My easy recipe perfectly toasts fresh garlic cloves in the air fryer to make the most delicious and buttery homemade loaf of garlic bread.
If you like this recipe, check out my Garlic Bread with Video next!
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I discovered a unique recipe for garlic bread a few years ago that calls for dry toasting the garlic cloves. I swear by it now. The only downside to making that garlic bread recipe is heating up the entire house to bake it in the oven. The bread is absolutely delicious. But in the warmer months, I don’t want always want to turn on my oven.
But guess what? The air fryer comes to the rescue once again! It does double duty here. First it toasts the garlic cloves. Then it toasts the buttered garlic bread. It is perfection. So much better than those frozen loaves at the store. And it’s super simple to make!
Ingredients needed for air fryer garlic bread
- Bakery Bread – I used a loaf of sourdough. Other popular choices are a soft bakery loaf of Italian or French bread.
- Garlic – This recipe uses 6 cloves of garlic.
- Salted Butter – The ratio is one clove of garlic to one tablespoon of butter.
- Parmesan Cheese – A little Parmesan stirred into the garlic butter mix really amps up the flavor.
- Parsley – Fresh parsley adds color and a subtle herby flavor to the bread.
Instructions
Toast the garlic cloves first
This is why my recipe is unique! Air fry the (unpeeled) garlic cloves first. It makes them taste sweet and mellow, less bitter. Place six cloves of garlic into the basket of your air fryer. Air fry them at 400 degrees F for about 5 minutes, or until the skins are papery and the cloves have softened.
Press them through a garlic press
I love this garlic press because I don’t have to peel the cloves before I use the press. But after air frying, the skins are papery thin and pretty easy to remove. If you don’t own a garlic press, just finely chop the garlic.
Prepare the butter
Soften the butter in the microwave. Stir it together with the air-fried garlic, Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Butter the bread
Cut the bread to fit your air fryer basket and cut it in half, lengthwise. Spread both halves of the bread with the garlic butter.
Air fry the garlic bread
Place the loaf of bread back together like a sandwich, with the two buttered sides facing each other. Air fry the loaf of garlic bread at 350 degrees F for about 3 minutes. Remove the top half of the bread to a cutting board. Air fry half the loaf, buttered side up, at 400 degrees F for 3 minutes. Remove that half and air fry the other half, also at 400 degrees for 3 minutes. Slice the bread and serve.
Serving suggestions
This garlic bread is an easy side for grilled meats, light pasta dishes or even as a hearty dipper. Here’s some recipe suggestions –
Kitchen tools
- I use a Philips XXL Air Fryer to test all of my recipes
Easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 small loaf of bakery bread sourdough, French or Italian
- 6 cloves garlic unpeeled
- 6 tbsp salted butter softened
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Place the unpeeled cloves of garlic in the basket of the air fryer.
- Air fry them at 400 degrees F for about 5 minutes, or until the skins are loose and papery and the garlic has started to soften.
- Remove the skin and finely chop or press the garlic cloves.
- Stir together the prepared garlic with the softened butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. If you only have unsalted butter, add about a 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the mix.
- Cut the bread in half from end to end (lengthwise). I had to cut off a bit from both ends of my loaf (and reserve for another use) to make my loaf of bread fit inside my air fryer basket.
- Spread both halves of bread evenly with the prepared garlic butter.
- Sandwich the bread back together, buttered sides facing each other.
- Place the whole loaf into the basket of the air fryer and fry at 350 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Remove the top half of the loaf and set it on a clean cutting board.
- Air fry the bottom half of the bread loaf, buttered side up, at 400 degrees F for about 3 minutes, or until the butter is melted and just starting to look toasty.
- Remove that half and air fry the other half, again at 400 degrees F for the same amount of time.
- Slice the bread and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Alisa Infanti says
I use my air fryer for garlic bread all of the time now. But on the convection setting. Always gets so nice and toasty!
foodtasticmom says
It is the absolute best. Thanks for taking the time to rate and comment!
Jessica Formicola says
Garlic bread is my weakness! I’m so glad to have found a recipe to make it in the air fryer! Thanks for sharing!
foodtasticmom says
You’re welcome. Enjoy!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love how crunchy this one just like a garlic pizza we love it!
foodtasticmom says
That’s a great comparison. I’m so glad you love it!!
Tara Teaspoon says
Garlic Bread is one of my guilty pleasures and to have an easier way to cook it, so I don’t have to turn on my oven in this heat is great, plus you make it yourself!
foodtasticmom says
Yes, this recipe for garlic bread really is a game changer.
Alison says
The garlic butter on this air fryer garlic bread is amazing! So full of garlic flavor! This is my new favorite way to make garlic bread!
foodtasticmom says
So happy to hear this Alison, glad you liked it!!
Jac says
Oh this garlic bread looks so tasty. My kids love garlic bread with pasta and lasagne so will be trying this later 🙂
foodtasticmom says
So glad to hear it!
Seema Sriram says
What a cool idea of roasting the garlic. that will surely bring out the best flavour, yum. I love the crispiness of the bread here.
foodtasticmom says
Yes, the roasting the garlic is key. Thanks for the positive feedback!