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Soft Garlic Knots are the best side for any kind of dish, and so easy to make from scratch. This easy recipe has step by step instructions and photos!
Soft and fluffy and packed with flavor, your family and friends will, love these.
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below!
There is nothing quite like the smell, taste and feel of fresh homemade bread, right? I love to have a bread option to serve with dinner, they really round out a comfort food meal! When I’m not making my Red Lobster Biscuits, these are the next go-to recipe I use!
These garlic knots are perfect for serving alongside pretty much any family dinner. We love to eat these with Spaghetti Bolognese, Ravioli Lasagna. They are also great to set out as “bread for the table” whenever we have guests over.
You can serve as an appetizer as well. Just pour some marinara sauce into a bowl (choose your favorite, or make your own), and use as a dipping sauce.
This is an easy recipe that can be made ahead, frozen, or made right before serving. We make bread dough, let it go through the first rise, then punch down and shape into knots. Then, we bake and brush with a delicious garlic parmesan topping.
Typically, these are served in Italian pizzerias and are made of pizza dough. If you happen to pizza dough hanging about, by all means – use it for this! I use a basic bread roll recipe to create mine. See the tip box for more variations and options.
Why this recipe works
- Basic Ingredients. No need for a run to the store for anything crazy.
- Easy. This recipe can be made in a bread machine, in a stand mixer, or by hand.
- Homemade. Homemade is always better than anything you can buy.
I have included step by step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Kylee’s Notes & FAQs
What to do with leftovers
Store in a covered container at room temperature for 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until soft. You may wish to keep some of the garlic butter mixture to brush over before serving!
Can garlic knots be frozen?
Yes, absolutely. Freeze the knots after shaping, but before baking. Freeze on parchment paper, and when solid – remove to a freezer bag. Thaw on the counter and allow to rise for 30-45 minutes before baking and topping with garlic butter.
Substitutions/Additions
- You can replace the butter in the dough with olive oil for a more “pizza dough” type of flavor.
- You can use store-bought pizza dough, or frozen bread dough if you prefer.
- Biscuit dough will also work if that’s what you have access to!
- I use fresh garlic in my butter mixture. Using garlic powder will still get a great garlic flavor!
- Fresh parmesan cheese is fantastic! However, the powdered stuff from the green can is actually a little better for brushing on the knots.
- I use Italian seasoning in my butter mixtures, but dried parsley works very well also.
Recipe Ingredients and Possible Substitutes
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
How to make this recipe
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The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Make the topping
Combine the butter, garlic and Italian seasoning. Set aside.
Make the dough
Add the dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer. Blend together the wet ingredients and pour in. Mix with the paddle until a dough forms.
Switch up for the dough hook and need until smooth and elastic.
Transfer to bowl greased lightly with olive oil, cover and allow to rise to double in size (about an hour).
Punch down, and place on a floured surface
Shape the garlic knots.
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Divide dough into 24 pieces.
- Roll each strip into ropes, and tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.
- Place on a prepared baking sheet, and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30 minutes, up to 45 minutes).
- Brush with topping and bake the knots for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
- Devour.
More delicious bread recipes:
- Red Lobster Biscuits. Soft, fluffy biscuits packed with cheddar cheese, and brushed with flavorful garlic butter after baking, these cheddar biscuits are dreamy!
- Naan Bread. This is a great beginner recipe! This Naan bread recipe is so easy to make, and super yummy! We use yogurt to make this Indian style flatbread soft and fluffy, and it’s done in just a few hours.
- Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls. Quick and easy to make, these deliciously soft Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls make the perfect amount for your family! They make a hearty side to any dinner. Yum!
- Homemade Hamburger Buns. These soft rolls are so easy to make, taste amazing and go perfectly with burgers! Make these ahead for burger night!
- Fluffy Golden Skillet Cornbread – a cinch to make, and is a fantastic side for any meal!
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Homemade Garlic Knots
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups milk – warmed slightly
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbs melted butter
- 3 ¾ cups bread flour
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ¼ tsp yeast
TOPPING
- 2 Tbs butter (melted )
- 2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning ((can sub parsley, or leave it out))
Directions
Make the topping
STAND MIXER DIRECTIONS:
- Add the dry ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer.
- Blend together the wet ingredients and pour in.
- Mix with the paddle until a dough forms.
- Switch up for the dough hook and need until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer to bowl greased lightly with olive oil, cover and allow to rise to double in bulk (about an hour).
- Punch down, and divide into 24 pieces.
- Roll each strip into ropes, and tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.
- Place on a greased baking sheet, and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30-45 minutes)
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Brush rolls with topping and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
- Devour.
BREAD MACHINE DIRECTIONS:
- Add all ingredients to a bread machine, and use the dough function.
- When done, punch down, and divide into 24 strips.
- Roll each strip into ropes, and tie the dough into knots. Tuck the ends underneath the roll.
- Place on a greased baking sheet, and set somewhere warm until puffy (about 30-45 minutes)
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Brush rolls with topping and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
- Devour.
Video
Notes
- Brush with topping and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- Brush hot rolls with topping (and sprinkle with parmesan if desired)
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Heidi-lynn says
I love all your recipes. This is my boyfriends favourite appetizer. He would eat it everyday, 3 times a day if I allowed it lol thank you so much!! It’s an easy recipe to play with as well! I’ll serve it with gravy, or sit them together, touching in a spring form cake pan for pull apart greatness. I’ve even brushed with a cheesecake icing and mixed in some cinnamon and sugar for a desert variation. Just love love love! Thank you!
Ashley P says
These were amazing and easy to make! My family loved them. Next time I make them I’m going to try putting the butter on before I tie the knot so there’s butter and garlic throughout the knot. Also, I’ll likely add a bit of sea salt to the top after the final butter.
Kath says
I was surprised at how easy these were to make!! I did use about 5 tbsp butter for the topping as we like them dripping with butter once they’re removed from the oven. I did like the hint of sweetness to the rolls, but others might want to cut the sugar back to 3 tablespoons the first time you make these and take it from there.