Garlic Bread Recipe (Tawa & Oven), Crispy, Buttery

Garlic bread is made with crunchy slices of bread toasted with a homemade spiced garlic butter spread, finished with herbs and a touch of chilli flakes. You can prepare it in just 20 minutes with a regular tawa or an oven, whichever is available at home.

It's one of those tasty and satisfying snacks that works at any occasion with any cuisine. You can make this for an after-school snack with a glass of cold milk, for a starter before serving pasta or soup, or to satisfy quick evening cravings with masala chai. Once you make this garlic butter at home, you'll want to store it in a jar and keep it on hand at all times.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It will give you garlic bread that is crispy on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside.
• It’ll be in just 20 minutes with only five basic ingredients.
• You can make it using a tawa, an oven, or an air fryer; go with whatever you have.
• Perfect for both kids and adults, and pairs perfectly with soup, pasta, or noodles.
• You can make the garlic butter ahead and store it in the fridge for up to a week.

Ingredients

This recipe makes 6 slices.

For the garlic butter:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh garlic
• 1 tbsp fresh, finely chopped coriander leaves
• 0.5 tsp Oregano Mix
• 0.25 tsp Black Pepper Powder
• Salt to taste

For assembling:

• 6 slices of bread
• 0.5-0.75 cup grated cheese
• Chilli Flakes for garnishing

How to Make Garlic Bread

Step 1: Prepare the garlic butter

Take the softened butter along with minced garlic, chopped coriander leaves, oregano, and black pepper powder to a bowl. Combine everything together well until they are evenly combined and make a smooth, aromatic spread. Taste the butter and adjust the salt if needed.

Pro Tip: The butter should be soft, not hard, not melted. Soft butter combines well with the garlic and herbs into a creamy spread. Melted butter runs off the bread and soaks it improperly.

Step 2: Spread the garlic butter properly

Spread garlic butter evenly on one side of each bread slice. A thin scraping of butter won't give you the flavour you're looking for. Crush any garlic pieces and push them slightly into the bread so they don't fall off while toasting.

Step 3: Toast, using a method you prefer

On a tawa: Heat the tawa over medium flame. Put the buttered bread, buttered side down, and toast for about 2-3 minutes, until the bottom turns golden and crispy. Flip the bread right after that. Lower the heat completely. Add some grated cheese over a pinch of Chilli Flakes on the top of the hot, toasted side. Cover the tawa with a lid and let it cook for about 1-2 minutes, until the cheese melts. Keep an eye on the bottom so it doesn't burn and harden.

In an oven: Preheat the oven to 190°C. Place the bread slices on the baking tray. Keep the buttered side up, and bake for 7-8 minutes, until they turn golden and crispy. Remove them from the oven, add some grated cheese along with Chilli Flakes on top, and put back in for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and the edges turn golden.

In an air fryer: Place these pre-buttered bread in the air fryer basket, buttered side up. Let them cook at 180°C for 4-5 minutes until they turn crisp. Add the cheese and chilli flakes at the very last, then air fry for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts.

Important: Always grate the cheese over the hot side of the bread rather than the raw side. The heat from the toasted side melts the cheese faster and more uniformly.

Step 4: Serve immediately

Take the garlic bread off the tawa or pull it out from the oven and serve immediately, while the cheese is just melted and the bread is still crispy. Garlic bread loses its crunch very quickly as it cools, so serve and enjoy it hot with the dip of your choice.

Variations

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Increase the amount of cheese. You can also use a combination of mozzarella for the strings and processed cheese for sharp flavours. Put the bread in the oven for the last 2 minutes, until the cheese melts completely and the top is golden. This variant is popular among kids and teenagers.

Spicy Garlic Bread

If you prefer spicy food, just add an extra pinch of chilli Flakes to the garlic butter, along with a few finely chopped green chillies. You can also sprinkle these chilli flakes on top.

Garlic Bread without Cheese

Do not add the cheese at all. Just toast the garlic buttered bread until golden and crispy on both sides. Sprinkle some oregano and chilli flakes on top, and serve. It’s a simple and quick variant.

