These Breadsticks Taste Just Like the Ones at Olive Garden

Olive Garden: what many consider to be an abomination on Italian food. That aside, their breadsticks are unauthentic, yet flippin' delicious. So here's a copycat Olive Garden breadsticks recipe for when you don't want to put pants on or spend money.

When you make them at home, you can customize them to your preference. Vegan? Use vegan butter or olive oil instead of butter. Garlic lover? Pile it up! It's all in your hands.

These are soft, salty, buttery, garlicky, and will satisfy any Olive Garden breadstick craving. Use this copycat Olive Garden breadstick recipe, make an "Italian" salad with black olives and pepperoncinis, and say "Ciao" to listening to Frank Sinatra while shelling out oodles of cash for mediocre pasta. 

Recipe adapted from Food Network.

Copycat Olive Garden Breadstick Recipe

• Prep Time:1 hr
• Cook Time:40 mins
• Total Time:1 hr 40 mins
• Servings:10
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 package active dry yeast - about 2 1/4 teaspoons
• 1 1/2 cups water divided
• 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons softened butter divided
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon salt divided
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano - optional
• 1 clove minced fresh garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• Step 1

  Place 1/4 cup warm (not boiling) water in a mixing bowl with yeast and allow to bloom for about 5 minutes.

• Step 2

  Add flour, 2 tablespoons of softened butter or oil, all of the sugar, and 1 tablespoon of salt.

• Step 3

  Add an additional 1 1/4 cups warm (not boiling) water and mix the dough with an electric stand mixer using the bread hook (or a wooden spoon, your hands, and a lot of will power) until a slightly sticky dough forms. This will take about 5 minutes for a mixer, and about 10-12 if done by hand.

• Step 4

  Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until soft, about 4 minutes.

• Step 5

  Roll out the dough into a long log, about an inch in diameter.

• Step 6

  Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 equal pieces, roughly 1 1/2 inch long each. This is easiest if you begin by halving the dough, then continuing to halve each of those pieces until you have 16 equal pieces.

• Step 7

  Cover your dough with a clean dish cloth or moistened paper towel and allow the breadsticks to rise for about 45 minutes to an hour.

• Step 8

  At the end of the rising time, preheat your oven to 400° F.

• Step 9

  While the oven is preheating, chop the garlic and soften the remaining 3 tablespoons butter (if using).

• Step 10

  In a small bowl, combine remaining 3 tablespoons of butter or olive oil. Combine remaining teaspoon of salt, minced garlic or dried garlic powder, and oregano in a separate small bowel.

  

• Step 11

  Use a brush or a small spoon to lightly and evenly coat each of the breadsticks with the melted butter or olive oil.

• Step 12

  Bake breadsticks for 15-20 minutes, until breadsticks are a light golden hue.

• Step 13

  Remove the breadsticks from the oven, brush with remaining melted butter or olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt, garlic, and oregano mixture.

• Step 14

  Allow to cool and enjoy.