Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

There’s something comforting about recreating restaurant-style favorites at home, especially when the results feel just as satisfying. These Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks bring that soft, fluffy texture people love, with the added value of fresh, homemade convenience that fits perfectly into everyday home cooking.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe!

If Olive Garden Breadsticks are your favorite part of the experience, this recipe is made for you. Even if it’s been a long time since your last visit, the familiar flavor instantly brings back memories of warm baskets arriving at the table, ready to be enjoyed without limits.

These Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are designed to be simple and approachable. You don’t need special skills, advanced tools, or complicated techniques to get great results. It’s the kind of recipe that feels comfortable for casual home cooks while still delivering impressive texture and taste.

They’re perfect for weeknight dinners, cozy family meals, or anytime you want to add something warm and comforting to the table. These breadsticks effortlessly elevate simple dishes and make meals feel more complete and thoughtfully prepared.

Just a quick warning before you start baking—these breadsticks are incredibly hard to resist. Soft, fluffy, and full of familiar flavor, they tend to disappear fast once they’re served. Making them at home means you can enjoy them whenever the craving strikes.

Yield: 16 BREADSTICKS

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

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These Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are soft and fluffy on the inside just like the real deal. This breadstick recipe is the perfect complement to any meal, or a delicious snack all on its own. These always turn out perfectly soft, fluffy and chewy and no one can resist that garlic butter topping!

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the Breadsticks:

• 1 1/2 c. warm water
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1 packet yeast (.75oz - or 1 Tbsp)
• 2 tsp fine sea salt (and a bit extra to sprinkle on top)
• 2 Tbsp butter (softened)
• 4-5 c. bread flour (you can also use All-Purpose flour, but they will turn out denser)

For the topping:

• 1/4 c. butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast
2. Let it proof for 10 minutes, and get nice and foamy. Then, mix in the 2 tsp of salt, 2 tbsp of softened butter, and about 3 cups of the flour. Keep adding the remaining flour until you get a nice, soft dough that pulls away from the side of the bowl and isn't too sticky.

Now the dough has to rise for 1 hour

1. If you have a warm kitchen, you can cover the bowl with a damp towel and leave it on the counter.
2. My kitchen is far too cold, so I warm my oven (just until it reaches 170°F) and turn it off. Then, I set a dish of hot water on the lower rack, and the bowl with the dough on the top rack. This keeps everything nice, warm, and moist. (It's important to remember to turn the oven off!)
3. After an hour, punch the dough down, and separate it into 14-16 balls.
4. Roll the balls into "snakes" and place on 2 greased cookie sheets. These now go back to rise for another 15-30 minutes (or until they've doubled in size)
5. After they rise, melt the 1/4 c. of butter, and mix with the garlic powder. Brush over the unbaked breadsticks. Sprinkle the tops with fine sea salt.
6. Bake at 400°F, for 12-14 minutes - or until golden brown.
7. Brush once more with the garlic butter mixture.

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