How to Make These Crowd-Pleasing Easy Foolproof Copycat Olive Garden Garlic Butter Breadsticks With Your Bread Machine!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
Our household has been on the biggest bread kick lately. Warm dough, simple ingredients, and a few pantry staples can stretch into the most filling meals on even the tightest weeks.
With grocery bills rising and our family staying committed to baby step 2 of our debt free journey, I’ve been trying to build a collection of homemade breads that taste restaurant-quality but cost a fraction of what we’d spend heading out.
And just a reminder that if you’re struggling and you need help with managing your budget or starting your own debt free journey then here’s some FREE resources below you may find helpful!
living frugally and fully
free tips and resources to make the most of what you have
One of my husband’s absolute favorite treats has always been those iconic warm breadsticks from Olive Garden. Soft inside, lightly golden outside, brushed with garlicky butter and that little sprinkle of parsley.
So of course I took it as a personal challenge to recreate them at home!
After a handful of test batches and a lot of taste testing, we finally reached that perfect balance of softness, sweetness, and buttery flavor.
These are unbelievably close to the real thing and honestly even better because they come straight from your oven!
And naturally, you already know I made this recipe bread-machine friendly. I adore my compact Cuisinart bread machine my parents gifted us when I moved here from the UK.
It’s small, simple, and perfect for beginners like me that don’t want to spend time kneading or stretching and folding. I use it almost daily and it’s made homemade bread feel doable during seasons when time and money are both tight.
This recipe uses the dough cycle to take all the guesswork out. No kneading. No hands covered in sticky dough. Just a reliable, fluffy dough that shapes beautifully into classic breadsticks.
As always, these photos are from my real kitchen here in our sweet military base home. No staged lighting or spotless marble counters. Just real life and real food made in a small space. Proof that you can feed your family well without needing a dream kitchen or fancy tools!
So roll up your sleeves, head to the recipe card so you can watch my step-by-step video, and come make our favorite copycat breadsticks at home. This batch is soft, golden, buttery, and the perfect companion to pasta, soup, salad, or any weeknight dinner!
Why You’ll Love Using a Bread Machine In Your Kitchen!
If you’re new here, you’ll quickly learn that I am such a fan of using a bread machine for dough. It has been one of the biggest helps in my kitchen, especially during busy or overwhelming seasons.
My parents gifted me this little Compact Cuisinart Bread Machine recently when I moved from the UK to the States after getting married, and it has worked like a little powerhouse ever since!
It kneads beautifully. It rises dough evenly. It keeps everything contained in one pan so I am not dealing with flour across every surface of the kitchen.
And on days where the house feels chaotic or I am juggling too much, I can add the ingredients, press the dough button, and let it get on with the work while I focus on everything else.
It takes away so much of the guesswork and makes homemade bread, pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, soft rolls, and sweet bakes feel much simpler.
It has also been a real blessing for our budget. Homemade dough costs pennies compared to store prepared versions and certainly compared to eating out. As a military family on baby step 2 of our debt free journey, little savings like that matter across an entire month.
If you have ever felt intimidated by bread making, this is your gentle nudge to give it a try. A dough cycle handles all the kneading for you.
You get soft, reliable, fluffy dough without standing over a counter for ages or worrying if things rose the way they should. It makes homemade cooking feel doable, even on days that are far from calm.
There are so many beginner friendly ideas to help you feel confident and excited about homemade dough!
Equipment
- Bread machine
- Measuring jug
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Plastic wrap
- Dough scraper or bench scraper
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Silicone pastry brush
- Bowl
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Ingredients
Yield: 10 to 12 breadsticks
Dough:
- 2 and 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 tsp salt
Garlic Butter Topping:
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/2 tbsp garlic salt with parsley
- optional: 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
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Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prep the bread machine pan
Remove the insert from your bread machine so spills don’t end up inside the machine. I always do this because I’m clumsy and it saves cleanup later.
Step 2. Activate the yeast
Pour the warm water into the pan, then add the honey and yeast. Stir gently. Cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
You need to see bubbles and foam forming. That means the yeast is active.
If it stays flat, discard and begin again with fresh yeast.
Step 3. Add the remaining ingredients
Once the yeast is bubbly, add the olive oil and bread flour.
