This garlic bread cooks in the toaster oven and is ready in just 14 minutes. Whether you like you garlic bread soft or crispy, this recipe gives you both! Options for gluten-free garlic bread are included.
For more toaster oven recipes, be sure to check out my toaster oven roasted potatoes with lemon and herbs and easy crispy toaster oven chicken wings and juicy toaster oven chicken thighs.
Toaster Oven Baking
It’s possible to bake just about anything in the toaster oven. I have baked cakes, cookies, banana bread and more. The toaster oven is an excellent option for baking garlic bread. Using a large conventional oven is not necessary for one or even two loaves of garlic bread.
The only requirement is that you have a toaster oven that has temperature controls. There are many available these days and they are not terribly expensive. My favorite is the Breville Mini Toaster Oven. It’s great quality and doesn’t break the bank.
On super hot summer days when turning on my giant oven would cause too much heat, the toaster oven is the perfect alternative. It heats up to temperature way faster and since it’s smaller, it doesn’t generate as much heat in the kitchen. Maybe you live in a small space and only have a toaster oven? Maybe you’re in a dorm room? You’re in luck!
The biggest difference between baking in a conventional oven and a toaster oven is that the heat in a toaster oven is a little more intense. The pan or whatever you’re baking is much closer to the heating elements so things bake faster and brown more. For most recipes, I’ll reduce the baking temperature by 5 to 25Β°F.
Soft or Crispy Garlic Bread?
Personally I’m a fan of garlic bread that is super buttery and soft in the middle but crispy on the edges. I know that many people like their garlic bread more on the soft side. I’ll give you the cooking method for each one of these options.
For crispy garlic bread, the baguette should cook directly on the oven rack. This will allow the heat to completely access every edge of the bread.
If you like your garlic bread more soft, wrap the buttered baguette in tin foil and bake for 7 minutes directly on the oven rack-no pan is needed. Flip it once halfway through baking.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Cheesy garlic bread is an easy twist. The cheese gives a wonderful tangy flavor that is incredibly delicious with garlic and butter. If making crispy garlic bread, sprinkle finely grated romano or parmesan on for the last 4 minutes of cook time. If making soft garlic bread, sprinkle a pinch of cheese between each slice of bread before baking.
Gluten-Free Baguettes
There are a couple of good options for gluten-free baguettes. By far the best gluten-free baguettes come from Against the Grain Gourmet. They are like no other gluten-free bread product you will try. Part of their secret is that they use mozzarella cheese in the bread which gives it this amazing chewy texture. Udi’s gluten-free baguettes are also a good option. Both of these brands are usually found in the frozen section with other gluten-free breads.
Schar has recently improved their baguette and I am pleased with the results. It is not like a traditional chewy baguette but the flavor and texture are good. This brand especially, is excellent for soft garlic bread. Schar baguettes are usually found in the gluten-free bread section, not the freezer section.
This garlic bread is the perfect side to my 10 minute gluten-free white sauce for pasta, vegan creamy pesto pasta or my no-tomato pasta sauce on your favorite pasta.
14 Minute Toaster Oven Garlic Bread
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Ingredients
- 1ο»Ώ ο»Ώ12-14 inch ο»Ώbaguette, aka demi baguette (gluten-free options above) or 1/2 of a 24" inch baguette fully baked*
Cο»Ώrispy Garlic Bread
- 3ο»Ώ ο»ΏTbsp ο»Ώunsalted butter
- ο»Ώ2 ο»Ώmedium-large ο»Ώsized garlic cloves
- ΒΌ tsp granulated garlic
- ο»Ώβ ο»Ώtsp ο»Ώsalt
- ΒΌ c grated parmesan or romano cheese (optional)
- 2 tsp chopped parsley (optional)
Sο»Ώoft Garlic Bread
- ο»Ώ6 ο»ΏTbsp ο»Ώunsalted butter
- 2-3 ο»Ώmedium-large ο»Ώsized garlic cloves
- ΒΌ ο»Ώtsp ο»Ώsalt
- Β½ tsp granulated garlic
- ΒΌ c grated parmesan or romano cheese (optional)
- 2 tsp chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400Β°F.
- ο»ΏPlace the garlic cloves on a cutting board and use the heel of your hand to smash the garlic cloves. This will loosen the peel and make it easier to remove. Discard the peel.
- Mince the garlic.
- ο»ΏPlace the butter, garlic pieces, granulated garlic and salt into a small pot over low-medium heat.
- ο»ΏOnce the butter is melted turn the heat to low and continue cooking for 2 minutes. This will allow the garlic to flavor the butter.
Crispy Garlic Bread
- While the butter is melting, slice the baguette longways in half and place in the toaster oven for 3 minutes. You may need to angle them slightly to make them fit. Remove from the oven.
- Spoon the garlic butter onto the cut sides of the baguette. If you have a pastry brush, spread the butter to make sure the entire surface is coated. If using, sprinkle with grated cheese.
- Place the baguette halves cut side up, directly on the toaster oven rack and bake 3 minutes more
- Slice into 1-2 inch pieces and serve hot with optional parsley garnish.
Soft Garlic Bread
- While the garlic butter is cooking, cut crosswise slits in the baguette cutting through the top and sides but leaving the bottom uncut.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the bread inside of the slits. Allow the pieces of chopped garlic to go on to the bread. I usually go through twice to make sure the bread is thoroughly coated.
- If using grated cheese, sprinkle some between each slice and sprinkle the rest on top.
- Wrap the loaf in tin foil and bake directly on the toaster oven rack for 3 minutes.
- Switch to broil (or toast mode), open the foil to expose the top of the bread and broil 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on it. All toaster ovens are different and yours may take slightly more or less time.
- Remove from the oven and slice through the slits to separate the pieces. Serve hot with optional parsley garnish.
- This garlic bread can be refrigerated. To reheat, bake at 350Β°F for 3-4 minutes.
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