Air Fryer Garlic Bread

by Kayla Berman on Mar 13, 2024 (updated Apr 15, 2024) 0 comments

If fluffy-centered, crispy-edged, cheesy, buttery carbs are your idea of a good time, you need my super speedy recipe for Air Fryer Garlic Bread. Simply made with just 5 ingredients in less than 20 minutes, this parmesan garlic toast is the perfect weeknight accompaniment to all your favorite Italian meals.

Need more garlic bread goodness in your life? Check out my Baguette Garlic Bread next.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Garlic Bread Recipe

Ridiculously Easy. Making garlic bread in air fryer is hands down the quickest method I’ve found. Just mash up some garlic butter, spread it on crusty slices of Italian bread, and air fry for 5 minutes! It won’t get better than this super simple recipe.
Cheesy, Garlicky, Salty, Carb-y Perfection. I’m no math major, but I’m pretty sure it’s statistically impossible for a recipe that features bread, butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic to be anything less than completely swoon-worthy. This air fryer garlic toast is perfectly crispy on the edges, but soft and buttery on the inside, making it ideal for sopping up whatever juicy, saucy, soupy goodness you’re throwing down. It’s the best texture!!
Deliciously Versatile. Whether you’re cooking a batch of creamy Boursin pasta, a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup, or simply want to level up your sandwich game, air-fried garlic bread is here to make every bite even tastier.

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a few simple ingredients to make this cheesy garlic bread in air fryer. Here’s what to grab:

Italian or French Bread – I use a rustic, Italian-style artisan bread, but any semi-crusty loaf will do just fine. I recommend avoiding super chewy-crusted loaves (e.g. homemade sourdough), but you want something with a bit of a bite.
Salted Butter – Using salted butter makes life slightly easier. If you want to use unsalted, simply add about ½ teaspoon of kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of table salt to the softened butter and mix well.
Minced Garlic – Fresh is best, but you can use jarred minced garlic or refrigerated/frozen garlic paste to slightly reduce the prep time.
Parmesan Cheese – Salty, nutty, melty parmesan adds a layer of umami wow. Feel free to swap in the hard-aged Italian cheese of your choice (e.g. pecorino romano, asiago, or grana padano) instead.
Fresh Parsley – For a pop of color and bright, lemony freshness. In a pinch, you can use ⅓ as much dried parsley, or swap in the fresh or dried herbs of your choice (e.g. oregano, thyme, or dill).

Equipment

Serrated Bread Knife
Cutting Board
Small Mixing Bowl
Measuring Spoons
Air Fryer (or Instant Pot with Air Fryer Attachment)
Air Fryer Liner (optional, for easy cleanup)

How To Air Fry Garlic Bread

Making garlic bread in the air fryer is a snap. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Slice the loaf of bread into about ½-inch thick pieces.

Step 2: Make Garlic Butter. Next add the softened butter, minced garlic, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley to a small bowl. Combine thoroughly.

Step 3: Spread the garlic butter mixture onto the bread slices, dividing the mixture evenly among all the slices.

Step 4: Air Fry Bread. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. Once preheated, add the garlic bread slices to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on your model and the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches. I recommend lining with aluminum foil or an air fryer liner for speedy clean-up — just make sure to not block the air vents if you do! Air fry for 5 minutes.

Step 5: Serve & Enjoy!

process shot - garlic parmesan butter in a bowl after mixing.

process shot - air fryer garlic bread slices before air frying.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

As much as I love this homemade garlic bread air fryer recipe, I want you to feel empowered to make it just the way YOU like it. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Vegetarian – Fun fact: most parmesan cheese is NOT vegetarian. Weird, right? To make sure your air fryer cheese bread is suitable for your vegetarian friends, opt for parmesan cheese that is clearly labeled as such.
Gluten-Free – Feel free to swap in your favorite crusty gluten-free loaf. (This recipe is pretty baller!)
Dairy-Free/Vegan – Want the buttery flavor without the dairy or lactose? Swap in your favorite plant-based butter (e.g. Miyokos). Also, while most crusty bread is vegan-friendly, make sure to double-check the label if you’re unsure.
Extra Flavor – Garlic, butter, parmesan, and parsley are plenty enough to have a flavor party, but don’t feel limited. You can add crushed red pepper flakes or a few shakes of hot sauce for heat, mix in some Italian seasoning for herbaceousness, minced chives for onion-y flavor, mozzarella cheese for more ooey-gooey deliciousness, and/or a few rasps of lemon zest for brightness.

