Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Dominoes-style garlic breadsticks, cheesy and delicious! Perfect for your pizza nights or parties!

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It’s a bit ironical that while most of my baking skewers towards the sweet, my tastebuds actually crave more savoury. But by default I always seem to have a long list of sweet things I want to bake. So when I start getting requests for a savoury recipe, I take it as the chance to do something I would otherwise keep pushing for later.

Garlic breadsticks recently became one of the most requested recipes on my blog. So much so that I got tired of saying “coming soon” and decided to finally get on with it. These cheesy garlick-y breadsticks are incredibly delicious and are perfect for get-togethers or as a side to your pizza nights! They’re also one of the easier bread recipes to try compared to a loaf or buns because there is hardly any shaping or folding technique required.

Garlic Breadsticks

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY GARLIC BREADSTICKS

The recipe requires only some basic ingredients – flour, sugar, salt, yeast, butter, and water. In this recipe I also like to add a little milk because it makes the breadsticks softer.

Garlic breadsticks ingredients

Apart from this you’ll need garlic (duh!), more butter, cheese (for the filling) and some seasoning. I like ready made pizza seasoning because it has a little bit of everything and adds quite a punch to the bread. But you could use just oregano or if you don’t mind a bit of spice, then a mix of oregano and chili flakes (or a hint of paprika).

PROVING THE YEAST

Like with any recipe that requires yeast, you start by proving or blooming the yeast. As a rule, for all of my blog recipes, I prefer to work with instant yeast which I find consistent and easy to use. Although instant yeast doesn’t need to be proved separately, I still do it to ensure that my yeast is good to use. If you use active dry yeast, you’ll need to add just a tad more – ¼ tsp than the quantity in the recipe and work the same way. Start by taking warm milk in a bowl. Add to it the sugar, and gently sprinkle the yeast on top. Stir the yeast into the milk and cover the bowl. In about 10 minutes, the milk would have become frothy and/or bubbly. If it hasn’t, I recommend you start over with a new packet of yeast.

Read my detailed guide on yeast here or watch this 30-second time-lapse video on the process of yeast proofing. 

Next, you mix flour and salt together. This is important because salt slows down yeast’s fermentation and mixing it with the flour ensures it doesn’t interact too directly with the yeast. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast-milk.

KNEADING THE DOUGH

Start to knead and bring together the dough. It will obviously be dry so start drizzling the water. A very important step in bread-making is getting the ratio of water:flour right. The right balance is what will ensure a good, soft, and tasty bread. Water ratio can change based on the absorption quality of your flour. So start with a little and add as you go, adjusting to get a soft but non-sticky dough.

Garlic Breadsticks dough

Next, add the oregano, garlic and melted butter. Here’s a tip – I add the garlic to the butter and then melt it to extract more flavor. Continue to knead for 7-8 minutes – which may feel like a lot but is absolutely essential to gluten development. 

Garlic Breadsticks

RESTING THE DOUGH

Put the dough in an oiled bowl, and cover it with a kitchen cloth or cling wrap. Keep this aside for atleast an hour. Yeast does wonderfully in warmer weather, so if you live in a place that’s colder, or the weather is nippy, just place the bowl inside your microwave or oven or inside the warmest shelf in your kitchen. If you feel the dough hasn’t doubled in an hour, let it sit for 30 minutes more.

Garlic Breadsticks dough
Before and After Proving

PREPARING THE FILLING

While the dough is resting, prepare the filling for the breadsticks. Melt butter and garlic together in a bowl – oh the smell of the garlic while doing this!! Add coriander and more seasoning. You could use parsley too in place of coriander or even dried herbs. I think fresh herbs just make this taste much better. Save just about a tsp of this filling to spread on top of the dough before baking.

Garlic Breadsticks garlic butter

Notice the air bubbles in the fermented dough.

Punch down the dough. An activity I recommend highly for times when you’re angry. Haha. There’s never a time I won’t be excited to do this.

