By Becky Hardin
Published Feb 17, 2023
Olive Garden breadsticks are simply the best! They are light, buttery, and garlicky and complement just about anything, especially pasta dishes and hearty soups. Just like the restaurant originals, this copycat recipe is so darned good and addictive!
- Pin this recipe for later!
What’s in this Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe?
You mostly need pantry staples like flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and oil to make up the base of these classic breadsticks. Here’s a rundown:
- Water: Warm water adds moisture to the dough and helps to activate the yeast for a strong rise.
- Milk: Whole milk enriches the dough and gives it a soft crumb. You can use any kind of milk you have on hand, including plant-based milk , but whole milk yields the most tender bread.
- Yeast: Active dry yeast gives lift to the bread. You can use instant yeast if you prefer.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar feeds the yeast to help it become more active.
- Flour: All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough. For chewier breadsticks, you can use bread flour instead.
- Salt: Kosher salt adds flavor to the dough and the topping. If using a finer-grain salt, like sea salt, cut the amount in half.
- Oil: Olive oil adds moisture and flavor to the dough, allowing it to brown beautifully in the oven. You can use vegetable oil or melted butter if you prefer, but I love the flavor of olive oil.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder gives these breadsticks their classic garlicky flavor.
- Butter: Unsalted butter lends a buttery flavor to these breadsticks. You can use non-dairy butter or olive oil in place of the butter.
- Cheese : Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami kick to these breadsticks. You can use provolone or asiago instead, or feel free to skip the cheese.
Pro Tip: Feel free to create your own seasoning blend to top the breadsticks with. Swap the garlic powder for Italian seasoning !
A Sweet Take on Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
For sweet breadsticks, reduce the salt in the dough to 1 teaspoon, and swap the garlic powder for a mix of cinnamon and sugar!
Trademark Note : In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that this is a copycat recipe for an existing product. Olive Garden is a proprietary brand to which I want to acknowledge and give credit.
The real-deal Olive Garden breadsticks are vegan, but ours are not due to the addition of real butter and milk. You can make these breadsticks vegan by using plant-based milk and butter or olive oil in place of the butter.
Because the real Olive Garden breadsticks are vegan, they are also dairy-free. Ours are not. Follow the above guidelines for making these breadsticks vegan to make them dairy-free.
To bloom yeast means to dissolve it in warm liquid (often with a little bit of sugar) and leave it for a few minutes or until foamy. Proofing yeast ensures it is alive and vigorous enough to make your dough rise.
If your yeast does not froth after standing for 5 minutes, it may be dead, or the milk may have been too hot and killed the yeast. To test the temperature of the milk without a thermometer, stick a clean pinky finger halfway into the milk. If you are unable to leave your finger in the milk for at least 5-8 seconds, it is too hot and will kill the yeast.
Dense or heavy breadsticks are usually caused by not kneading the dough long enough. Be sure to knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. If your dough is properly kneaded, it should slowly spring back when pressed with one finger. If it springs back too quickly, it is under-kneaded. If it does not spring back at all, it is over-kneaded. The same tips can be used to tell if the dough has been proofed enough. Too springy means under-proofed, and not springy enough means over-proofed.
An Olive Garden breadstick has 140 calories. Ours are a bit more calorie-dense at 194 calories, but we don’t skimp on flavor!
How to Make Ahead and Store Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks
The dough can be prepared through step 5 and placed in the refrigerator to rise slowly for up to 24 hours before shaping. You can also prep the dough through step 6 and place it in the freezer for later use. Simply remove the frozen shaped breadsticks from the freezer, allow them to thaw, let them rise, and bake as directed.
Store leftover Olive Garden breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
How to Freeze and Reheat Olive Garden Breadsticks with Garlic Topping
Freeze Olive Garden breadsticks in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container to store for up to 6 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying at room temperature or warmed in the microwave or in a 325°F oven for 5 minutes.
What to Serve with Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks
Olive Garden breadsticks are so good you may forget that you were planning to eat anything else for dinner! They’re great simply dipped in marinara sauce or ranch dressing or served alongside a warming bowl of Italian wedding soup or zuppa toscana .
For a complete meal, serve them with Italian classics, like Grandma’s best meatballs , instant pot spaghetti , baked ziti , stuffed shells , or baked mostaccioli . Or go for something creamy and light, like penne alla vodka , cacio e pepe , chicken piccata , or chicken alfredo .
