Not sure what goes with garlic bread? Or looking for some new ways to use your favourite side dish? From classic combos like pasta and soup to fun, creative ideas and even some ways to use leftovers. I’ve got you covered!
I love garlic bread. In all of its formations! A crunchy garlic baguette, soft garlic and herb flatbreads, cheesy garlic bread, garlic ciabatta slices, and even garlic bread with chilli and tomato. It’s all delicious.
Garlic bread is commonly served with pasta and other Italian dishes and is perfect for mopping up rich, fragrant sauces or for adding a more filling element to a lighter dinner.
But it’s so much more than that. Adding some garlic bread is a fantastic way to add taste and texture to your favourite dinners. If you are asking what goes with garlic bread, the answer is probably much more than you think.
So, whether you are looking for some warming comfort food, a tasty starter, or a filling side dish, make sure there’s room on your plate, and in your stomach, for some delicious garlic bread!
Classic Dishes to Serve with Garlic Bread
While I love to get creative with recipes, and I certainly don’t think any rules or traditions should dictate what we eat, I often think the classics are classics for a reason.
Pasta Dishes
What to serve with garlic bread? Pasta, of course!
One of the most common options for garlic bread meals is your favourite pasta dishes.
Garlic bread is perfect with pasta because it offers a contrasting texture with its crunchiness, and it’s ideal for mopping up any sauce. Most pasta dishes contain a lot of garlic, too, so the flavours don’t contrast too much.
What goes well with garlic bread when it comes to pasta dinners? All of them?!
Some of my favourite pasta meals to serve with garlic bread include spaghetti Bolognese, carbonara, lasagne, fettuccine Alfredo and stuffed pasta dishes like tortellini.
Soup Pairings
Soup is commonly served with bread, and garlic bread is a fantastic alternative to dry bread or simple bread and butter.
Dipping garlic bread in your favourite soup recipe adds crunchy and flavour and leaves a little garlic in the soup.
For the ultimate comfort food, serve slices of chunky garlic bread with your favourite soup recipes or a good old tomato soup. Perfect for an autumn lunch!
Pizza & Other Italian Dishes
Garlic bread is popular with all classic Italian Dishes, so when we’re considering what to eat with garlic bread, we have to look at pizza.
Personally, I don’t serve garlic bread with pizza, and nor do all Italian restaurants. Yes, the flavours are complementary, but that’s a lot of bread, and the meal might be a little heavy.
I might serve a garlic flatbread if I was sharing a pizza. But certainly not if I was eating a whole one on my own.
Grilled Meats & Chicken
Garlic bread pairs perfectly with grilled meats like chicken, steak, or beef. The buttery, garlicky flavours complement the smoky richness of grilled dishes, making it a great addition to your meal.
For the best results, serve garlic bread with juicy cuts like ribeye steak, sirloin, grilled chicken thighs, or a classic BBQ beef brisket. The bread can soak up the delicious juices, enhancing the overall meal.
Unique Ideas for Garlic Bread Pairings
They might be classic, but they certainly aren’t the only ways to eat garlic bread, and if you are only serving your garlic bread with pasta, you are missing out!
Salads
Cheesy garlic bread with fresh herbs makes a great side dish for classic crisp salads like a Caesar salad or Greek salad.
The textures and flavours complement each other perfectly, and having some bread to soak up leftover dressing is perfect.
Serving salads with garlic bread is a wonderful and tasty way to turn a light meal into a more filling and satisfying lunch or dinner.
Seafoods
Seafood with garlic bread is another tasty option. Whether served simply with olive oil, or in something like a lemon butter sauce, seafood is juicy and needs something like bread so you don’t waste any of those lovely oils.
Seafood like lobster, prawns, mussels or shrimp and all fantastic with a side of garlic bread.
Dips
For a really simple snack or lunch, serve garlic bread or garlic bread sticks with dips like hummus or sour cream and chives.
What Cheese Goes Best with Garlic Bread?
Cheesy garlic bread is a tasty side that lots of us love. Whether you make your own garlic bread at home with a garlic butter spread or prefer store-bought, adding some cheese is a great way to jazz it up a bit, but what cheese goes with garlic bread best?
Anything that melts! Sprinkle parmesan cheese, mature cheddar, or mozzarella (or a combination!) onto slices of bread spread thickly with garlic butter, and grill. Perfect.
Creative Garlic Bread Recipe Ideas
Want to get funky with your garlic bread recipe? Good, there’s tons that you can do!
Garlic Bread Recipe with Fresh Herbs
Add fresh herbs, like chopped parsley, thyme or rosemary, to your garlic bread for some additional flavour.
If you are in a hurry, mix a little dried mixed herbs, or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper in with your garlic butter before spreading on the bread and grilling.
Garlic Bread Pizza
Take garlic bread to the next level by using it as a base for mini pizzas. Top with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favourite pizza toppings (pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, and, yes, pineapple). Bake until the cheese melts for a quick and easy garlic bread pizza snack.
Garlic Bread with Pesto Swirls
Add an Italian twist to classic garlic bread by spreading fresh basil pesto over the bread before baking. The nutty, herbaceous flavour of the pesto complements the garlic butter beautifully. For a fancier look, roll up the bread, slice it into swirls, and bake as bite-sized treats.
Loaded Garlic Bread Nachos
Turn garlic bread into the ultimate sharing dish by layering slices with melted cheese, cooked mince, jalapeños, sour cream, and salsa. The result is a fusion of nachos and garlic bread that’s perfect for a crowd.
Garlic Bread Soup Bowls
Hollow out large garlic bread rolls to create edible soup bowls. Serve creamy tomato soup or French onion soup inside the garlic bread bowl, letting the bread soak up all the delicious flavours for a comforting meal.
