Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe (Soft & Buttery)
Olive Garden’s endless breadsticks are the real reason half of us show up. Soft and pillowy inside, brushed with garlic butter and salt on top — they’re warm, chewy perfection. This copycat recipe nails them exactly, and once you realize how simple the dough is, you’ll have a fresh, endless basket of your own any night you want.
Why You’ll Love These Breadsticks
- Soft, fluffy, and buttery — the exact Olive Garden texture.
- Simple pantry dough — flour, yeast, water, butter, salt.
- That signature garlic-salt top — the finishing touch that makes them addictive.
- Make-ahead friendly — shape, freeze, and bake fresh whenever.
The Ingredients That Matter
- Yeast — gives the breadsticks their light, airy lift. Make sure it foams before you mix, so you know it’s alive.
- Bread flour — its higher protein gives a chewier, sturdier breadstick (all-purpose works too for a softer result).
- The garlic-butter topping — melted butter, garlic powder, and salt brushed on warm. This is the Olive Garden flavor; don’t skip it.
How to Make Them
Bloom the yeast, mix and knead the dough, let it rise until doubled, shape into ropes, rise again, then bake until golden and brush with garlic butter. Full timing and measurements are in the recipe card below.
Pro Tips
- Brush butter twice — once right out of the oven and again a minute later so it soaks in.
- Don’t rush the rise — a full, doubled rise is what makes them pillowy.
- Roll even ropes so they bake uniformly.
- Reheat at 350°F for 5 minutes to bring leftovers right back to life.
Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Stir the sugar into the warm water, sprinkle the yeast over, and let it sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Add the flour, softened butter, and salt. Mix and knead 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Punch down and divide into 12 pieces. Roll each into a 7-inch rope, place on a lined baking sheet, cover, and rise 45 minutes.
- Bake at 400F for 12-15 minutes until golden. Stir the garlic powder and salt into the melted butter and brush over the warm breadsticks.
Notes
What to Serve With Them
Breadsticks are made for dipping. Pair them with our Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce or alongside a steaming bowl of Copycat Zuppa Toscana for the full Olive Garden experience at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. After shaping, freeze the breadsticks on a tray, then thaw and do the final rise before baking. You can also refrigerate the dough overnight after the first rise.
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?
Absolutely — they’ll be slightly softer and less chewy, but still delicious.
Why didn’t my dough rise?
Usually the water was too hot (which kills yeast) or too cool. Aim for about 110°F, and always wait for the yeast to foam before mixing.
How do I store and reheat them?
Keep in an airtight bag for 2 days. Reheat at 350°F for about 5 minutes, then re-brush with a little butter.
More Copycat Olive Garden
Build the whole meal: add Alfredo Sauce and Zuppa Toscana for a restaurant-style dinner.
