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Skip heating up your kitchen and make this easy Grilled Garlic Bread instead! Crispy on the outside, buttery on the inside, and loaded with roasted garlic and Parmesan, this simple side dish is perfect for summer cookouts, pasta dinners, burgers, and all your favorite grilled meals. Best of all, it comes together in just 11 minutes.
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- ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- What Is Grilled Garlic Bread?
- Key Ingredients
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- Variations
- Tips for Best Results
- FAQs
- Storage
- Quick Steps
- Make Ahead
- What to Serve With
- If You Enjoyed Grilled Garlic Bread
- 📌 Save This Recipe
- Grilled Garlic Bread Recipe
- 🥡 Storage
- ♨️ Reheating
- ❄️ Freezing
- 💡 Tips for Best Results
- 🍳 Alternate Cooking Methods
- ♻️ Leftovers
- 📝 Notes
- 🍽️ Other Recipes You May Enjoy
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in only 11 minutes.
- Keeps the oven off during hot summer weather.
- Loaded with rich roasted garlic flavor.
- Crispy edges with a soft, buttery center.
- Pairs well with everything from grilled steaks to pasta.
- Easy enough for weeknight dinners but delicious enough for backyard barbecues.
- Uses simple ingredients you may already have on hand.
What Is Grilled Garlic Bread?
Grilled Garlic Bread is exactly what it sounds like: garlic bread cooked directly on the grill instead of in the oven. Grilling gives the bread lightly charred edges, a crisp exterior, and a smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with buttery roasted garlic.
Using roasted garlic instead of raw garlic creates a sweeter, milder flavor that spreads easily into the butter mixture without overpowering the bread.
Key Ingredients
NOTE: This section highlights ingredients used in the recipe. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
French bread
A sturdy loaf of French bread holds up well on the grill while staying soft inside.
Salted butter
Softened butter creates a rich, flavorful spread that melts into every bite.
Mayonnaise
Just a few tablespoons make the spread extra creamy and help it brown beautifully.
Roasted garlic
Roasted garlic becomes soft, sweet, and mellow, making it perfect for garlic bread.
Parmesan cheese
Freshly grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor.
Garlic salt
A simple finishing seasoning that boosts the garlic flavor even more.
Ingredients & Substitutions
NOTE: This section suggests substitutions. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
French bread
- Italian bread, ciabatta, sourdough, or another sturdy artisan loaf all work well.
Salted butter
- Unsalted butter may be used. Add a pinch of salt if needed.
Mayonnaise
- Helps create a creamy spread and encourages browning. Full-fat mayonnaise works best.
Roasted garlic
- Fresh roasted garlic provides the best flavor. Store-bought roasted garlic can also be used.
Parmesan cheese
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts best, but Romano or Asiago cheese are delicious substitutes.
Garlic salt
- Garlic powder and salt can be substituted if needed. Adjust to taste.
Variations
- Add mozzarella – Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the butter mixture before grilling for cheesy garlic bread.
- Make it spicy – Mix a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes into the butter spread.
- Add fresh herbs – Fresh parsley, basil, oregano, or chives add fresh flavor and beautiful color.
- Try another cheese – Swap the Parmesan for Romano, Asiago, or a blend of Italian cheeses.
- Add lemon – A little fresh lemon zest brightens the rich garlic butter.
Tips for Best Results
- Use roasted garlic instead of raw garlic for the best flavor.
- Let the butter soften before mixing so the spread is smooth.
- Watch the bread closely while grilling since it can brown quickly.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts and tastes better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Slice after grilling so the butter stays inside the bread.
- If your grill runs hot, reduce the heat slightly to avoid burning the bread.
FAQs
You can, but the flavor will be much stronger and sharper. Roasted garlic is sweeter, milder, and spreads much more easily.
Slice the tops off whole garlic bulbs, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast until soft. Once cooled, squeeze the cloves from their skins.
Mayonnaise makes the spread extra creamy and helps the bread brown beautifully without tasting like mayonnaise.
Yes. Bake the prepared bread at 400 degrees F for about 7 minutes. Leave the buttered side facing up the entire time.
Absolutely. Italian bread, sourdough, ciabatta, or even a baguette all work well. Just adjust the grilling time if the loaf is thinner or smaller.
A small amount may stick to the grates when flipping the bread, but most of it stays on the bread. If you’d rather avoid any mess, remove the bread before flipping and finish cooking butter-side up using indirect heat.
Yes. Assemble the bread several hours ahead of time, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Grill it just before serving for the freshest flavor and texture.
Absolutely. This recipe scales easily and is a great option for feeding a crowd at cookouts, family dinners, or holiday gatherings.
