These homemade breadsticks are an Olive Garden copycat, but we think they’re actually better than the restaurant. They’re soft, fluffy, and perfectly seasoned; nothing beats serving them fresh from the oven. This Olive Garden Breadsticks recipe is my answer to those cravings that hit on soup and salad night. In This Article Amy’s NotesKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat To Serve with Olive Garden BreadsticksVideo: Watch Us Make This RecipeOlive Garden Breadsticks Recipe RecipeFrequently Asked QuestionsMore to Cook and Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Amy’s Notes My family devours these breadsticks, and I love that I can easily bake restaurant-quality bread at home. Here’s what makes them special: Soft and Fluffy Inside: The dough rises beautifully, giving each breadstick that tender, airy texture you can pull apart with your fingers. It’s the same kind of softness I love in these Easy Garlic Parmesan Knots. Golden and Buttery Outside: A double brush of melted butter gives the breadsticks their signature shine and rich flavor. Simple Pantry Ingredients: No fancy flours or special tools here – just yeast, flour, butter, and a little time. Perfect for Dipping: These breadsticks are made for dunking. Whether it’s marinara, soup, or a creamy salad dressing, they soak it all up perfectly, just like a slice of Rosemary Garlic Bread. Homemade Comfort: There’s something special about baking bread from scratch. The smell alone makes the kitchen feel cozy, and the taste is unbeatable. Key Recipe Ingredients Active Dry Yeast – Helps the dough rise and gives the breadsticks their soft, fluffy texture. You can use instant yeast instead; just use 2 teaspoons and skip the proofing step. Warm Water – Activates the yeast and brings the dough together. Make sure it’s around 115°F so the yeast can bloom properly without getting killed by heat. All-Purpose Flour – The base of the dough that provides structure and chew. Add a little more if the dough feels too sticky. Butter – Adds richness and tenderness to the dough. Use real butter for the best flavor; salted or unsalted both work fine. Garlic Powder – Adds that classic Olive Garden flavor without overpowering the buttery base. Parmesan Cheese – A small sprinkle gives a salty, nutty finish that pairs perfectly with the garlic butter. Substitutions And Variations Here are some of our favorite substitutions and variations: Extra Cheese: I like to sprinkle shredded mozzarella or extra Parmesan on top right after brushing with butter. It melts into a gooey, golden layer that’s hard to resist. Extra Garlic Flavor: Add a bit more garlic powder or even fresh minced garlic to the melted butter before brushing. It gives a stronger garlic flavor that’s perfect for dipping. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Sprinkle yeast into warm water and let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy. Add dry ingredients to yeast mixture. Combine till a sticky dough comes together. Add one tablespoon of flour at a time until it feels right. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead. Knead for 5 minutes until dough is smooth. Cut into 16 equal pieces. Roll into 2-foot-long logs and allow them to rise. Brush butter and sprinkle kosher salt before baking for 13-14 minutes. Brush hot breadsticks with butter and sprinkle topping mixture. Serve immediately. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe: Prep Topping: Prep your topping ingredients while the dough is rising. It helps to have melted butter and seasonings ready to go. Prep the Dough Early: You can make the dough up to a day in advance. After kneading, cover it tightly and refrigerate overnight. Let it come to room temperature and rise before shaping and baking. I love making these Olive Garden Breadsticks because they remind me of how simple homemade bread can be. What To Serve with Olive Garden Breadsticks Main Dishes These warm, buttery breadsticks pair beautifully with hearty pasta dinners. We love serving them alongside Rigatoni Bolognese for a comforting Italian meal. They’re also perfect with baked pasta favorites like Baked Rigatoni, Cheesy Creamy Baked Ziti, or a cozy bowl of Penne with Vodka Sauce. Soups and Stews These soft breadsticks are made for dipping into warm, flavorful soups. Try them with other Olive Garden copycat recipes like my Pasta e Fagioli or Zuppa Toscana for that restaurant-style comfort at home. They’re just as delicious with Minestrone Soup or a hearty Tuscan Style Beef Stew for a satisfying, cozy meal. Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe Print Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe With basic pantry ingredients, you can easily make fluffy soft Olive-Garden Style Breadsticks fresh out of your own oven. Course BreadCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianMethod Bake Prep Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutesCook Time 13 minutes minutesTotal Time 1 hour hour 43 minutes minutes Servings 16 Calories 169kcal Author Amy Dong IngredientsFor the Dough¼ ounce active dry yeast or 2 1/4 teaspoons¼ cup water warm, 115F4 ½ cups all purpose flour plus more if needed2 tablespoons butter softened (not melted at all)2 tablespoons white sugar1 tablespoon table salt fine, not coarse1 ¼ cups warm water plus 2 tablespoonscooking oil spray of your choiceFor the Coating/Topping:4 tablespoons butter melted½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt¼ teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese finely grated 1 teaspoon dried oregano basil or Italian blend work, too InstructionsSprinkle yeast into 1/4 cup warm (115 F) water.  Let sit about 10 minutes, until foamy. Slowly add flour, butter, sugar, table salt, and warm water (1 1/4 cups + 2 TB). Mix until dough forms.  Dough should be just a little bit sticky, but still able to easily form a ball (similar to Play-Doh, just slightly stickier). If dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until your dough reaches right consistency.Knead dough by hand on lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, or until dough becomes smooth and soft. Roll dough into a 2-foot log.  With sharp knife, cut into 16 even pieces.  Keep pieces covered with clean cloth.Knead each piece slightly and shape into 7-inch long breadstick.  Place breadsticks 2 inches apart on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet. Spray breadsticks with oil and cover with cloth.  Let rise in draft-free, warm spot until size of dough has doubled — about 45 min to 1 hour.While dough is rising, prepare the topping and preheat oven to 400F, with rack on lower middle position. After rising, gently brush breadsticks with half of the melted butter and sprinkle evenly with kosher salt.Bake until lightly golden, about 13-14 minutes.  Watch closely to prevent over browning.Brush hot breadsticks with remaining melted butter. Sprinkle evenly with salt, garlic powder, parmesan, and oregano. Serve immediately.  Video Notes Check your yeast freshness. Expired yeast won’t foam properly and can prevent the dough from rising. Always proof it in warm water before mixing. To substitute with instant dry yeast, use 2 teaspoons of instant yeast. Note that the prep time mentioned above includes dough-rising time. Use warm, not hot, water. Water around 115°F activates yeast without killing it. If it’s too hot, the dough won’t rise well. Don’t over-flour the dough. It should feel slightly tacky but still easy to handle. Too much flour can make the breadsticks dense. Serve warm. These breadsticks taste best fresh from the oven when they’re soft and fragrant. Reheat gently. If you have leftovers, warm them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes and brush with a little melted butter before serving. This recipe is part of our Bread Recipes Collection. We love serving them with other Olive Garden copycat recipes like my Pasta e Fagioli and Zuppa Toscana.   If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.5g | Protein: 3.8g | Fat: 4.7g | Saturated Fat: 2.7g | Cholesterol: 11.4mg | Sodium: 219.5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.6g Frequently Asked Questions Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast? Yes, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of instant yeast for the active dry yeast. There’s no need to proof it in warm water first – just mix it directly with the dry ingredients. What if my dough is too sticky? If the dough feels too sticky to handle, add a tablespoon of flour at a time until it becomes soft and slightly tacky. It should hold its shape easily without sticking to your hands too much. How long does it keep? Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze baked breadsticks for up to 2 months and reheat straight from frozen. More to Cook and Eat Easy Crostini Recipe – Salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy, this easy crostini recipe is an ideal appetizer for any occasion or holiday party. Homemade Mozzarella Sticks – Extra Crispy – These Homemade Mozzarella Sticks have an extra crispy coating that gives way to a gooey warm mozzarella for the best party appetizer! Crispy Toasted Ravioli Recipe – This Crispy Toasted Ravioli is oven-baked, not fried. Panko breadcrumbs provide extra crunch. Dip your baked ravioli in your favorite marinara sauce. Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread – Soft, chewy, cheesy, and full of garlic, this bread has everything you could ever want in a warm loaf and so much more.  The post Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe appeared first on Chew Out Loud.