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Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks {Better Than Olive Garden}

5 from 1 vote

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These Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks are the perfect bread for spaghetti and lasagna. And pretty much anything else with Italian flavors.

breadsticks and marinara sauce on blue serving plate

We love bread around here.

Probably a little too much to be honest.

And I also love to bake bread, so that’s sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bit of a problem….

But it is pretty cool to be able to serve the perfect bread for any meal.

We went through a lot of variations, to come up with the perfect parmesan rosemary breadsticks recipe.

These easy homemade breadsticks have a lovely soft crust. And the flavor! They taste just like Olive Garden breadsticks!

These Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks are the perfect bread for spaghetti and lasagna. And pretty much anything else with Italian flavors.

Did you know bread sticks are awesome to sop up all that extra pasta sauce on your plate?

Or even to dip into a big steaming bowl of tomato soup!

And while they’re perfect for dinner, they’re also a great appetizer for parties, potlucks, and game day get togethers.

You can serve these breadsticks all by themselves, but they’re even better dunked in homemade Marinara Sauce or dipping oil!

You could even make these into balls instead of breadsticks.

That would make the dunking even more fun!

You can freeze them before or after baking so there are always some waiting for you in the freezer!

Here’s what you need for this parmesan rosemary breadsticks recipe.

parmesan rosemary bread sticks in cloth lined basket

Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups water water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast OR one package
  • 3 to 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon course ground pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons dried rosemary, chopped
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

Measure warm water into a liquid measuring cup and add the yeast. Stir to dissolve yeast and set aside for a few minutes.

You can use a stand mixer to make these Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks, or you can just mix and knead them by hand in a large bowl.

I prefer making bread by hand.

You can get rid of a lot of stress kneading bread dough…

Anyway, whichever bowl you’re using, put 2 cups of flour in it.

Now, to that same bowl, add the parmesan cheese, minced onion, salt & pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary. Give that a mix to combine.

dry ingredients in mixing bowl

And now pour in the yeast and water mixture. Mix that in well. It will be very batter-esque.

Once that’s mixed well, add enough of the remaining flour to get a wet and shaggy dough. Add the flour a little at a time. Too much flour will make the breadsticks dry.

wet and dry ingredients mixing together in  bowl with dough hook

This dough is going to be a little sticky. It’s supposed to be.

Don’t worry!

Kneading

In a stand mixer:

Use an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment and knead for 8 to 10 minutes.

By hand:

Transfer dough to a lightly floured dough board or counter and knead steadily for 8 to 10 minutes. Add just enough flour to keep it from sticking to the counter.

It should be a soft dough, just slightly sticky, and elastic.

1st Rise

Give your bowl a quick rinse and the grease or butter the bowl so the dough doesn’t stick while it rises.

Form the dough into a ball and put it in the greased bowl top side down. Now turn it over so that the top is greased.

kneaded parmesan rosemary breadsticks dough in buttered bowl

Cover the bowl with a damp bread cloth or plastic wrap, and place in a warm place that’s draft free.

Let the bread dough rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled.

Forming the Breadsticks

After the bread dough has doubled, punch it down and turn it out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface.

Using a sharp knife, pizza cutter, or bench knife, divide the dough into 16 pieces, approximately 2 ounces each.

dough balls for breadsticks on counter

You can use a digital kitchen scale or you can just eyeball it.

No one will ever know…

Grab each one of the dough balls and press them out on the counter top into rectangles.

Then take those rectangles and roll them up into a rope or log about 6 to 8 inches in length.

flattened dough ball being rolled up

The thinner they are, the faster they will cook, and the crunchier they will be.

Grab some baking sheets and get them ready. You can cover your baking sheet with parchment paper to make clean up easier. Or you can just butter or oil the pan.

parmesan rosemary breadsticks on baking an for 2nd rise

Put those logs on the lined baking sheets (or buttered) to rise, making sure that you leave about 2 inches all around the logs.

2nd Rise

Cover the breadsticks with a damp bread cloth or plastic wrap, put them in a warm draft free area, and let them rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Baking the Breadsticks

Preheat your oven to 350°F about 15 minutes before baking.

In a small bowl, melt the 4 tablespoons butter and mix in the 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt.

I like to melt the butter my cast iron butter melting pot.

I just put it into the oven while it’s pre-heating, and the butter melts in no time!

With a pastry brush, brush the Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks with the melted butter.

butter brushed on risen breadsticks

You could sprinkle a little more parmesan, or rosemary, or even some parsley on them for a little extra something.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes for soft breadsticks, or 20 minutes for breadsticks that are more crusty.

They will be a beautiful light golden brown when done.

Remove from the oven and brush with any remaining garlic butter and serve warm with dipping oil or Marinara Sauce.

These Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks pair really well with anything that has other Italian herbs like oregano, basil, or parsley.

parmesan rosemary breadsticks in blue serving dish with bowl of marinara sauce

What to put a sweet twist on this breadstick recipe? It’s easy as pie!

Here’s what you need to do.

Leave out all the seasonings except salt, and add 1/4 packed brown sugar to the flour before adding the yeast and mix well. Follow the rest of the instructions for mixing, shaping, and rising as written.

Right before baking, brush with melted butter and bake as directed. After baking, brush with more melted butter and sprinkle liberally with a cinnamon sugar mixture.

I tell you what, that makes a pretty perfect ending to any meal!

Frequently Asked Questions About Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks

Can I freeze the unbaked dough?

Absolutely! Form the bread into logs and place them in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Pop that in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours (minimum) until they are firm.

Then pop them into an airtight container or zip top freezer bag.

To use them from the freezer, put them on baking sheets and allow to thaw and come to room temperature.

Then carry on with the following instructions for the 2nd rise and bake.

How long do homemade breadsticks last?

Not long at my house! But seriously, they won’t last as long as the ones from the store with all the preservatives in them.

These will only keep in a tightly sealed container for about 3 days on the counter.

So eat them up fast!

Can I freeze these breadsticks?

Absolutely you can! Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and toss in a zip top freezer bag. They should last about 3 months in the freezer.

To thaw, leave on the counter for a few hours, or wrap in parchment paper and the foil and put in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to reheat.

More delicious breads for you to make:

Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks

These Soft Parmesan Rosemary Breadsticks are the perfect bread for spaghetti and lasagna. And pretty much anything else with Italian flavors.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rising Times 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 16 breadsticks
Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or one package.
  • 3 – 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried homemade minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons dried rosemary chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, measure warm water and yeast into mixing bowl. Stir to dissolve. Set aside until bubbly.
  • Into a large mixing bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer, add two cups flour, parmesan cheese, minced onion, salt & pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary.
  • Pour in the yeast and water mixture and beat well.
  • Add enough remaining flour to get a wet and shaggy dough. The dough will be sticky.
  • Turn onto a lightly floured board and knead for eight to 10 minutes.
  • Grease bowl and let the bread dough rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled.
  • Divide into 16 pieces, approximately 2 ounces each.
  • Roll each piece into a log and place on baking sheets to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
  • The logs should be six to eight inches in length.
  • Melt the 4 tablespoons butter and add garlic salt.
  • Brush the dough with garlic butter and bake at 350°F for 15 to 18 minutes for soft breadsticks, or 20 minutes for breadsticks that are more crusty.
  • Brush with more garlic butter after removing from oven. Serve warm.

Notes

Serve warm with dipping oil or Marinara Sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bread stickCalories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 8gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 367mgPotassium: 89mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 123IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 3mg
Keyword bread recipe, breadsticks
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
By on January 30th, 2022

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