🧄🧈 Garlic Butter Knots
Soft, fluffy, golden, and brushed with irresistible garlic butter, these homemade Garlic Butter Knots are the perfect side for pasta, pizza, soups, and cozy family dinners.
Made with a simple yeast dough, each knot bakes up beautifully tender inside with a lightly golden exterior. They’re finished while warm with melted butter, fresh garlic, parsley, and a touch of salt for maximum flavor.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 15–18 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 40 minutes
Yield: 12 knots
Difficulty: Easy
Method: Oven-Baked
🛒 Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2¼ teaspoons (7 g) instant yeast
- ¾ cup (180 ml) warm milk
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
For the Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Additions
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Extra chopped parsley, for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast.
Add the warm milk, melted butter, and egg.
Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until a soft, shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead the Dough
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface.
Knead for approximately 8–10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth, soft, and elastic.
Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead on low-medium speed for approximately 5–7 minutes.
The dough should be soft and slightly tacky but shouldn’t stick heavily to your hands.
3. Let the Dough Rise
Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly greased bowl.
Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
Place in a warm, draft-free area and let rise for approximately 45–60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
4. Prepare the Garlic Butter
While the dough rises, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and salt in a small bowl.
Stir well and set aside.
If desired, add Parmesan, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
5. Divide the Dough
Once the dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to release excess air.
Transfer it to a lightly floured surface.
Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces.
For perfectly even knots, use a kitchen scale.
6. Shape the Knots
Roll each piece of dough into a rope approximately 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) long.
Tie the rope into a simple loose knot.
Tuck one end underneath and bring the other end through the center.
Don’t pull the knot too tightly—the dough needs room to expand while baking.
Repeat with the remaining pieces.
7. Arrange and Rest
Place the knots on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each one.
Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel.
Let them rest for 15–20 minutes while you preheat the oven.
8. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
For a softer bottom crust, bake the knots on a light-colored baking sheet.
9. Bake the Knots
Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the knots are puffed and lightly golden brown on top.
Avoid overbaking—the goal is a soft, fluffy interior.
10. Brush With Garlic Butter
As soon as the knots come out of the oven, generously brush them with the prepared garlic butter.
Make sure the butter reaches the tops, sides, and crevices of each knot.
For an extra-garlicky finish, brush them a second time after a couple of minutes.
11. Finish and Serve
Sprinkle with additional chopped parsley and Parmesan if desired.
Serve warm.
The knots are especially delicious while the centers are still soft and fluffy.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Use warm, not hot, milk: Very hot milk can damage the yeast. The milk should feel comfortably warm to the touch.
Don’t add too much flour: A soft dough creates softer knots. Add flour gradually only if the dough is excessively sticky.
Don’t tie the knots too tightly: They need space to expand during the second rise and baking.
Brush immediately: Applying garlic butter while the knots are hot allows the butter to soak into the surface.
Use fresh garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the butter a much stronger and more aromatic flavor than garlic powder.
Watch the baking time: Slightly golden is perfect. Overbaking can make the knots dry.
🧄 Easy Variations
Parmesan Garlic Knots
Add ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan to the garlic butter and sprinkle more over the warm knots.
Cheesy Garlic Knots
Insert a small piece of mozzarella into the center of each dough strip before tying the knot.
Spicy Garlic Knots
Add ¼–½ teaspoon red pepper flakes to the garlic butter.
Herb & Garlic Knots
Add fresh basil, oregano, rosemary, or Italian seasoning to the garlic butter.
Extra-Buttery Knots
Brush the knots lightly with butter before baking, then generously brush them again immediately after they come out of the oven.
Pizza-Style Knots
Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
🍝 What to Serve With Garlic Knots
These knots are perfect alongside:
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Lasagna
- Chicken Parmesan
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Baked ziti
- Tomato soup
- Creamy chicken soup
- Pizza
- Caesar salad
- Pasta primavera
They’re also fantastic as an appetizer served with warm marinara sauce.
🧊 Storage
Store cooled garlic knots in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 4 days, although refrigeration can slightly firm the bread.
🔥 Reheating
For soft, freshly baked results, warm the knots in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5–8 minutes.
You can also microwave individual knots for approximately 10–15 seconds.
Brush with a little extra melted garlic butter after reheating for the best flavor.
❄️ Freezing
Allow baked knots to cool completely.
Place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw at room temperature, then warm in a 300°F (150°C) oven.
For freshly baked results, brush with additional garlic butter after reheating.
🧄🧈 Final Result
These Garlic Butter Knots are soft, fluffy, buttery, and packed with fresh garlic and parsley flavor.
Every bite has a tender homemade bread center surrounded by rich garlic butter that soaks beautifully into all those twisted little crevices.
Serve them warm and watch them disappear before dinner even starts! 🧄🧈🥖✨