Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Garlic bread usually means heating the whole oven for ten minutes of toasting. Air fryer garlic bread takes 5 to 7 minutes, with crisp, buttery edges and a soft center. This recipe makes garlic bread from a baguette or Italian loaf, then gives times for frozen garlic bread in the air fryer, Texas toast and garlic bread made with regular sliced bread.
- Temperature
- 350°F180 °C
- Total time
- 16min
- Prep time
- 10min
- Servings
- 4
- Per serving
- 270kcal
Why the air fryer works for garlic bread
Garlic bread is a simple idea: bread soaked with butter that toasts on the surface while the middle stays soft. The air fryer does that in a compact space, with hot air moving over the top, so the butter melts into the crumb and the edges crisp within minutes. There is no need to preheat a large oven or wait for it to cool down.
Time and temperature matter because garlic burns easily. At 350 °F the butter has time to bubble and soak in before the surface darkens. Higher settings brown the top but leave the center cool, and the garlic turns bitter. Thick pieces stay in place under the fan, while thin ones need a close watch.
How to make garlic bread in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Mix the garlic butter Stir the softened butter, garlic, Parmesan, parsley and salt in a small bowl until smooth.
- Cut the bread Cut the baguette into four 4-inch pieces, then slice each piece in half lengthwise, so it lies flat. Pieces this size fit in a 5-quart basket without overlapping.
- Spread Spread the garlic butter evenly on the cut sides, all the way to the edges.
- Cook Preheat the air fryer to 350 °F for . Place the bread cut side up in a single layer, in batches if needed. Cook for , until the edges are golden and the butter is bubbling. Check at , because bread browns fast.
- Serve Let the garlic bread cool for , then cut it into pieces and serve warm.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Garlic Bread | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh baguette halvesCut side up | 350 °F (180 °C) | 5–7 min |
| Texas toast (thick bread)Flip after 3 min | 350 °F (180 °C) | 4–6 min |
| Frozen Texas toastNo thawing, flip once | 350 °F (180 °C) | 4–6 min |
| Frozen garlic bread loaf halves | 350 °F (180 °C) | 6–8 min |
| Thin sliced bread | 350 °F (180 °C) | 3–4 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Soften the butter on the counter. Cold butter tears the bread. Let it sit for 30 minutes, or microwave it for 10 seconds.
- Use day-old bread. A loaf that is a day old absorbs butter without getting soggy, and fresh crusty bread works if it is cut thick.
- Add fresh herbs at the end. Extra parsley sprinkled after cooking stays green, while dried parsley is fine mixed into the butter.
What to serve with garlic bread
The classic partner is pasta, so serve it with lasagna or meatballs and a green salad. It also goes with a steakhouse dinner next to steak, and with a bowl of tomato soup. For a pizza night, serve it next to air fryer pizza.
Storing and reheating
Cooled garlic bread keeps for 2 days in a sealed bag at room temperature, or 4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat it in the air fryer at 325 °F for 2–3 minutes to bring back the crisp edges. Unbaked buttered loaves freeze well, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months, and cook from frozen in 6–8 minutes at 350 °F.
Variations
- Cheesy garlic bread: Sprinkle ½ cup shredded mozzarella over the butter for the last 2 minutes, until melted and spotty brown.
- Texas toast: Use 4 slices of thick white bread, butter both sides and cook for 4–6 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Garlic powder version: Mix 4 tbsp butter with ½ tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp dried parsley for a quick spread when you have no fresh garlic.
- Pizza toast: Top buttered slices with 1 tbsp pizza sauce and mozzarella and cook for 5 minutes.
If it does not turn out right
- The garlic burns and tastes bitter
- Fresh garlic burns at a high temperature. Keep the air fryer at 350 °F, spread the butter evenly and check after 4 minutes. For garlic powder, use ½ tsp instead of fresh cloves.
- The bread is hard and dry
- Too long or too hot. Use a softer loaf, spread the butter thickly and take the bread out as soon as the edges are golden.
- The bread blows around in the basket
- Light slices can lift in the fan. Use thicker pieces, such as Texas toast slices or halved baguette pieces, and do not stack them.
Questions and answers
How long do you cook garlic bread in the air fryer?
Fresh garlic bread takes 5–7 minutes at 350 °F. Thin slices take 3–4 minutes at 350 °F, and thick Texas toast takes 4–6 minutes.
Can you cook frozen garlic bread in the air fryer?
Yes, with no thawing. Frozen garlic bread loaf halves take 6–8 minutes at 350 °F, and frozen Texas toast and garlic bread sticks take 4–6 minutes, flipped halfway.
Do you need foil for garlic bread in the air fryer?
No. Foil keeps the bread soft and steamed instead of crisp. If you wrap a whole loaf, keep the foil tight around the bread, cook it 8 minutes at 350 °F, then open it for the last 2 minutes to crisp.
Can you make garlic bread with regular sliced bread?
Yes. Spread butter on both sides of thick slices of white bread and cook at 350 °F for 3–4 minutes, flipping once, which is how you make Texas toast at home.
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