Garlic Breadsticks Punch Down

SHAPING THE DOUGH

Knead the punched down dough for 30 seconds, and then divide into two equal sized balls.

garlic breadsticks

Now, identify a flat surface where you want to roll the dough. It could be a tray or even your kitchen counter. Sprinkle some semolina or regular flour. I feel semolina gives it a nice crunch. Don’t go overboard with the quantity. Place one of the balls of dough on top.

Roll it out into an even round of approx ¼ inch thickness. You don’t want it to be too thick because the breadsticks will become chewy with little filling.

Garlic Breadsticks

Brush with the prepared filling all over the dough or spread with a spoon.

Garlic Breadsticks

Add the cheese over half of the dough. I use a blend of pre-cut mozzarella and cheddar cubes. Any other cheese that melts well or a blend will work too. I’ve tried this with Amul cheese cubes as well as pizza cheese and both times it came out well. You can also skip the cheese completely or add a lot more (cmon really is this even a choice?) You could even add corn kernels or jalapenos to make it a stuffed garlic bread. The options are varied!

Garlic Breadsticks

Now take the half of the dough without the cheese and fold it over the half where you added cheese. Creating a semi-circle.

Garlic Breadsticks

Next, seal the edges – very important if you don’t want your filling to spill out during baking. If you feel your edges aren’t sticking together, you can lightly brush the edge of the dough with water, and then use your fingertips to seal the ends. Repeat the process with the other ball of dough.

Garlic Breadsticks

Transfer the filled and sealed dough to a parchment lined tray and cover and set aside again for 30 minutes. Technically, breadsticks don’t require a second proving, however i’ve found it to give a softer bread.

Garlic Breadsticks

After 30 minutes, make cuts along the dough, approximately 1 inch apart. Do not cut all the way to the bottom.

Garlic Breadsticks

Brush the top with a little milk and then with the remaining garlic butter filling. Sprinkle more seasoning if you like.

Garlic Breadsticks

BAKING AND COOLING

Bake in a pre-heated oven. I bake in an OTG, with only the bottom element on because it bakes my breads better. However, the top doesn’t acquire color, for which I switch to the broil/grill mode for the last 5-6 minutes of the baking time.   

Garlic Breadsticks   

Let it cool and then cut into strips and serve. We like to eat this with some marinara sauce or a cheesy dip or even just good ol’ mayo! 

If you try the recipe, do give me a shout-out on Instagram or leave me a comment here!

For measurements and conversions, do refer the ready reckoner for a quick handy guide! 

SOME OTHER BREAD RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE 

Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Cheesy garlicky breadsticks that make a great side or a full meal by itself!
Makes: 16 breadsticks
Prep Time2 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time2 hrs 50 mins

Ingredients

  • cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Instant Yeast
  • 2 tsp Castor Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Milk
  • ½ cup Water
  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tsp Garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp Pizza Seasoning or Oregano

FOR THE FILLING

  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tsp Garlic
  • 1 tbsp Coriander/Cilantro (chopped)
  • 1 tsp Pizza Seasoning or Oregano
  • ¼ cup Mozzarella or Pizza Cheese

Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS

  • PROVE THE YEAST – In a bowl, warm the milk and add yeast and sugar. Give it a stir and leave aside till it becomes frothy/bubbly.
  • In a large bowl, mix the salt and flour together. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the milk with the yeast. Start to bring the dough together. Slowly add the water as required to form a soft dough.
  • After 1-2 minutes of kneading, add the seasoning/oregano, butter and garlic to the dough and continue to knead for 6-7 minutes more till your dough springs back when pressed. Transfer to an oiled bowl.
  • Cover the bowl with cling film or a kitchen cloth and leave it aside for 1-1.5 hours to rest in a warm place.
  • PREPARE THE FILLING – While the dough is resting, prepare the garlic butter to spread inside. Put garlic and 2 tbsp of butter in a bowl. Microwave it together for 15-20 seconds till the butter has melted. Add the seasoning/oregano and the chopped coriander, mix well and leave aside.
  • After the dough has doubled, knock it down, knead for 30 seconds and divide it into two equal halves.
  • Take one half, and roll it out into a round of approx 1/4 inch thickness. Spread the prepared filling all over the dough. Spread the cheese on half of the dough and fold the dough from the center to create a semi-circle. Seal the edges. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
  • Cover the dough loosely with a cloth and leave aside to rest again for 30 minutes. 15 minutes after putting the bread to rest, pre-heat the oven to 180 degree C.
  • After the second rest, cut the dough in roughly one inch strips ensuring you don't cut all the way to the bottom. Brush the top with the remaining garlic butter that you used in the filling.
  • Bake at 180 degree C in a pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes or till the top becomes golden brown. If the crust has baked but the top doesn't have color, switch to broil/grill mode in the last 3-4 minutes. Brush again with butter once out of the oven.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dip!

