whip up a whole batch of breadsticks on a Wednesday night in between soccer practice and homework? Make these on the weekend and freeze them so you can enjoy them anytime.
Are breadsticks even Italian?
Yes, breadsticks are a part of Italian cuisine, but like a lot of Olive Garden’s food, their version is an American spin on the Italian original. Historically, breadsticks have been long, thin, and crunchy. Those bear little resemblance to the breadsticks here. Olive Garden’s breadsticks are closest to the Italian bread called filone. Filone are long, soft and slightly sweet on the inside. However, Olive Garden added the garlic butter brushed on the outside of the finished bread and made theirs a bit smaller than the traditional filone.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftovers can be kept at room temperature, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days. The breadsticks can also be frozen in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.
Serving suggestions
Olive Garden breadsticks are great with any kind of pasta or saucy dish. For instance, they instantly transform a bowl of regular old Spaghetti And Meatballs into a feast. Olive Garden breadsticks are also delicious with traditional Lasagna Bolognese Béchamel, or Meatless Lasagna. However, you don’t have to be eating pasta-based dishes to enjoy these breadsticks. I love them with dinner salads like Grilled Chicken Salad or with a bowl of hearty White Bean Soup.
Olive Garden Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm tap water 100-110°F
- 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 4 1/2 cups bread flour plus extra for kneading
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (for topping)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly.
- Add bread flour, salt, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Stir until a soft, tacky dough forms. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
- Transfer the dough into a greased bowl, cover it, and allow it to rise in a warm area for approximately 1 hour, or until it has doubled in volume.
- Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into an 8-inch log and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Cover the logs and let them rise for 20 minutes.
- Set the oven to 400°F and bake the breadsticks for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove them from the oven, brush with the extra melted butter, and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. Serve warm.
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