Olive Garden Breadsticks Copycat

4.82 from 16 votes

Get the same restaurant-style flavor at home. This Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe is a great family meal that captures their flavor to a T!

Course Bread,

Cuisine Italian

Keyword breadsticks, olive garden breadsticks

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes

Dough resting time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours

Servings people

Calories 140kcal

Author Muna Kenny

In a large bowl, add sugar, yeast, and warm water, mix well and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
Add flour and salt to the previous mixture and knead for a few seconds. Add the melted butter and knead for 7 minutes or until you get a smooth dough. You can do this step using a stand mixer.
Cover the dough and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour in a warm place.
Knead the dough for 1 minute. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form 7 equal size balls from the dough should weigh 90gm each. Roll out into 10” strips and place them on the lined baking sheet. Cover and let the sticks double in size in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour.
Preheat your oven to 400F/200C.
Bake the breadsticks for 12 to 14 minutes.
While the breadsticks are baking, in a small bowl, mix ¼ cup butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt until well combined.
When the breadsticks are out of the oven, brush them immediately with the butter and garlic mixture. Repeat the brushing more than one time since the breadstick will soak the butter mix rather quickly.
Place the breadstick on a cooling rack to cool completely; you can then serve them or freeze them. (Read the notes).

Kneading by hand for at least 7 minutes will ensure light breadsticks that will stay moist even after freezing and thawing them.
You can use olive oil instead of butter to brush the breadsticks, but the flavor and smell will be a little different.
If your kitchen is cold, the dough might take up to 2 hours to rise.
To help the dough rise faster, turn on the oven for 2 minutes, turn it off, and place the covered dough in it to increase in size. You can also set the bowl in a warm water bath; it will help the dough rise in a shorter amount of time.
To store the breadsticks, place them in a Ziplock bag, remove as much air from the bag as possible and seal it. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw frozen breadsticks, place as many as you want to thaw in a microwave-friendly plate and microwave for a few seconds.
Variation: In the video, I have brushed three breadsticks with egg wash and sprinkled sesame on top; later, I pressed the sesame gently on the breadstick using the back of the spoon to help it stick. You can also add a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese to the butter garlic mixture and omit the salt.
Serving suggestion: Although you can dip these sticks in your favorite sauce and enjoy every bite, you can make a light sandwich like smoked turkey with a cheese sandwich. I love the combination, and it is perfect for breakfast.
This post was originally published in 2017, and is updated with a video and more information.