Garlic Bread Stuffed with Cheese and Spinach
Make stuffed garlic bread by filling slices with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and wilted spinach before baking. The combination of garlicky crust and cheesy, creamy filling creates a mouthwatering dish.
Sweet Garlic Bread with Honey and Cinnamon
For a surprising dessert twist, make sweet garlic bread by brushing it with a mixture of honey, cinnamon, and a hint of garlic butter. The sweet and savoury combination will leave your taste buds intrigued and satisfied.
Garlic Bread Topped with Prosciutto and Rocket
Add a gourmet flair to garlic bread by topping slices with thinly sliced prosciutto, fresh rocket (arugula), and a drizzle of olive oil. This elegant version is perfect as a starter or a light lunch with a glass of wine.
Garlic Bread with Blue Cheese and Pear
or a bold and sophisticated flavour combo, spread a layer of blue cheese over garlic bread, then top with thin slices of fresh pear. The sweet and salty contrast creates a unique, gourmet-style appetiser or snack.
Garlic Bread with Creamy Mushroom Topping
Sauteé mushrooms in butter and garlic until they’re golden and creamy, then spoon them over toasted garlic bread. Garnish with fresh herbs like thyme or parsley for an earthy, comforting dish that pairs perfectly with a glass of red wine.
Leftover Garlic Bread Recipes
I know we’re guilty of cooking far too much garlic bread. We put a massive bowl on the table, and I serve giant bowls of pasta, and we just can’t eat it all.
Fortunately, there are lots of things that you can do with that leftover garlic bread and some creative garlic bread dinner ideas that will help you cut waste and save money.
So, don’t throw it away. Wrap it, pop it in the fridge and try these leftover garlic bread recipes the next day.
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich
For the ultimate cheesy indulgence, make a grilled cheese sandwich using garlic bread instead of regular bread. Load it with gooey mozzarella, cheddar, and a sprinkle of parmesan, then grill until the cheese oozes out.
Perfect!
You can air fry these too!
Garlic Bread Bruschetta
Transform garlic bread into an appetiser by topping slices with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. This garlic bread bruschetta is a fresh and zesty twist, perfect for summer gatherings or a light snack.
Garlic Bread Croutons
Use leftover garlic bread to make homemade croutons. Simply cut the bread into cubes, toast them in the oven until crispy, and use them to top salads or soups for extra crunch and flavour.
Serve on soup or a salad for a tasty lunch.
Garlic Bread Breadcrumbs
Blitz leftover garlic bread in a food processor to create flavoured breadcrumbs. These can be used as a topping for pasta bakes and casseroles or sprinkled over roasted vegetables for extra texture and flavour.
Garlic Bread Panzanella
Make a garlic-flavoured version of this classic Italian bread salad by tossing chunks of garlic bread with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Let the bread soak up the juices for a refreshing, summery dish.
Garlic Bread Stuffing
Use your leftover garlic bread as the base for stuffing. Tear the bread into chunks, then mix with sautéed onions, celery, herbs, and stock. Bake until crispy on top and soft inside—a great accompaniment for roast chicken or turkey.
Garlic Bread Breakfast Bake
Turn garlic bread into a hearty breakfast casserole. Layer slices in a baking dish, add cooked sausage, cheese, and whisked eggs, then bake until the egg mixture sets. It’s a savoury take on French toast, perfect for a weekend brunch.
Garlic Bread Soup Topping
Instead of the usual croutons, float slices of leftover garlic bread on top of a bowl of soup. Whether it’s French onion soup or tomato soup, the garlic bread will soak up the flavours and add a rich, garlicky twist.
My son used to call these boats!
Garlic Bread Meatball Sub
Use leftover garlic bread to make a hearty meatball sub. Stuff the bread with meatballs, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella for a quick, satisfying meal that’s full of flavour.
Garlic Bread Chips
Cut leftover garlic bread into thin slices, bake until crispy, and use as garlic-flavoured chips. Serve them alongside dips like hummus or guacamole for a tasty snack.
Tips for Serving Garlic Bread
How to serve garlic bread? However you want to! If we are serving garlic bread with a meal, we tend to serve it sliced up in a bowl to share on the table.
Things like garlic flatbread might be better served sliced into strips or fingers.
A big question here is, can I eat garlic bread on its own? YES! Garlic bread doesn’t need to be part of or on the side of a meal. If you want to serve garlic bread on its own, do it! NO FOOD RULES!
FAQs
What can you eat with garlic bread?
Traditional Italian dishes like pizza, pasta and seafood are great with garlic bread.
Why is garlic bread served with pasta?
It’s great for mopping up sauce!
What herb goes with garlic bread?
Any Italian herbs work well with garlic bread.
What cheese goes with garlic bread?
Cheeses that melt like parmesan, cheddar and mozzarella are perfect on garlic bread.
What are some good spreads to put on garlic bread aside from butter?
Instead of butter, try spreading olive oil with fresh herbs, pesto, or cream cheese on your garlic bread. Hummus, tapenade, ricotta with honey, or mashed avocado also make delicious alternatives.
Does garlic bread go good as a side dish with any Italian dishes?
Pizza and pasta are perfect with garlic bread.
What are good side dishes to serve with pizza?
Garlic bread, potato wedges, coleslaw and your favourite dips.
Do Italian restaurants serve garlic bread?
Yes.
Can you put anything on garlic bread instead of butter?
Olive oil, cheese, cream cheese and pesto.
Garlic bread is so versatile, it’s an awesome side dish for a huge variety of meals, from classic Italian dishes to less traditional options. It can even be the base for a meal in its own right!
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