Homemade Freezer Garlic Bread

This homemade freezer garlic bread is ready whenever you need it. Prep and freeze the slices ahead of time, then bake just a few or as many as you need straight from the freezer.

At a Glance

• What it is: Homemade freezer garlic bread made with French bread and a buttery garlic-Parmesan spread, then frozen so it’s ready whenever you need it.
• When to make it: Make a batch when you have a loaf of French bread on hand and want an easy, make-ahead side tucked away in the freezer.
• What to serve with it: Serve it with pasta, soup, or any meal that could use a little garlic bread on the side.
• Time: About 5 to 10 minutes to prepare, plus 30 minutes of freezing time.
• Cooking for two: Freeze the slices individually and bake only what you need. The rest can stay in the freezer for another meal.
• Skill level: Easy.

Ingredients & Substitutions

You’ll find exact measurements in the recipe card below.

• French bread: My Sourdough Discard French Bread works perfectly here. Store-bought French bread works well too, but keep in mind that my homemade loaf is slightly smaller, so a larger store-bought loaf may need a bit more garlic butter to cover it. 
• Salted butter: Softened butter is easy to mix and spread. Unsalted butter works too. If using unsalted, add a little salt to the garlic butter mixture to taste.
• Fresh garlic: Adds fresh, bright garlic flavor. I like grating it with a Microplane for even distribution; a fine mince works well if you don't have one.
• Garlic powder: Rounds out the garlic flavor and helps distribute it through every bite. Adjust up or down to taste.
• Fresh parsley: Adds color and freshness. Dried works too - use about 2 teaspoons in place of fresh.
• Parmesan cheese: Adds savory, salty flavor to the garlic butter.

How to Make Freezer Garlic Bread

1. Slice the bread. Cut the French bread into about 1-inch-thick slices.
2. Make the garlic butter. Mix the softened butter, grated garlic, garlic powder, parsley, and Parmesan until well combined.
3. Spread over the bread. Spread a generous, even layer of garlic butter on one side of each slice, all the way to the edges.
4. Freeze. Arrange the slices, buttered side up, in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes, or until the butter is firm. This prevents the slices from sticking together during storage.
5. Store for later. Transfer the frozen slices to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, pressing out excess air to help prevent freezer burn. Store for up to 3 months, and pull out only as many slices as you need.

How to Bake Garlic Bread From Frozen

There’s no need to thaw the garlic bread before baking.

• Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the frozen slices on a baking sheet, buttered-side up. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly toasted.
• Toaster oven: For a smaller batch of 2 to 4 slices, bake at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until warmed through and lightly toasted.
• Air fryer: Arrange the frozen slices buttered-side up in a single layer. Air fry at 360°F for 5 to 8 minutes, checking toward the lower end of the range since air fryers can vary.

How to Serve

• With pasta: Serve a few slices alongside One-Pan Boursin Chicken Pasta for an easy, cozy dinner.
• With soup: Pair it with Vegetable Orzo Soup or Butternut Squash Bisque for a simple, satisfying meal.
• With a hearty main: Serve it alongside Meatloaf or Chicken Roulade when you want an easy bread side.
• For a quick side: Since the slices bake straight from frozen, pull out just a few whenever dinner needs something extra.

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