Garlic bread is one of the best comfort foods of all time because it is warm, buttery, garlicky and crispy! And when you make garlic bread in the air fryer you can have this easy side ready in less than 10 minutes.
Since I learned how to make this I have been making it all the time! It is simple, delicious and I don’t have to preheat the oven or heat up the house.
It goes perfectly with my kids favorite pasta dishes, like chicken riggies, or with a soup dinner like jalapeno chicken and corn chowder.
You will have this fresh, crispy side dish finished while your main dish heats up. This easy air fryer garlic bread will quickly become a family favorite!
Why You Will Love Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- It goes with everything, from pasta, to soups or roasts. It is a great way to liven up a boring meal of leftovers too!
- This is simple recipe that is perfect for a new air fryer owner.
- It is freezer friendly, so you can make extra to freeze and serve later in the week.
- You can easily customize it to reflect everyone’s tastes. Add more or less garlic. Sprinkle it with cheese or chives or parsley. You have complete control!
What Type of Bread Works Best?
I live in an area with lots of excellent Italian bakeries, so I usually make this with ciabatta bread or another Italian bread.
But many people like to make it with French bread, which is also an excellent choice. If it is made with French bread will be a little smaller and crustier.
This is a great recipe for using up fresh bakery bread that is a few days old. A loaf that has started to go stale is still perfect for making this.
Other Ingredients
Butter – I like to use fresh salted butter for this recipe. If you use unsalted butter you might want to add a sprinkle of salt on top.
My son can’t eat dairy products, so I have also made this with soy based spread with excellent results.
Garlic – Fresh garlic will give this an amazing garlicky taste and make the entire house smell great. Jarred garlic also works nicely.
Cheese – You don’t have to add cheese, but I almost always do. A little bit of grated Parmesan cheese melted on top is delicious, or use mozzarella for soft and cheesy topping.
Fresh herbs – Sprinkling some fresh parsley, thyme or chives on top is the perfect final touch.
How to make Garlic Bread in the Air Fryer
1. Slice
You can make this either by cutting the loaf in half lengthwise or by slicing the loaf. I prefer to use slices.
Tip: This way of making garlic bread is basically the same as making Texas toast.
With slices there is more butter and garlic per bite, which is always a plus! I also think it is easier to handle slices and easier for everyone to customize it with more or less cheese.
Cut the loaf into slices that are about 1 inch thick.
2. Mix
It is easier to mix the butter and garlic if the butter is a little bit softened. Grate the garlic or mince it into small pieces and stir it into the butter.
3. Spread
Spread the garlic butter mixture all over one side of the slices. Be generous and thickly coat the entire side. If you are using cheese don’t put it on yet, it will be added at the end.
4. Air Fry
Put the slices in the air fryer basket, butter side up. Keep it in a single layer in the basket.
I can fit 4-5 slices in my 5.8 quart Cosori air fryer, depending on the size of the loaf. Don’t crowd the slices so that the air can circulate and cook in batches if you need to.
Air fry at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes it should be crusty on top and lightly browned.
Tip: Sometimes using butter in the air fryer can cause smoking. To reduce the chance of this happening don’t cook this at a higher temperature than 350 F. If your air fryer smokes try adding some water to the bottom of the basket.
If you don’t want to add cheese it is ready to eat now, or you can air fry it for a few more minutes if you want it crispier. But if you love cheese then take the basket out and sprinkle a light layer of Parmesan on top.
Put it back in the air fryer and cook it at 350 degrees F for 2 more minutes to melt the cheese.
How to Serve
Serve this while it is hot and crispy for the most delicious crunchy and cheesy bread. This homemade garlic bread is perfect for serving with pasta dinners like Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs or baked manicotti.
I also love to serve buttery garlic bread with soup or an easy skillet dinner like unstuffed cabbage rolls. It is easy to quickly make this garlic bread in the air fryer while dinner heats on the stove.
How to Store
If there is leftover garlic bread store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. To keep it longer you can freeze the slices.
To freeze put the buttered slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until they are frozen solid. Then store in a freezer container until you are ready to use it.
FAQ
To reheat frozen garlic bread air fry it at 340 degrees F for about 7 minutes, then add the cheese, if desired, and air fry it at 340 F for 2 minutes longer. This works for homemade or store bought frozen slices.
Yes, it is easy to make this ahead. Make it up to a day before and store it in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Or freeze the slices if you want to make it more in advance of using it.
Any cheese that melts nicely works well. I like traditional Parmesan cheese, although Romano or mozzarella are also great choices. Experiment with whatever you have in the refrigerator.
Find More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- half loaf of Italian bread Ciabatta bread or French bread
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 4 Tablespoon salted butter softened
- 2 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese optional
- fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the bread into slices about an inch thick.half loaf of Italian bread
- Grate or mince the garlic and mix it with the softened butter.1-2 cloves garlic, 4 Tablespoon salted butter
- Spread the bread slices with the butter mixture. Then put the slices in the air fryer basket, butter side up.
- If you aren’t using salted butter you might want to sprinkle a little salt on top of the slices.
- Air fry the bread at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Pull the air fryer basket out. The slices should be turning golden brown and starting to darken at the edges. You can air fry it a few more minutes if you want crispier bread.
- For cheesy garlic bread put some cheese on top of the slices and air fry another 2 minutes at 350 degrees F.2 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley or chives when you serve the bread.fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freeze.
- To freeze put the buttered slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until they are frozen. Then store in a freezer container until you are ready to use it.
- To reheat frozen garlic bread air fry it at 340 degrees F for about 7 minutes, then add the cheese, if desired, and air fry it at 340 F for 2 minutes longer.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.