Storage
Store leftover garlic bread in an airtight container or wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
For the best texture, reheat before serving.
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Quick Steps
NOTE: This section includes a step-by-step guide. Find the full printable recipe in the recipe card below.
- Preheat the grill to 375 to 400 degrees F.
- Stir together the butter, mayonnaise, roasted garlic, Parmesan, and garlic salt.
- Spread the mixture evenly over both halves of the French bread.
- Grill butter-side up for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Flip the bread butter-side down, turn off the grill, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until lightly charred.
- Slice and serve warm.
Make Ahead
The garlic butter mixture can be prepared up to two days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator.
You can also spread the mixture over the bread several hours before grilling. Keep the bread wrapped and refrigerated until you’re ready to cook.
What to Serve With
This grilled garlic bread is incredibly versatile and pairs well with almost any summer meal. Try serving it alongside:
- grilled steak
- grilled chicken
- burgers
- Italian sausage
- barbecue chicken
- spaghetti
- lasagna
- baked ziti
- fettuccine Alfredo
- Caesar salad
- garden salad
- grilled vegetables
- tomato soup
It also makes an excellent appetizer served with marinara or herb butter for dipping.
If You Enjoyed Grilled Garlic Bread
If you’re already firing up the grill, serve this bread alongside my Grilled Balsamic Chicken. The savory balsamic chicken and buttery roasted garlic bread make an easy summer dinner without heating up the kitchen.
Another great pairing is Grilled Pesto Chicken. The pesto flavors work especially well with the roasted garlic and Parmesan in the bread, making this a simple meal that feels a little extra special.
For a lighter summer dinner, try Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts. The bright lemon flavor balances all that rich, buttery garlic goodness.
You can keep the entire meal on the grill with Grilled Parmesan Zucchini. It’s an easy vegetable side that carries the Parmesan flavor through the whole meal.
Of course, garlic bread and pasta are always a winning combination. My Italian Sausage & Alfredo Pasta Bake is creamy and hearty, making this grilled bread perfect for scooping up every bit of Alfredo sauce.
For another comforting pasta night, pair it with my Meaty Pasta Bake. The crisp, garlicky bread is just what you need alongside a hearty baked pasta dinner.
And if you’re craving a fun twist on spaghetti night, try Cowboy Spaghetti. Add this Grilled Garlic Bread on the side for an easy dinner the whole family can dig into.
📌 Save This Recipe
This is one of those recipes you’ll want to make all grilling season long. Save it to your favorite Pinterest board so it’s easy to find the next time you’re firing up the grill for burgers, steaks, chicken, or pasta night.
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Grilled Garlic Bread
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Equipment
- grill
- mixing bowl (small)
- serrated knife
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 bulbs roasted garlic, cloves removed from the peel and mashed
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 loaf French bread, sliced in half horizontally
Instructions
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat until it reaches 375 to 400 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, mayonnaise, roasted garlic, Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt until completely smooth.8 tablespoons salted butter, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 bulbs roasted garlic, 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- Spread the mixture evenly over both halves of the French bread.1 loaf French bread
- Place the bread directly on the grill grates with the buttered side facing up. Close the lid and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Carefully flip the bread so the buttered side is facing down. Turn the grill off and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly charred.
- Slice into large pieces and serve warm.
Notes
🥡 Storage
- Store leftover garlic bread tightly wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
♨️ Reheating
- Reheat on the grill over low heat for a few minutes until warmed through. You can also warm it in a 350-degree F oven or air fryer until crisp.
❄️ Freezing
- Wrap cooled garlic bread tightly in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Roasted garlic gives the bread a sweet, mellow garlic flavor that raw garlic cannot match.
- Use softened butter so the spread mixes easily and spreads evenly.
- Keep an eye on the bread while grilling since it can brown quickly.
- Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor and texture.
- Slice after grilling so more of the buttery topping stays on the bread.
🍳 Alternate Cooking Methods
- Oven: Bake at 400 degrees F for about 7 minutes with the buttered side facing up. Do not flip the bread.
- Indirect grill method: If you prefer not to flip the bread, move it to indirect heat after the first few minutes and continue cooking until warmed through.
♻️ Leftovers
- Use leftover garlic bread to make homemade croutons, serve alongside soup the next day, or use it to make cheesy garlic bread sandwiches.
📝 Notes
- Roasted garlic has a much milder flavor than raw garlic, so using two whole bulbs is not overpowering.
- A small amount of the garlic butter mixture may stick to the grill grates when flipping the bread. If you’d rather avoid this, remove the bread before flipping and finish cooking over indirect heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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