Homemade Chili Garlic Bread

Buttery bread with fresh garlic and herbs that is toasted to perfection with a kick of green chillies, this homemade chilli garlic bread is the best one that you will want to make and eat all the time.

Fresh garlic, garlic powder, minced green chillies and minced parsley are mixed with butter softened to room temperature. This is then smeared on rustic bread loaf and baked to toasty perfection.

Garlic bread or parmesan garlic knots are a staple at our house, especially when we make pasta and salads for dinner. I am sure garlic bread is a go-to in most households too. It is a delicious and easy to make side that is a favourite of everyone.

Ingredients 

The ingredient list for making this chilli garlic bread is very simple. Bread, unsalted butter, fresh garlic, fresh parsley, garlic powder, fresh green chillies and salt. That is all.

What is the best bread for garlic bread?

Use any crusty loaf of bread for making garlic bread. Fresh bread is a must and you can’t go wrong with French or Italian bread.

Why use fresh garlic and garlic powder to make garlic bread?

Fresh garlic gives that deep garlic flavor and nothing can beat that. Garlic powder adds a layer of flavor to the garlic by making sure it is there in each and every bite and not when a piece of garlic is there. The combination of these two in the butter mixture definitely takes it up a few levels.

Why use chilli in garlic bread?

I used chilli in this garlic bread recipe as it is a chilli garlic bread. Chilli is not conventionally used in regular garlic bread. My first taste of garlic bread was cheesy chilli garlic bread in Pizza Hut in India. I was disappointed when there was no chilli in the garlic bread here in the US. So, I decided to make my own recipe for it.

Do you have to use cheese in garlic bread?

Cheesy garlic bread is definitely delicious. You can use parmesan for it. But you don't have to use cheese in garlic bread. Butter, garlic, salt and herbs are the key ingredients in garlic bread. Cheese, chilli or both are wonderful additions to  regular garlic bread.

Why use unsalted butter if salt is being added anyway?

By using unsalted butter and adding salt to it, you can control the amount of salt in your garlic bread. 

Method

• In a medium sized bowl, add unsalted butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, minced parsley, minced green chillies (use Thai green chillies) and salt. Mix well with a fork to incorporate all the ingredients together to make a garlic butter.
• Slice a medium to large loaf of bread into half. Spread the garlic butter on the inside of both halves.

• Place with the garlic mixture side up on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for about 8-12 mins till toasty and golden brown.
• Remove from the oven, let cool down for a couple of minutes. Cut them up into 1-inch thick slices / sticks. Serve warm.

Recipe tips

• If the green chilli heat is too much for you but you still want the flavor, use jalapenos instead. Remove the seeds and then chop it up finely.
• Instead of green chillies, you can use red chilli flakes also.

How to make ahead chilli garlic bread

This recipe is so very simple that I normally wouldn't make it ahead. But if you do need to, for some reason, slice the bread and spread the garlic butter mixture on one side. Keep the garlic butter mixture side up and place on a baking sheet. Chill till the butter hardens.

Wrap individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer Ziploc to freeze till later. 

To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as usual and serve warm.

You will also love these holiday appetizers

Pear Crostini with Goat Cheese, Honey and Rosemary, Truffle Grilled Cheese Party Bites, Lamb Kebabs with Cilantro Mint Cauliflower Puree , Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Pinwheels and Truffle Polenta Bites with Wild Mushroom Sauté are some other great holiday appetizers.