Make a small well in the top of the flour and add the salt, then lightly cover the salt with flour. This prevents the salt from touching the yeast too early which can affect the rise.
Step 4. Run the dough cycle
Place the pan back into your machine. Select the Dough cycle.
Mine runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Step 5. Shape the doughsticks
Turn the finished dough out on to your work surface. No need to flour it, the dough isn’t too sticky and you’re not rolling it out.
Divide into 10 to 12 equal portions.
Roll each portion into long breadsticks about 8 to 9 inches long.
Tuck the ends underneath so they look smooth.
Step 6. Second rise
Place each breadstick on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a damp towel.
Rise for 30 to 45 minutes.
Step 7. Bake
Bake at 425°F for 13 minutes until lightly golden.
Step 8. Brush with garlic butter
Brush warm breadsticks immediately with melted butter.
Sprinkle with the garlic salt (we use the kind with parsley in it for a little extra garnish and flavor), and the optional grated parmesan if you prefer. Serve whilst still warm – these taste amazing!
Notes and Troubleshooting
Notes:
- Brush twice with butter for extra richness.
- Add a touch of Parmesan for a cheesier version.
- Swap honey for sugar if needed.
Troubleshooting:
- Breadsticks not golden? Move oven rack up one level or add 1 more minute.
- Breadsticks too dense? Your yeast may have been old or inactive.
- Salt flavor too strong? Reduce garlic salt and increase butter.
Storage
- Keep in an airtight container for one day at room temperature or refrigerate for three days.
- Reheat at 300°F for 5 to 7 minutes or air fry briefly.
- Freeze baked breadsticks for up to two months and reheat at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
Serving Ideas
- Serve with marinara or warm pasta
- Pair with homemade Alfredo or Cajun chicken
- Use them for dipping in soups and stews
- Cut into chunks for kid-friendly dunkers
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft. Warm. Buttery.
- Cheaper than dining out
- Bread machine fast and beginner-friendly
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Family-approved
FAQ
Can I use minced garlic instead of garlic salt?
Yes, just remember to add salt separately.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, refrigerate after shaping and bake the next day.
Can I freeze the raw dough?
Freeze after shaping, thaw overnight, rise, then bake.
Make Breadsticks With Me!
Watch this quick step-by-step tutorial and bake your breadsticks with me!
The Best Homemade Bread Machine Olive Garden Breadsticks!
November 18, 2025Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Remove the insert from your bread machine so spills don’t end up inside the machine.
- Pour the warm water into the pan, then add the honey and yeast. Stir gently. Cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.You need to see bubbles and foam forming. That means the yeast is active.(If it stays flat, discard and begin again with fresh yeast.)
- Once the yeast is bubbly, add the olive oil and bread flour.Make a small well in the top of the flour and add the salt, then lightly cover the salt with flour. This prevents the salt from touching the yeast too early which can affect the rise.
- Place the pan back into your machine. Select the Dough cycle (usually about 1 hr 30 minutes).
- Turn the finished dough out on to your work surface and divide into 10 to 12 equal portions.Roll each portion into long breadstick shapes, about 8 to 9 inches long. Tuck the ends underneath so they look smooth.
- Place each breadstick on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a damp towel.Let them rise for another 30 to 45 minutes.
- Then bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 13 minutes until lightly golden.
- Brush warm breadsticks immediately with melted butter.
- Sprinkle with the garlic salt and optional parmesan if you prefer, serve whilst still warm – they taste amazing!
Video
Notes
- Brush twice with butter for extra richness.
- Add a touch of Parmesan for a cheesier version.
- Swap honey for sugar if needed.
Storage
- Keep in an airtight container for one day at room temperature or refrigerate for three days.
- Reheat at 300°F for 5 to 7 minutes or air fry briefly.
- Freeze baked breadsticks for up to two months and reheat at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.
Related Recipes:
Check out all our other Bread Machine Recipes HERE!Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Takeaway
Soft, warm, buttery breadsticks that taste restaurant-quality for only a few dollars at home. Easy to make. Easy to love. This is one of those recipes you’ll return to every week!
What to Try Next?!
Share and Rate This Recipe!
Tried it for dinner this week? Share it with a friend who adores Olive Garden-style breadsticks and leave a rating so others can find it too.
Last update on 2026-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
