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Soft Italian Breadsticks are the perfect accompaniment to any dinner! Easy step-by-step instructions are included in this family-favorite recipe!
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Breadsticks Olive Garden
I’m just going to put it out there – I am a carb-aholic! I love bread, cookies, and cakes, pizza, and pasta … there is just something about them that kindles fond memories for me.
Over the years, I have taken what I have learned from watching my mom, grandma, and aunts in the kitchen – into my own kitchen. I have found there is a lot of wisdom in our elders … stuff you can’t learn from a book … and then there are some things that I thank God for – like brilliant tools that make life easier. Enter my bread-machine. I love that thing!
On average, I use my bread machine about three times a week. I love the fact I can dump everything in there, push a couple of buttons, wait a couple of minutes, check the dough, and then go about my business for little more than an hour or so. Come back, shape it, let it rise, and bake it. Easy peasy!
The great thing about this recipe is even if you DON’T have a bread machine – it’s still super duper easy to make! Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never worked with yeast or are afraid of making bread. I assure you, you can do this!
This is a recipe I’ve used for quite a few years. I hope you enjoy these Soft Italian Breadsticks as much as our family! Let me show you how to make them …
Breadsticks Recipe
Ingredients for breadsticks
- water (70-80 degrees)
- butter
- salt
- bread flour
- granulated sugar
- Italian seasoning
- garlic powder
- active dry yeast
Ingredients for the topping
- butter
- grated Parmesan cheese
How to make Breadsticks
Time needed: 1 hour and 45 minutes
How to make Breadsticks
- Place ingredients into bread machine pan.
In bread machine pan, place water, butter, salt, bread flour, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and yeast in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1-2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).
- Portion dough into pieces and let rise.
When cycle is complete, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; cut in half. Cut each portion into 12 pieces; roll each into a 4-6 inch rope. Place 2 inch apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
- Bake.
Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Brush with butter and top with Parmesan cheese.
Remove breadsticks from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
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Alternatively, you can make them by hand!
- With a wooden spoon or clean hands, mix the water, butter, salt, bread flour, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and yeast in a large bowl until smooth, adding more flour if needed to form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to cover completely with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and place it in a warm area until the dough is doubled in size, about 40-45 minutes.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; cut in half. Cut each portion into 12 pieces; roll each into a 4-6 inch rope. Place 2 inch apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove breadsticks from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Soft Italian Breadsticks: FAQs
Yes! In this recipe, all-purpose flour works! Bread flour contains more protein resulting in a slightly higher rise and generally produces more gluten to give bread their “chew”.
Sure! Be sure to use it within 3-5 days if left at room temperature. You can extend the shelf-life by 3-5 days by refrigerating the breadsticks.
In a covered container. They can be left at room temperature for up to 3-5 days, or refrigerated for up to 7-10 days.
Yes! After baking, let the breadsticks cool completely. Place the baking sheet with breadsticks in the freezer until they are frozen through. Transfer them to a zip-top bag, label, and freeze for up to 3 months.
OVEN: Wrap breadsticks in aluminum foil and bake in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
MICROWAVE: Wrap the breadstick in a damp paper towel and place it on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on medium power for 15-20 seconds or until heated through.
Isn’t this recipe the best? If you gave this recipe a try, I would love to hear your thoughts! Leave me a comment down below, letting me know how this recipe turned out for you. If you have any questions or run into any problems, I’ll try to see if I can help!
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Soft Italian Breadsticks
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Equipment
Ingredients
Breadstick Ingredients
- 1 cup water, 70-80 degrees
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
Topping Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Bread Machine Instructions
- In bread machine pan, place water, butter, salt, bread flour, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and yeast in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1-2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).
- When the cycle is complete, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; cut in half. Cut each portion into 12 pieces; roll each into a 4-6 inch rope. Place 2 inch apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove breadsticks from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Instruction to make by hand
- With a wooden spoon or clean hands, mix the water, butter, salt, bread flour, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and yeast in a large bowl until smooth, adding more flour if needed to form a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to cover completely with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and place it in a warm area until the dough is doubled in size, about 40-45 minutes.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface; cut in half. Cut each portion into 12 pieces; roll each into a 4-6 inch rope. Place 2 inch apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 20 minutes.
- Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove breadsticks from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can skip brushing the breadsticks with additional butter and sprinkling them with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on February 29, 2012. Updated on October 26, 2020.
Excellent recipe! I’ve made it a couple times.
After the first time, I thought it had too much Italian seasoning in it, and I reduce that by half. I also add parmesan cheese right to the dough with the rest of the ingredients – about 1 big tbsp.
I’ve found it makes little difference if you use oil in place of the butter (or a mix), and I’ve always just used “normal” flour.
For baking, I find I get better results by letting it bake for 10 minutes, then flipping them and rotating the pans (this makes two pans for me), and then going another 8-10 minutes. This allows both the top and the bottom to become brown.
If you want a sweet treat, leave out the Italian seasoning/garlic/parmesan and add some cinnamon. When they are done, spread with butter and then cinnamon sugar, and serve with icing to dip them in.
A very good recipe!
If you’re making a bunch of them for a family event, it’s not as hard as it looks – as soon as the first batch of dough is done, dump that out on a cutting board and quickly start another. By the time you’ve rolled/risen/baked the first batch, the dough for the 2nd is about ready (if you’re in a hurry, it’s not going to matter much if the machine still says it’s got another 10 or 20 minutes).
This recipe is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
This recipe was awesome! So good I had to send some to my daughters house!! Grand daughter running around LOVING the breadsticks! Thank you!! Bookmarked❤
Thank you so much, Carrie! I’m glad the recipe was a hit!