Join the Conversation

  1. Aditi Pamecha says:

    Each and every step is so nicely explained Pooja.. Looking forward to try this over the weekend.. 🙂

    1. Thank you Aditi. I hope you try it 🙂

      1. Can we do this with bread flour

    2. Niki jain says:

      Tried this.. Thank u so much pooja di.. It came out so well. ????????????

      1. Thanks for the feedback Niki ????

      2. Hi Pooja this looks so yummy. I have a question, do you place it in middle rack or bottom rack? For loaf breads too do you use only bottom rod? Thanks

        1. Hello Madhu, I always place my tray on the middle rack. For all baking, I use the bottom rod only. During the last 15 or so minutes I switch to upper-lower if I feel that it needs more browning.

  2. May I get the quantity of each ingredient used here ?

    1. Hi, if you scroll down, there is a recipe card with all ingredients and quantities mentioned. If you’re looking for gram/ml measurements please refer my ready reckoner for quick conversions.

  3. Hi, the recipe is really well explained.. I was wondering what is the temperature for baking? And for how much time??

    1. Hello Dr Rukmi, if you scroll all the way down to the recipe card you’ll be able
      To see the baking information too. It’s 180 degree c for 15-20 minutes

  4. Anjali Aggarwal Gupta says:

    Hi, you directed me to your blog from facebook when I asked for the orange cake recipe. And I’m so glad. I made pizzas from this recipe today and they turned out great.
    Just one question: the base didn’t turn crispy enough. Is that because this is originally not a pizza base recipe or some other reason?
    Thanks so much.
    PS: waiting for fresh oranges to try out your orange cake.

    1. Hi Anjali, I have posted a yeast free pizza dough recipe on the blog. You can check it out here https://loveandflourbypooja.com/instant-yeast-free-pizza-dough/.
      Also, do let me know if you try the orange cake!
      Happy baking!

      1. Puneeti Sharma says:

        Hi which cup size u r using

        1. Hello Puneeti, I use standard measuring cups for all baking.

  5. Hi. I was wondering if you have any gluten free bread recipes. My son has decided to start a keto way of eating and gluten free. Wondering if I can use same recipe with my GF mix flour (using following flours: sweet rice, whole grain brown rice, white rice, arrowroot flour)& xanthan gum.

    1. Hello Sheryl, as of now there are no gluten free bread recipes on the blog. I will try and come up with a few soon.

  6. Honestly Pooja, i cannot make up my mind whether i am more impressed with your delectable recipes or your incredible photography skills.. Hats off!

    1. Hi there, your words made my day! Thank you very much ????

  7. Can I do this without yeast ?

    1. Hello Subha, for this recipe you do need yeast. You can check out yeast free rustic bread recipe here https://loveandflourbypooja.com/no-yeast-rustic-bread/.

  8. Pooja patel says:

    Hi pooja
    For knitting the dough can i use stand mixer.

    1. Hi Pooja, yes you can knead with the stand mixer or with your hands.

  9. Hi pooja????I’ve tried your garlic bread a couple of times and I’ve always wanted to ask you.I think I use the same oven as yours morphy Richards ,but one thing I’ve faced is mine take a lot of time to bake.So could this be have anything to do with the way I knead ?

  10. Ankita bhandari says:

    Cup size is it..200ml

  11. Thank you so much for sharing this content!

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