Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

Make soft, warm, and buttery Olive Garden style breadsticks at home with this easy recipe. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the perfect dough and baking technique for restaurant-quality breadsticks every time. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Biscuits and Sausage Gravy Breakfast Pizza Recipe and Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Potato Casserole for Dinner.

What You'll Need for Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• Optional: Melted butter for brushing
• Optional: Garlic herb butter for dipping

How to Make Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and instant yeast. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat water, milk, butter, and sugar in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until warm. Add the egg and olive oil, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If using a stand mixer, knead on medium-low speed for 5 minutes.
3. Let the dough rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Shape the breadsticks: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 12 inches long, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Let the breadsticks rise again: Cover the shaped breadsticks with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until puffy.
6. Bake the breadsticks: Bake the breadsticks for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter immediately after removing from the oven.

Storing & Reheating Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Make-ahead tip: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Freezing Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-10 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a garlic Parmesan twist, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese and minced garlic on the breadsticks before baking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour, but the breadsticks may not be as chewy.
• Make-ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are not rising, make sure your yeast is fresh and your dough is not too cold.

Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

25 mins

⏳

Total

40 mins

🍽

Serves

12 breadsticks

🥗

Diet

Vegetarian

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp olive oil

Seasonings

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Optional Toppings

• Melted butter for brushing
• Garlic herb butter for dipping

Instructions

1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and instant yeast. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat water, milk, butter, and sugar in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until warm. Add the egg and olive oil, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. If using a stand mixer, knead on medium-low speed for 5 minutes.
3. Let the dough rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Shape the breadsticks: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 12 inches long, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Let the breadsticks rise again: Cover the shaped breadsticks with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until puffy.
6. Bake the breadsticks: Bake the breadsticks for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter immediately after removing from the oven.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a garlic Parmesan twist, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese and minced garlic on the breadsticks before baking.
• Best substitution: You can substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour, but the breadsticks may not be as chewy.
• Make-ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your breadsticks are not rising, make sure your yeast is fresh and your dough is not too cold.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-10 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but be careful not to make them soggy.
• Make ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 170
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 3g
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 280mg
• Cholesterol: 25mg
• Sat. Fat: 1.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!