Air Fryer Garlic Bread

Name: Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 21 min
Total time: 26 min
Ingredients: 1 baguette (sliced into 1" slices); 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened to room temperature); 8-10 garlic cloves (minced (5-6 tablespoons)); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; Shredded mozzarella (option for cheesy bread)

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Air Fryer Garlic Bread is golden brown and buttery with crispy edges and plenty of garlic flavor. This is an easy homemade garlic bread recipe that takes just 5-7 minutes per batch in the air fryer!

You guys, I’m going to be bold and say that this is the only way to prepare garlic bread! I mean, if you’re a lover of garlic bread and prepare it as much as we do, you’re going to want to try it in the air fryer. It’s super easy and takes no time at all!

Overhead view of 4 pieces of garlic bread arranged on a wooden board.

Garlic bread is on the menu for us at least once a week. It just goes with so many recipes! We love pairing it with this Instant Pot Bolognese, Instant Pot turkey chili or Instant Pot tomato soup for a warm and cozy dinner.

Of course, it’s also delicious served with pizza or pasta like this scallop scampi, Jamaican jerk chicken pizza or easy vegetarian lasagna!

Not only is this a super easy recipe, but the bread gets ultra crispy in the air fryer but the middle stays soft and buttery. And, if you love garlic, this recipe is heavy on the homemade garlic butter!

Check out the air fryer garlic bread story!

Why this recipe works

Making garlic bread is a great way to use up bread that’s getting a bit stale. And making your own is so much better than store-bought! While buying pre-made garlic bread is easy and inexpensive, it just doesn’t have the same fresh flavor as homemade.
Air fryer garlic bread toasts up golden brown in less time than the oven, and it frees up oven space to bake up your main dish like this spicy mac and cheese!
It’s so easy to customize this recipe. You can add cheese, cut back on the garlic (or add more!) and use any kind of bread you have on hand! You can also half the recipe or make a single batch.
It’s just the most delicious garlic bread. The recipe doesn't skimp on the garlic butter, so the bread is rich, buttery and garlicky! We could make a meal on it with a little homemade marinara sauce on the side, or even this beef consommé. So good!

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and their quantities, refer to the recipe card below.

You’ll need 1 baguette for this recipe, sliced into 1" slices. I normally use a French baguette, but you can also use an Italian loaf.

Butter is essential for garlic bread, so this recipe calls for 10 tablespoons of unsalted butter. You’ll want to soften it to room temperature so it mixes easily with the garlic and seasonings.

Speaking of garlic, you’ll need 8-10 cloves of garlic to mix in with the butter. Once minced, it will equal 5-6 tablespoons. For the best flavor, avoid the jarred garlic and go for fresh cloves.

For seasonings, we’re keeping it simple but flavorful and adding pepper, salt and Italian seasoning to the butter mixture.

If you’d like to make this garlic bread cheesy, just have some shredded mozzarella on hand!

Step by step instructions

Mix the butter, garlic, pepper, salt and Italian seasoning in a bowl.

Butter and seasoning for the garlic bread mixed together in a glass bowl.

Spread on the slices of bread.

Place in the air fryer in a single layer (you'll need to do several batches).

Four pieces of garlic bread arranged in an air fryer basket.

Cook at 350F for 5-7 minutes. Start checking at 4 minutes for doneness.

If you’d like to make it cheesy, once the garlic bread has cooked for 4-5 minutes, remove and top with shredded mozzarella (or any kind of meltable cheese).

Air fry for another 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned and melted.

Side view of garlic bread topped with mozzarella cheese.

Expert tips

I cut my baguette into 1-inch slices. If you cut your bread into thicker slices, it will end up with a softer texture and less crispy. Thinner slices will get extra crispy.
If your air fryer model requires preheating, go ahead and preheat it before adding the garlic bread. Preheating may result in the bread air frying a little faster.
Air fry the bread in a single layer. This means you’ll need to air fry in multiple batches. Since the air fryer is hot, additional batches may air fry a little quicker.
The garlic bread will brown and get crispy quickly, so start checking on it after 4 minutes.
This recipe is great to serve a crowd. For just a few people, you can definitely half the recipe or make a single batch.
Make sure the butter is brought to room temperature. You don’t want it melted, but it should be soft enough to mix together easily with the garlic and seasonings.
You can substitute fresh parsley or chives for the Italian seasoning. Or use a mix of dried herbs like oregano or basil.
If you’re using salted butter, you may wish to reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe.
Different air fryer brands and models will vary, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly for this bread.

Side view of air fried garlic bread on a wooden board.

Common questions

What’s the best bread to use for garlic bread?

A classic French baguette or an Italian loaf work well for garlic bread. Ciabatta and sourdough will work too, and even white sandwich bread will do in a pinch!

How do you make it cheesy garlic bread?

Let the garlic bread air fry for 4-5 minutes. Then, open the air fryer basket and top the bread with shredded mozzarella (or any kind of meltable cheese). Air fry for another 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned and melted.

Another option is to stir some shredded cheese into the garlic butter mixture and spread it all on the bread together. I like to do this when using shredded parmesan cheese.

What’s the best temperature to air fry garlic bread?

To get the crispy edges and buttery centre, you’ll want to air fry the garlic bread at 350F degrees. At this temperature, the butter will melt into the soft bread and the edges of the bread will get golden brown and crispy. A higher temperature may burn the edges before the butter fully melts into the bread.

How long does it take to air fry garlic bread?

At 350F degrees, it will take just 5-7 minutes for each batch of garlic bread to air fry.

What can you serve with garlic bread?

You can serve garlic bread with pizza, pasta, salad, soups, chilis, steak, ribs or meatballs. Some of our favorite pairings include tandoori chicken pizza, creamy pesto pasta with meatballs, Instant Pot pork ribs, one pot Cajun pasta, warm curried chickpea salad and air fryer eggplant parmesan.

Close up view of a piece of garlic bread topped with chopped herbs.

Storage and reheating leftovers

Garlic bread is best enjoyed hot and fresh straight out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat, place the bread in the microwave for a few seconds or warm it in the oven or air fryer until heated through.

Make ahead instructions

You can prepare the garlic bread in advance and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. Just spread the garlic butter on the bread slices and store in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge. Cook in the air fryer when ready to enjoy.

You can also freeze garlic bread for up to 3 months. Just arrange the buttered bread slices on a baking sheet and freeze. (You’ll want the butter to set). Then, add the frozen bread to an airtight container or freezer bag and place in the freezer.

To air fry, place the frozen bread slices in the air fryer basket and air fry on 340F degrees for 7-10 minutes.

Four pieces of air fryer garlic bread arranged on a wooden board.

Other air fryer recipes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!