Expert Tips

So Fresh & So Green. Use freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, and fresh, flat-leaf parsley for the best flavor. (As an aside, you should pretty much always grate your own cheese. It’s cheaper, tastes better, and melts better than the pre-grated kind.)
Fine & Dandy. The more finely you mince the garlic, the more yummy garlicky taste you’ll get in every bite. Feel free to use a garlic press to make short work of it, or grate the garlic on a microplane.
Adjust Your Ratio. I LOVE garlic. Like, in an “I’ll eat enough garlic to scare away any vampires in a 3-mile radius” kind of way. If you’re less enthusiastic about alliums, feel free to dial it back.
Stay close. Different air fryers cook at different rates, so it’s possible yours will cook faster than mine. Stay nearby and use your eyes and nose to help you judge when your air fryer cheesy garlic bread is ready to eat.

Serving Suggestions

This cheesy, garlicky air fryer bread recipe is the ultimate flavor booster, ready to give any meal a little extra yum. Here are some dinner ideas where your garlic bread will be the perfect side dish:

Soup-er Duper! Dip your crispy, cheesy, buttery garlic bread into a steaming bowl of tomato basil soup for a comforting and soul-warming experience. Better yet, use the garlic bread to make a garlicky grilled cheese with tomato soup for the GOAT of all comfort food pairings.
Pasta Perfection: My Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is just begging to be paired with this air fryer garlic cheese bread. It’s a one-two punch of quick & easy prep and carb-loading loveliness.
Italian Night In: Take your tastebuds on a trip to Italy by pairing your air-fried garlic bread with crispy oven baked chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, and mozzarella (as a sandwich, perhaps? 🤔). Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with cheesy goodness – this combo is a lick-the-plate winner!
Salad Sensation: Looking to make your lunch a little more exciting? My Mediterranean chickpea salad loves this homemade french bread garlic bread as a sidecar. It’s a perfect balance of protein, veggies, and a heartwarming dose of buttery richness.
Appetizer Extravaganza: Ditch the store-bought bread and crackers for your next charcuterie adventure. Serve warm slices of this French bread garlic cheese bread alongside a variety of cheeses, cured meats, and olives for an appetizer spread that’s sure to impress.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

While garlic bread is best served fresh from the air fryer, don’t toss the leftovers. To store leftover garlic bread, allow it to cool to room temperature, then wrap it tightly in foil or place it in an airtight container or zip-top bag. It should keep well at room temperature for 1-2 days.

If your leftovers get a little too stale to eat as garlic bread, chop them into cubes, drizzle with a little olive oil, then bake or air fry into the best ever garlicky croutons. 😋

How long does it take to heat up garlic bread in air fryer? At what temperature do you heat up garlic bread?

To reheat garlic bread in air fryer, preheat it to 300 degrees. Add the slices wrapped in foil and air fry for 2-3 minutes, or until warm and crispy.

FAQs

What’s the best bread for garlic bread?

That’s a subjective question that’ll vary from person to person. That said, MY favorite bread for this air fryer garlic bread is either Italian or French bread with a pale, crusty exterior and soft fluffy crumb.

Can you air fry garlic bread? Can you make garlic bread in an air fryer?

Yep, and this garlic toast in air fryer recipe makes a darn good case for doing just that!

Can you air fry garlic bread from frozen?

I don’t typically freeze my garlic butter-slathered bread, but I don’t see why not! Just add an extra minute or two to the cook time as needed.

Why is my garlic bread not crispy? How can I make crispy garlic bread quickly?

My favorite way to get garlic bread nice and crispy is using the air fryer! The circulating hot air helps to crisp up the edges while keeping the insides nice and soft. Plus, it only takes 5 or so minutes!

How long to toast bread in an air fryer? How long to cook garlic bread in air fryer? How long to air fry garlic bread?

It depends on your air fryer model and how thick you slice the bread, but for my air fryer (which is Instant Slim 6QT Air Fryer Oven) ½-inch slices bake up perfectly golden brown in just 5 minutes.

What’s the best way to reheat garlic bread to keep it from getting soggy?

The air fryer, toaster oven, or toaster is your best bet. Don’t use the microwave.

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If you make this easy garlic bread recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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