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Soft, light, and buttery, this homemade Breadsticks recipe is so easy to make from scratch. Brushed with butter and sprinkled with garlic and parmesan, these breadsticks taste like they came straight out of a restaurant! They go with any meal and even make for a delicious snack!

A plate with a breadstick torn in half with sauce and more bread in the background.

There’s nothing better than a soft, buttery breadstick to go with a meal. These homemade breadsticks have a beautiful golden crust with a soft and fluffy center that will make you reach for a second serving. These restaurant-quality breadsticks come together shockingly easily with simple everyday ingredients. It’s the perfect recipe for both beginners and experienced bakers alike.

You will fall in love with how flavorful these breadsticks are, especially with the parmesan butter topping. They also pair so well with everything! These breadsticks are a delicious addition to a big bowl of pasta like my stuffed shells recipe or a cozy bowl of soup like my tomato soup recipe. You can even enjoy them as a snack dipped in some marinara sauce. Want another easy bread recipe? Try my dinner rolls, garlic bread recipe, or focaccia recipe

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make breadsticks.

Yeast — always double-check the expiry date of your yeast. If it is past its best-before date, it’s best to pick up a new packet of yeast at the store. 

Sugar — adding granulated sugar to the yeast will help activate the yeast. It also tenderizes the dough, improves flavor, gives the crust a golden color, and helps retain moisture. 

Flour — to keep this fluffy breadstick recipe easy, use all-purpose flour. 

Salt — while a teaspoon of salt may not seem like a lot, it helps keep the bread from tasting bland. 

Oil — or melted butter adds extra flavor and makes the dough nice and smooth.

Parmesan cheese — grated parmesan cheese is ideal as it’ll stick better to the breadsticks when they come out of the oven. I love the cheesy, savory flavor of the parmesan sprinkled over the bread.

How to Make Breadsticks

Set of two photos showing yeast bubbling in a bowl and flour added to a mixer.

1. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, whisk together 1 cup of warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. 

2. To the yeast mixture, add 2 cups flour and oil or butter. Beat on low speed until combined. Slowly add the remaining ½ cup flour along with the salt. Increase the speed to medium and knead until a smooth and elastic dough is formed. 

Set of two photos showing bread dough poured into a bowl and then cut into pieces.

3. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased large bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. 

4. Punch down the risen dough. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.

Set of two photos showing bread dough rolled into long logs and melted butter mixed with garlic powder.

5. Roll each piece into a 9-inch rope and place it on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Cover and let rise in a warm place until visibly puffed. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.

6. While the breadsticks are baking, in a small bowl, whisk together the butter, salt, and garlic powder. 

Set of two photos showing breadsticks brushed with butter and parmesan grated on top.

7. Brush the butter mixture over the hot breadsticks immediately when they come out of the oven. 

8. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

An oval platter with multiple breadsticks stacked on top of each other.

Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

  • For a little extra garnish, swap the garlic powder in the topping for a fresh minced garlic clove and add a tablespoon of minced parsley.
  • The time it takes for your dough to rise depends on the temperature of your kitchen. The ideal temperature for dough rising is 75 to 78F. If your kitchen is cold, you can place your breadsticks dough in an OFF oven with the light on. Lower temperatures will require more rising time.
  • If you are using yeast from a container, be sure to store the additional yeast in an airtight container in the fridge, so it doesn’t go stale.
  • Avoid adding too much flour to the dough by measuring your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the breadsticks is the most common mistake and will lead to dense bread. The best way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one, then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
  • Make sure the water is between 110 to 120F as water that’s too hot will kill the yeast, and water not warm enough won’t activate the yeast.
A breadstick dipped in a small bowl of red sauce with grated parmesan on the bread. More breadsticks in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough ahead of time! After you roll each piece into a 9-inch rope and place them on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart, cover them well and place them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This will slow down the rising time and helps the flavor develop even more. When ready to bake, bring them to room temperature and bake as directed. If they haven’t risen, give them some time to rise before baking.

How do I store leftovers?

These breadsticks are best served when warm right out of the oven. However, they will keep for 3 days in an airtight container. To reheat them, place them on a baking sheet, and reheat them in the oven at 400°F for 4 to 5 minutes or until they have warmed through. You can also brush them again with butter and sprinkle them with parmesan before serving.

Can I freeze breadsticks after baking?

Once they’ve cooled to room temperature, wrap the breadsticks in plastic wrap and place them in the freezer. You can store them in freezer-safe bags for an extra layer of protection against freezer burn. They’re freezer-friendly for a month.

If you’ve tried this Breadsticks recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

Breadsticks

Author: John Kanell
Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
A platter of breadsticks with grated parmesan sprinkled on top.
4.95 from 17 votes
You will want to make these breadsticks again and again! They are beautifully golden brown on the outside and so fluffy on the inside. Dusted with parmesan after brushed with butter, you won't be able to get enough of them.

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Rimmed baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Pastry or basting brush

Ingredients 

For the Dough:

  • 1 cup warm water (105°F -110°F) (240ml)
  • 1 (0.25-oz.) packet active dry yeast (2¼ teaspoons/7g)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (25 g)
  • cups all-purpose flour divided (300g)
  • 3 tablespoons oil or melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Topping:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon grated parmesan

Instructions

For the Dough:

  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, whisk together 1 cup warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
  • To the yeast mixture, add 2 cups flour, and oil or butter. Beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Slowly add the remaining ½ cup flour along with the salt. Increase the speed to medium and knead until a smooth and elastic dough is formed, about 6 minutes. (The dough will be slightly tacky but shouldn’t stick to a clean finger when tapped.)
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly greased large bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Punch down the risen dough. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 9-inch rope and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Cover and let rise in a warm place until visibly puffed, about 30 minutes.
  • Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden brown.

For the Topping:

  • While the breadsticks are baking, in a small bowl, whisk together the butter, salt, and garlic powder.
  • Brush the butter mixture over hot breadsticks immediately when they come out of the oven. Sprinkle with parmesan. Best if served warmed. Breadsticks can also be cooled and frozen in a freezer container for up to 1 month.

Notes

  • For a little extra garnish, swap the garlic powder in the topping for a fresh minced garlic clove and add a tablespoon of minced parsley.
  • The time it takes for your dough to rise depends on the temperature of your kitchen. The ideal temperature for dough rising is 75 to 78F. If your kitchen is cold, you can place your breadstick dough in an OFF oven with the light on. Lower temperatures will require more rising time.
  • If you are using yeast from a container, be sure to store the additional yeast in an airtight container in the fridge, so it doesn’t go stale.
  • Avoid adding too much flour to the dough by measuring your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the breadsticks is the most common mistake and will lead to dense bread. The best way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one, then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
  • Make sure the water is between 110 to 120F as water that’s too hot will kill the yeast, and water not warm enough won’t activate the yeast.

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcal Carbohydrates: 22g Protein: 3g Fat: 6g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0.1g Cholesterol: 5mg Sodium: 300mg Potassium: 36mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 62IU Vitamin C: 0.003mg Calcium: 9mg Iron: 1mg

*Nutrition Disclaimer

Course: bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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