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This simple vegan garlic bread is ‘buttery’, savory, herby, salty, perfectly garlicky, and now 100% vegan—in under 30 minutes! A crowd-pleasing, restaurant-style side dish!
Rich Creamy Vegan Garlic Bread Recipe
Say no to lackluster store-bought garlic bread and learn to make your own with just five ingredients (plus salt and pepper) in a few simple steps. This easy vegan garlic bread recipe is simple to prepare and has wonderfully crispy edges, soft, fluffy middles, and an oozing ‘buttery’, garlicky flavor.
Plus, while this recipe is low-budget, it’s packed with decadent flavor and definitely not for those on a health-food kick. Instead, restaurant-style baked baguette garlic bread is decadent, ‘buttery’, and—best of all—it’s easy to customize, too. It’s the perfect addition for a little WOW factor to any meal, especially saucy pasta dishes, soups, stews, salads, and more.
Looking for more bread recipes? Try out this vegan naan, vegan Irish soda bread, and sweet potato bread, and easy no knead bread.
The Ingredients and Substitutes
How to Flavor Vegan Garlic Bread?
- Vegan cheese: Make vegan cheesy garlic bread with melty vegan cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend.
- Red pepper flakes: For a ‘kick’ of heat.
- Onion powder: For extra depth. I recommend ½ tsp to begin with.
- Smoked paprika: For subtle smoky depth.
- Pesto: Spread a thin layer of green pesto or red pesto beneath the vegan garlic butter.
- Sun–dried tomatoes: Finely chopped into the vegan butter for sweet, tangy flavor.
- Caramelized onions: Spread beneath the vegan garlic butter mixture for richness.
How to Make Vegan Garlic Bread
Step 1. First, preheat the oven to 375F/190C, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Meanwhile, slice the baguette (about ¾-1 inch thick slices work best). Then, peel and mince the garlic.
Step 2. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl, combine the minced garlic, garlic powder, and olive oil. Then, microwave it for 2 minutes.
Step 3. Then, add the vegan butter, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and use a fork to mix it – the vegan butter will slightly melt in the warm oil mixture into a creamy paste.
Step 4. Divide the vegan garlic butter between the bread slices, spreading it evenly on one side.
Step 5. Spread the vegan buttered bread slices over the prepared baking tray, ‘buttered’ side up, and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the bread is crisp and toasted around the edges with a slightly browning middle.
Step 6. Finally, remove the tray from the oven and serve – enjoy!
FAQs
You could prepare the vegan garlic butter mixture and store it in a plastic-wrapped bowl in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Alternatively, spread the mixture over the bread and flash freeze until solid for up to 3 months. Then, either thaw it first or bake (or air fry) from frozen, adding extra time.
Technically, no, but heating the garlic in oil helps to infuse it for better overall flavor.
Simply use your preferred gluten-free bread.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Use high-quality bread: French bread, Italian bread, and Ciabatta are the most common options – with a crispy crust and soft middle.
- Tweak to taste: Want more garlic? Salt? It’s up to you.
- Spread liberally: And evenly, across the bread to ensure every bite is moist, ‘buttery’, and full of garlic flavor.
- To avoid soggy garlic bread: Optionally toast the bread slices lightly before adding the vegan garlic butter.
- For softer garlic bread: Wrap the tray/bread with foil to lock in moisture while baking it. Remove it in the last few minutes for crispier edges.
- For an extra crispy top: Optionally broil the bread for a few minutes at the end.
- Baking time will vary: Based on the size and thickness of the bread.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy the baked garlic bread for dipping and crunching along with all your favorite meals, like:
- Vegan chili (bean chili, sweet potato quinoa chili, red pepper chili, etc.)
- Soups and stews (like tomato soup, pureed veggie soup, broccoli soup, etc.)
- Saucy pasta (like creamy mushroom pasta, tomato basil pasta, or Bolognese)
- Lasagna (eggplant lasagna, sweet potato lasagna, or spinach lasagna)
- Curry (tofu veg coconut curry, one-pot yellow curry, butternut squash curry)
- Salads (like Caesar salad, tomato salad, Mediterranean couscous salad, etc.)
- Vegan pizza (or calzones)
You can also enjoy it as an appetizer with warm marinara, make it into bruschetta, or as part of a game day/ party spread.
Storage Instructions
Homemade vegan garlic bread is best served warm, straight from the oven. However, cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat the baguette garlic bread in the oven (10-15 minutes at 350F/180C, optionally wrapped in foil to prevent drying out) or in an air fryer (2-3 minutes) until warmed.
Easy Vegan Garlic Bread
Ingredients
- 1 baguette or bread of your choice
- 6 large garlic cloves, pressed or finely minced
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 6 tablespoons of unsalted vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
- Slice the baguette to the size of your preference.
- In a medium microwave safe bowl, add the fresh garlic, garlic powder, and olive oil. Microwave for 2 minutes. Add the vegan butter, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Using a fork, mash and mix the vegan butter that will slightly melt with the warm olive oil. It should become a creamy paste consistency. Mix well until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Divining equally, spread the vegan butter mixture on one side of each of the slices of bread. It helps to go light on the vegan butter to start and if there is any butter mixture left, retouch the bread with more until you have used all of the vegan garlic butter.
- Place the bread on the baking sheet with the 'butter' side up. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the edges of the bread are toasting and the garlic butter is also slightly browning.
- Remove the tray from the oven and serve warm or at room temperature. (Much better warm)
Notes
- Use high-quality bread: French bread, Italian bread, and Ciabatta are the most common options – with a crispy crust and soft middle.
- Tweak to taste: Want more garlic? Salt? It’s up to you.
- Spread liberally: And evenly, across the bread to ensure every bite is moist, ‘buttery’, and full of garlic flavor.
- To avoid soggy garlic bread: Optionally toast the bread slices lightly before adding the vegan garlic butter.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
this garlic bread is such a hit! so so good!