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Breadsticks
- ▢ 1 cup water 227 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons whole milk 28 grams
- ▢ 1¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 4 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25 grams, divided
- ▢ 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour 360-420 grams
- ▢ 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt 5 grams
- ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil 25 grams
For the Garlic Butter Topping
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams
- ▢ Parmesan cheese optional, for topping
Video
Instructions
- Combine the water and milk in a saucepan and heat until the mixture is 110-115°F. 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons whole milk
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk the water-milk mixture, yeast, and ½ teaspoon granulated sugar together. Allow to bloom for 10 minutes. 1¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Add in the remaining sugar, 3 cups flour, salt and olive oil. Blend together until well combined, adding more flour 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour, 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt, 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Switch the mixer to the dough hook attachment and knead on low speed for 7-8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Transfer the dough to a large oiled mixing bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and allow it to rest for 45-90 minutes in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down, then divide it into twelve 2-ounce portions (about 56 grams each). Roll each piece into a 9-inch rope on a lightly floured surface, then transfer to 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
- Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
- While the dough rises, preheat oven to 425°F.
- Bake the breadsticks for 11-13 minutes. until golden brown.
- In a small bowl, whisk together kosher salt and garlic powder. In a separate bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Remove the breadsticks from the oven, brush with melted butter, then sprinkle with the garlic-salt mixture. Garnish with Parmesan, if desired, and serve warm. Parmesan cheese
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- 2 Baking Sheet
Becky’s Tips
- You can use any kind of milk you have on hand, including plant-based milk, instead of whole milk.
- You can use non-dairy butter or olive oil in place of the butter.
- Feel free to create your own seasoning blend to top the breadsticks with. Swap the garlic powder for Italian seasoning !
- Feel free to sprinkle these breadsticks with provolone or asiago cheese instead of Parmesan.
- For sweet breadsticks, reduce the salt in the dough to 1 teaspoon, and swap the garlic powder for a mix of cinnamon and sugar!
- If your yeast isn’t foamy after 10 minutes, discard it and start again!
- Measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dry, dense breadsticks.
- Knead the dough until it springs back slowly when pressed gently with 1 finger.
- Proof the dough until it springs back gently when pressed with 1 finger.
- Take care not to overbake the breadsticks or they will become dry.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Olive Garden Copycat Recipes We Love
- Olive Garden Salad
- Olive Garden Italian Dressing
- Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- 2 Baking Sheet
Ingredients
For the Breadsticks
- 1 cup water 227 grams
- 2 tablespoons whole milk 28 grams
- 1¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 4 grams
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25 grams, divided
- 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour 360-420 grams
- 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt 5 grams
- 3 tablespoons olive oil 25 grams
For the Garlic Butter Topping
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams
- Parmesan cheese optional, for topping
Instructions
- Combine the water and milk in a saucepan and heat until the mixture is 110-115°F. 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons whole milk
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk the water-milk mixture, yeast, and ½ teaspoon granulated sugar together. Allow to bloom for 10 minutes. 1¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Add in the remaining sugar, 3 cups flour, salt and olive oil. Blend together until well combined, adding more flour 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. 3-3½ cups all-purpose flour, 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt, 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Switch the mixer to the dough hook attachment and knead on low speed for 7-8 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Transfer the dough to a large oiled mixing bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and allow it to rest for 45-90 minutes in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down, then divide it into twelve 2-ounce portions (about 56 grams each). Roll each piece into a 9-inch rope on a lightly floured surface, then transfer to 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
- Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
- While the dough rises, preheat oven to 425°F.
- Bake the breadsticks for 11-13 minutes. until golden brown.
- In a small bowl, whisk together kosher salt and garlic powder. In a separate bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Remove the breadsticks from the oven, brush with melted butter, then sprinkle with the garlic-salt mixture. Garnish with Parmesan, if desired, and serve warm. Parmesan cheese
Video
Notes
- You can use any kind of milk you have on hand, including plant-based milk, instead of whole milk.
- You can use non-dairy butter or olive oil in place of the butter.
- Feel free to create your own seasoning blend to top the breadsticks with. Swap the garlic powder for Italian seasoning !
- Feel free to sprinkle these breadsticks with provolone or asiago cheese instead of Parmesan.
- For sweet breadsticks, reduce the salt in the dough to 1 teaspoon, and swap the garlic powder for a mix of cinnamon and sugar!
- If your yeast isn’t foamy after 10 minutes, discard it and start again!
- Measure your flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dry, dense breadsticks.
- Knead the dough until it springs back slowly when pressed gently with 1 finger.
- Proof the dough until it springs back gently when pressed with 1 finger.
- Take care not to overbake the breadsticks or they will become dry.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