Stuffed Garlic Bread

Slit thick bread slices or a baguette from the middle, but don't cut them all the way through to create a pocket. Stuff it with a mixture of grated cheese, chopped capsicum, and corn. Spread garlic butter on the outside layer and roast in the oven until the surface turns crispy and the cheese melts.

Expert Tips

• Use fresh garlic instead of powdered garlic. Freshly chopped garlic delivers a sharper, more aromatic flavour you can taste in every bite. You can use garlic powder as a backup, but it doesn't give the same result.
• Soften the butter first, before mixing. Cold butter won't combine properly with the garlic pieces and herbs. Let it soften at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before combining with the spread.
• Add cheese to the hot side of bread. This is the technique tip you shouldn’t miss. The already-toasted surface is hot, and it helps the cheese melt faster and more uniformly.
• Use medium-thick bread. Very thin bread slices turn too crispy and burn before the garlic and cheese are cooked through. Very thick slices of bread stay raw inside. Medium slices are the best choice for proper crunch and softness.

Serving Suggestions

You can pair garlic bread with almost any dish and any cuisine:

• A comforting bowl of any soup. It’s one of the most classic combinations.
• Along with a good white-sauce pasta or any saucy pasta dish.
• With spicy Aakhri Noodles or Veg Fried Rice.
• You can also enjoy it as an evening snack with masala chai.
• As a starter at parties, served with a dip.

Storage and Reheating

Garlic butter: You can store the leftover garlic butter for up to a week. Transfer it to an airtight glass or plastic jar and keep the jar in the fridge. It's great to have the butter ready for a quick snack.

After toasting: You should eat the garlic bread while it's still hot and fresh. It softens as it sits and won’t reheat particularly well.

To reheat: Heat it slightly on a dry tawa over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes. You can also use an air fryer; heat it at 180°C for 2-3 minutes. Do not use the microwave; it converts the bread to soft and chewy instead of bringing any crunch back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my garlic bread turn out soggy instead of crispy?

Most of the time, this happens if your garlic butter mixture is thick, the heat is too low from the beginning, or the bread is covered before the bottom crisps up. Always toast the bread over medium flame, uncovered, until the bottom is golden, then add cheese and cover.

Can I make garlic bread without an oven?

Yes, you can use the tawa method. Toast the buttered side until golden, flip, reduce the heat, add the cheese, cover with a lid, and let it melt. You’ll get the same crunch and flavours with this method.

Which cheese is best for garlic bread?

It always depends on your preference. Mozzarella cheese gives a stretchy melt that looks good and tastes mild. Processed cheese (like Amul) melts faster and more uniformly, with a saltier flavour. A mix of both adds the stretch of mozzarella and the flavours of processed cheese.

Can I make the garlic butter in advance?

Yes, and this is perfect for parties. You can make a batch of garlic butter in advance and store it in the fridge for up to a week. Cut a slice whenever you want garlic bread, then spread it directly on the bread; it softens quickly at room temperature.

How do I get the cheese to melt faster on a tawa?

Always grate the cheese on the already-toasted, hot side of the bread. The heat from the toasted surface melts the cheese faster than placing it on the raw, cold side does. If you cover the pan with a lid, it traps steam and speeds up the melting process.

Can I make garlic bread with pav instead of regular bread?

Yes. Slit the pav without cutting all the way through. Spread the garlic butter inside, then toast the prepared pav on a tawa until golden and crisp. Grate a little cheese inside before closing the pav to make a quick, cheesy garlic pav.

What type of bread gives the best result for garlic bread?

A medium-thick slice of bread, such as a baguette, ciabatta, or regular sandwich bread, works perfectly. Baguettes have the crispiest edges and the most authentic look. Regular sandwich bread is easily available and gives great results on a tawa. Avoid using very soft, airy bread with large holes.

Can I add vegetables to garlic bread?

Yes. You can add some finely chopped capsicum, sweet corn, or sliced olives on top along with the cheese before the very last melt. Keep the pieces of vegetables small and dry so they don't release much moisture and make the bread soggy.

How much garlic is too much for garlic bread?

2 tbsp of finely chopped garlic in the butter is perfect for 6 slices of bread. If you or your family members prefer a milder flavour, reduce the amount of garlic to 1 tbsp. If your family members love a strong, garlicky flavour, you can add up to 3 tbsp.

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