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Homemade garlic knots work for any meal and are super easy to make. They’re coated with a mouthwatering garlic spread made from butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs! Serve them up with your favorite Italian dish and marinara sauce for dipping. It’s the best combination!

Garlic knots are a super versatile side dish and a great way to switch things up from your classic dinner roll. Serve them with spaghetti, alfredo, or lasagna! They’re perfect for dipping in the sauce.

Hero image of homemade garlic knots in a white serving bowl.

Garlic Knots Recipe

I’m a sucker for garlic knots. I can’t help but pile them onto my plate whenever they’re around! Something about their shape and tasty garlic coating makes them so irresistible. If you have a pasta night coming up, you need to make these homemade garlic knots! They taste so much better than their frozen counterparts and are refreshingly easy to make. 20 minutes of prep, 15 minutes in the oven, and that’s it!

Now, you do need to make a homemade dough for these bad boys, but it’s super easy. If you’re familiar with my recipe for easy homemade pizza dough, it’s the same! And since we’re using instant yeast here, it only takes 10 minutes to proof. From there you cut the dough into slices, tie them up, brush on your garlic topping, and then it’s off to the oven! The hardest part is waiting, really, because these fill your kitchen with the most amazing smell. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to eat these homemade garlic knots before dinner even starts!

Ingredients Needed

The great thing about this recipe is that it uses simple ingredients that are already in your pantry. It’s the perfect side dish to make without a grocery trip! Check out the recipe card below for all measurements.

For the Knots:

  • Warm Water: Used to activate the yeast. If you have a candy or meat thermometer handy, check the temperature of your water. It should be between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Any hotter, and it may kill the yeast.
  • Sugar: This acts as a food source for the yeast, so it can get nice and puffy.
  • Yeast: Be sure to use instant, or rapid rise yeast here, NOT active dry yeast.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour works great!
  • Salt: This helps to keep the garlic knots from tasting bland.

For the Garlic Spread:

  • Butter: Because any good spread starts with butter. It adds richness and flavor to the tops of the rolls.
  • Seasonings: I used garlic powder and parsley to add flavor to the knots.
  • Olive Oil: Keeps the seasonings stuck to the bread. It also helps the knots to turn out a nice golden brown color.
  • Grated Parmesan: Adds baked cheesy goodness on top of your homemade garlic knots. For the best flavor, try grating your own parmesan!

How to Make Homemade Garlic Knots

Golden-brown, buttery knots in less than 30 minutes? Yes, please! You won’t want them any other way!

  1. Yeast Mixture: Mix warm water, sugar and yeast together. Let that sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Mix in Dough Ingredients: Add flour and salt to the water, sugar, and yeast. Mix this until smooth and let it rise for 10 minutes. I used my Kitchenaid mixer with the dough hook and it was so easy and worked great!
  3. Cut Into Equal Pieces: On a floured surface, roll your dough out about 1/2 inch thick. I used a pizza cutter to cut the dough in half and then in strips (about 8-10 inches) for the garlic knots. I recommend using a sharp knife to get uniform slices.
  4. Tie: Roll the strips in your hands to look like ropes and then tie in knots.
  5. Add to Baking Sheet: Place the knots on a greased baking sheet or baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then allow them to rise for another 10 minutes.
  6. Bake: Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.
  7. Butter Mixture: While they are baking melt the butter and mix with garlic powder, parsley, and olive oil.
  8. Brush: As soon as the garlic knots come out of the oven, brush the tops with the melted butter garlic mixture. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
3-photo collage of dough being tied and brushed with a butter mixture.

What to Serve With Garlic Knots

These amazing homemade garlic knots work well with so many different dishes. Pizza, pasta, soup, you name it! They’re perfect for dipping and add a little soft, garlicky goodness to any meal. If you’re not sure what to make for dinner, here are a few great ideas:

How Long Do Homemade Garlic Knots Last?

As long as they’re stored in an airtight container, your homemade garlic knots will last for about 3 days at room temperature. They can also be stored in the freezer in a freezer bag for 2 months. When you’re ready to reheat them, thaw overnight in the fridge then pop them in the oven for about 5 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Easy Homemade Garlic Knots

5 from 2 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Homemade garlic knots work for any meal and are super easy to make. They're coated with a mouthwatering garlic spread made from butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs! Serve them up with your favorite Italian dish and marinara sauce for dipping. It's the best combination!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Ingredients 

Easy Homemade Garlic Knots

  • 1½ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon yeast
  • 3½ cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon salt

Garlic spread:

Instructions 

  • Mix warm water, sugar and yeast together. Let that sit for 5 minutes.
  • Add flour and salt to the water, sugar, and yeast. Mix this until smooth and let it raise for 10 minutes. I used my kitchenaid mixer with the dough hook and it was so easy and worked great!
  • On a floured surface, roll your dough out about 1/2 inch thick. I used a pizza cutter to cut the dough in half and then in strips (about 8-10 inches) for the garlic knots.
  • Roll the strips in your hands to look like ropes and then tie in knots.
  • Place the knots on a greased baking sheet and allow them to rise for another 10 minutes.
  • Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.
  • While they are baking melt the butter and mix with garlic powder, parsley, and olive oil.
  • As soon as the garlic knots come out of the oven, brush the tops with the butter garlic mixture. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Notes

Originally posted April 5, 2013
Updated on June 2, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 7gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 297mgPotassium: 88mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 355IUCalcium: 13mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Bread
Cuisine: American, Italian American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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38 Comments

  1. I made this recipe, totally missed the olive oil, powder and parlsey part. Other than that they turned out good!