Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Buttery and garlicky, AKA, heaven!
Texture: A lightly golden crust hides the soft and fluffy interior, with the perfect amount of chewy.
Ease: Homemade breadsticks may sound intimidating but there’s only a handful of ingredients. You can do this!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe: Better than the restaurant, and super impressive.
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I cannot tell you how positively tantalizing these breadsticks smell while baking.
As someone who went to culinary school and has studied the science of homemade bread, I’m not afraid to admit there’s nothing very fancy about this recipe.
In fact, it only has 7 ingredients. No complicated resting or rising periods. It’s about as simple as it gets.
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And yet, it transports me back to being a kid going to Olive Garden as a special treat, only to fill up entirely on breadsticks.
This homemade breadsticks recipe is about 1,000x better than the restaurant version. I promise, your whole family will go crazy for this copycat recipe at Sunday night dinner. Especially when paired with a rich soup or sauce for dipping!
You don’t need any fancy skills, equipment, or know-how to nail this recipe. You do need to be forewarned…
These breadsticks are positively irresistible!
Sprinkle of Science
3 Tips for Perfect Breadsticks:
- Water: Be sure to use water that is not too hot. Hot water will kill the yeast and prevent the breadsticks from rising. 100-110°F is perfect.
- The Sugar: There’s a little in these breadsticks to help activate the yeast, tenderize the breadsticks, and make them a little softer. Don’t skip the sugar! I promise you won’t find the breadsticks sweet. Learn more about sugar’s role in baking here.
- Measure correctly: Be sure to measure your ingredients correctly. When measuring by volume (using cups), it can be super easy to accidentally over-measure ingredients, especially flour. I highly recommend using a digital kitchen scale, but if you don’t have one, use the spoon-and-level method.
Do I Have to Use Bread Flour? Can I Use All-Purpose Flour Instead?
Bread flour has a higher level of protein content than all-purpose flour, which helps create taller, well-rounded breadsticks with a nice chewy, fluffy texture.
If you don’t have bread flour, use the same amount of all-purpose flour. Keep in mind that your kneading time will increase to properly develop the gluten and your breadsticks may turn out more soft than chewy.
Are Olive Garden Breadsticks Vegan?
These Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are not vegan. However, several readers have had success with Country Crock plant-based sticks (avocado oil-based) or using olive oil in the dough and Earth Balance for the topping. If you give anything else a try, let me know how it goes in the comments!
Which Yeast Should I Use for Breadsticks?
- This recipe utilizes a shortcut ingredient: instant yeast, also called rapid rise or quick rise yeast.
- One of the three should be available at most grocery stores, or you can buy my all-time favorite yeast on Amazon here.
- These types of yeast are specifically formulated to allow you to skip proofing. You can add instant yeast directly into the mix with all of the ingredients.
Help! I Only Have Active Dry Yeast!
If you don’t have or can’t find instant yeast, you can easily use active dry yeast instead at a 1:1 ratio. Add it right in with the dry ingredients like instant yeast, but just note that the dough will take about 20% longer to rise.
Alternatively, you can speed up that rise time slightly; simply combine it with the warm water and a pinch of the sugar called for in the recipe, and allow it to proof until it becomes bubbly (about 5 minutes) before adding into the bowl with the other ingredients. Learn more about the different types of yeast, and how to substitute yeasts, here.
Can I Knead the Dough By Hand?
Yes! Be sure to knead the dough properly so the breadsticks hold their shape and don’t become sad flat sticks. I call for a stand mixer to make easy work of kneading in this recipe, but you can also knead by hand. Be prepared for a bit of a workout, as you’ll need to knead by hand for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can see my full tutorial on how to knead dough here.
How to Tell When Dough Is Risen
- After kneading, shape the dough into a ball.
- Place in a lightly oiled mixing bowl. I like to use glass and take a picture so I can see how much it’s rising later.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, foil, or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free location. Ideal rise temperatures are between 80°F and 90°F. Lower temperatures will require more rising time.
- The dough is done rising when it’s about doubled in volume and passes the “ripe” test. Gently stick two fingers in the risen dough up to the second knuckle and then take them out. If the finger marks remain, the dough is ready for shaping. If not, cover and let the dough rise longer until it is.
How to Shape Breadsticks
- Once the dough is risen, press it down to deflate it slightly.
- Place the dough onto a clean surface (not a floured surface).
- Use a bench scraper to section the dough into 12 equal pieces. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly equal in size – but if you prefer, you can weigh the entire mass of dough, divide that number by 12, then portion each piece perfectly by weight.
- Roll each piece of dough into an 8-inch log. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly shaped.
How to Make Breadsticks Ahead of Time
Basically all yeast doughs can be made ahead of time and baked off later. Refrigerating stunts the rise time and can actually allow more flavor to develop!
Fridge option:
Allow the dough to rise once and shape the breadsticks. Once shaped, cover them well (so they don’t dry out) and place in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Bring to room temperature as the oven preheats before baking as the recipe directs. If the breadsticks haven’t doubled in size yet, allow them to sit at room temperature until doubled.
Freezer option:
To make ahead further in advance, you can freeze the dough after it has risen for the first time and been shaped into logs.
Place the shaped breadsticks on a baking tray lined with parchment, freezing just until solid, and then transfer to a ziptop bag or airtight container to store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Once ready to bake, place the frozen breadsticks on parchment-lined baking trays and allow to thaw to room temperature. Let rise until an indentation made with your finger into the dough remains. Proceed with the recipe as written.
