Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe

Easy Homemade Olive Garden-style Breadsticks — Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these homemade breadsticks are better than takeout and perfect for dipping in warm marinara. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting that perfect Olive Garden texture every time. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Ravioli Soup Recipe with Spinach and Parmesan and Creamy Peach Protein Shake for Quick Summer Breakfast.

What You'll Need for Crispy 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
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup water, warm
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted for brushing
• 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
• Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
• Optional: Garlic powder or garlic salt for extra flavor
• Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

How to Make Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe

1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, yeast, and dry milk. In another bowl, mix melted butter, water, eggs, and sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead and let rise: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Shape the breadsticks: Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch rope and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let rise, covered, for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat and bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Brush and serve: Brush the hot breadsticks with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Serve warm with marinara or garlic butter for dipping.

Storing & Reheating Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.

Freezing Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe

Freeze shaped, uncooked breadsticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat leftover breadsticks in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 5-10 minutes. Microwave: Reheating in the microwave will make the breadsticks soggy.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a garlic butter option, mix 1/4 cup melted butter with 1 minced garlic clove and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
• Best substitution: All-purpose flour can be substituted for bread flour, but the texture may be slightly different.
• Make-ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour; if it's too dry, add a bit more water. If the breadsticks are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.

Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe

⏱

Prep

1 hour, 15 minutes

🍳

Cook

15 minutes

⏳

Total

1 hour, 30 minutes

🍽

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
• 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup water, warm
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp olive oil

Seasonings

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted for brushing
• 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
• Coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Optional Toppings

• Garlic powder or garlic salt for extra flavor
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

1. Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, yeast, and dry milk. In another bowl, mix melted butter, water, eggs, and sugar. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead and let rise: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Shape the breadsticks: Punch down the dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch rope and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let rise, covered, for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat and bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the breadsticks for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Brush and serve: Brush the hot breadsticks with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Serve warm with marinara or garlic butter for dipping.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a garlic butter option, mix 1/4 cup melted butter with 1 minced garlic clove and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
• Best substitution: All-purpose flour can be substituted for bread flour, but the texture may be slightly different.
• Make-ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
• Troubleshooting: If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour; if it's too dry, add a bit more water. If the breadsticks are browning too quickly, tent the pan with aluminum foil.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze shaped, uncooked breadsticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time.
• Oven reheat: Reheat leftover breadsticks in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 5-10 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheating in the microwave will make the breadsticks soggy.
• Make ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 210
• Protein: 7g
• Fat: 6g
• Carbs: 33g
• Fiber: 1.5g
• Sugar: 2.5g
• Sodium: 350mg
• Cholesterol: 50mg
• Sat. Fat: 3.5g

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

Crispy Olive Garden-Style Breadsticks Recipe FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Crispy 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!