Olive Garden Breadsticks (Soft, Buttery & Garlic-Perfect!)
These Olive Garden–style Breadsticks are famous for their buttery softness, warm golden color, and irresistible garlic seasoning. They’re surprisingly simple to make at home, and the result is just as fluffy, tender, and addictive as the restaurant version. Serve them with pasta, soup, or salad — or enjoy them on their own fresh from the oven!
Ingredients
For the Breadsticks
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1 ½ cups warm water (110°F / 45°C)
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2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
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2 tbsp granulated sugar
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4 cups all-purpose flour
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2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
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1 tbsp salt
For the Topping
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¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
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1 tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp salt
Equipment
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Baking sheet
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Mixing bowls
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Stand mixer (optional)
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Kitchen towel
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Pastry/basting brush
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Oven
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar.
Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy and activated.
In a large bowl (or stand mixer), combine flour, softened butter, and salt.
Pour in the yeast mixture and knead 8–10 minutes until smooth, soft, and elastic.
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Punch down the dough and divide into 12–14 pieces.
Roll each into a 6–7 inch rope and arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cover and let rise 20–30 minutes until puffy.
Heat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bake breadsticks 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden.
Mix melted butter with garlic powder and salt.
Brush generously over warm breadsticks immediately out of the oven.
Serve warm for the full Olive Garden experience!
Notes
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Warm water matters: Must be around 110°F — too hot will kill the yeast, too cool won’t activate it.
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Don’t skip the second rise: This ensures the breadsticks stay fluffy instead of dense.
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Brush again before serving: For even more flavor, add a light second brushing of garlic butter.
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For extra softness: Cover the warm breadsticks with a towel for 5 minutes after baking.
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Want spicy breadsticks? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter topping.