Can I Double This Recipe?
Yes, if you have a large enough mixer (at least 6 quarts). Most home mixer bowls won’t mix such a big batch of dough well enough.
If you’re using a 5-quart tilt-head mixer, your mixer may become overheated with that amount of dough. So I recommend simply making a single batch of dough twice.
How Long Will These Breadsticks Keep?
Breadsticks are best served right out of the oven, but they will keep for 3 days in an airtight container.
To refresh, place the breadsticks on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven at 425°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also re-brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt at this point, if you wish.
How to Freeze Breadsticks
Place the baked, cooled breadsticks in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours, then place the breadsticks on a baking sheet and reheat in the oven at 425°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through.
You can also re-brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt at this point, if you wish, before serving.
What to Serve with Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks:
- A side salad
- Marinara sauce
- Creamy soup, like my Pot Pie Soup
- Your favorite pasta dish
More Recipes You’ll Love:
Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
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Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (250 grams) warm water, about 100-110°F*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 3/4 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 3 cups (381 grams) bread flour, plus more as needed**
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Prepare two baking sheets lined with parchment paper and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine the water, yeast, sugar, melted butter, and salt. Begin to gradually add the flour while the mixer runs on low speed. Increase speed to medium and knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes, or until it is tacky and very elastic. Add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, if the dough is extremely sticky.
- Remove the dough and place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours (the exact proof time will depend on your kitchen environment; the warmer it is, the faster your dough will proof).
- Once doubled in size, divide the dough into 12 portions (use your kitchen scale for accuracy, but it should be approximately 57 grams per piece). Roll each piece of dough into an 8-inch log. Place the dough logs on your parchment-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Cover, and let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately brush with melted butter. Combine the salt and garlic powder and sprinkle evenly over breadsticks. Serve warm.
- To refresh, place the breadsticks on a baking sheet, and reheat in the oven at 425°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also re-brush with butter and sprinkle again with garlic powder and salt, if you wish.
Recipe Notes
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This post was originally published in 2013 and updated in 2023 with new photos and recipe improvements. Photos by Joanie Simon.
I’d like to make these for a family dinner. Do you know how well they will hold up/taste if I make them the day before and reheat? Or could I make the dough the day before and bake the next day? Thanks!
These reheat pretty well in the oven! And you can always make the dough ahead of time 🙂
It seems that I cann’t see some pictures from your website, maybe something wrong with my net, but it is very good tip for making bread, I like baking, thanks very much
Hi! Just follwed your recipe and it turned out well. My breadsticks were just as you described- it was soft yet chewy throughout. I didn’t get the golden crust though- my bread was done before it has the chance to brown at the top. (The bottom was a different issue however, it was really browned but not bitter thank goodness. And it was really crunchy which I really liked)
Anyway, is it supposed to be a bit sweet? I can definitely taste the sugar on my batch. Next time, I’ll halve the sugar on the dough.
I only made half the recipe btw because those breadsticks are huge to my liking. I made 12 1-oz pieces instead and it was perfect for us. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you sooo much for sharing. We don’t have Olive Garden in Germany, but I have been in the US and tried them and was really glad I was able to serve these to my family here. I made them quite a few times and everybody just loves them. Thank you!!
I’ve been using this recipe for a little while now and my family is absolutely in love with it! Thank you for sharing it!
These came out great! 2 tbsp. of butter for the topping sounded like a lot, but it’s definitely not. Also I added oregano to the topping. Yummy!
Yummy… Bread… butter… garlic… I just can’t have enough of them.
I have a big italian dinner in the spring. I’d like to make these a couple of weeks in advance and freeze them. ANy suggestions?
thankyou very much
Uhmmm, just want to say that you are missing the alfredo sauce (recipe) that used to be served with the breadsticks at Olive Garden. Now, we have to request the alfredo sauce separately and I’m not sure that we don”t pay extra for it. Little serving dishes of sauce for each person makes it OK to double dip, LOL. I think there is a low fat recipe available on the net. Good breadstick recipe!
Speed method- Make the dough as directed using a metal or glass bowl. Bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer and set the bowl with dough in it on the sauce pan. Make sure you oiled the bowl as directed and oiled the top of the dough and placed plastic wrap over it directly on top of the dough, not across the top of the bowl ( helps keep the warmth in). Let it sit for about 20 minutes, or doubled in size. Reheat the sauce pan of water to boiling and heat your oven to the WARM setting. Roll your dough out as directed and put the sheet of breadsticks and the pan of boiling water in the oven. Let it sit until almost doubled, then remove both pans and heat the oven the rest of the way, keeping the bread sticks warm. Cook as directed.
Makes super soft, light and fluffy, breadsticks in a fraction of the time! I started the recipe at 5 and my family finished eating all the breadsticks by 7 if that tells you anything. Less than 1.5 hours for fabulous breadsticks hot from the oven!
I made these last night and they turned out amazing! AND…I have to confess I probably did everything wrong. (i.e. I used regular flour, I rushed the rising process with a warm oven by almost an hour, and I put them too close together on the baking sheet so they were touching after the second rise). So that’s how good this recipe is…If I can do it all messed up and still get amazing breadsticks you know it’s a ‘keeper’!!! >)
I’m so happy they turned out for you despite the changes you had to make. Thanks for leaving a comment!