Easy Garlic Butter Ciabatta Bread: Shortcut Recipe

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Take your tastebuds on a trip with this delicious stuffed garlic ciabatta bread. The crunchy outer crust gives way to a pillow-soft interior, packed full of fragrant rosemary, zesty garlic and the perfect blend of butter and olive oil for added richness – it’s sure to be a hit!

Stuffed Garlic Ciabatta Bread

This recipe uses a store-bought ciabatta loaf so it’s part of our shortcut recipe series. As much as we’d like to make bread from scratch, especially these everything pretzels, there are times when we need whip up a quick side dish or appetizer because we’re short on time. This crusty yet soft garlic bread is a great way to add some variety and additional flavor to your table without spending too much time in the kitchen.

Why We Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients: With just a few simple ingredients, your kitchen will be filled with an irresistible smell of buttery garlic, herbs and Parmesan cheese.

It’s freakin’ delicious!: This Garlic ciabatta bread loaf is packed with garlicky goodness and has an amazing texture and flavor. The chewy and crispy outside is a perfect contrast to the soft, melted garlic herb spread.

Versatile: This bread can be used as a side dish, an appetizer, or vessel for a delicious dip.

Easy to prepare: This recipe is simple to make and can be ready in no time, making it a great choice for busy weeknights or when you need something fast.

Customizable: You can adjust the amount of garlic to your liking or add other ingredients such as mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and different types of herbs and spices.

Perfect for entertaining: This garlic loaf is sure to impress guests, and can be easily prepared in large quantities for events or gatherings.

Stuffed Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Why We Use Ciabatta to Make Garlic Bread

Ciabatta bread is an Italian-style white bread made from flour, salt, water and yeast. It is a soft and airy loaf that is light and slightly chewy yet retains a crunchiness on the outer crust.

The dough has a much higher hydration than a traditional French baguette which creates large pockets or holes that are perfect for catching the buttery garlic spread. It easily absorbs the butter while still maintaining its texture when baked. It also makes great toast, sandwiches and can be used as an appetizer with dips.

Overall, ciabatta’s texture, porosity, flavor, and versatility make it a great choice for creating a delicious and addicting garlic bread.

Ingredients Needed

  • Ciabatta Bread Loaf – We used store bought but you can make your own.
  • Butter – Please use grass fed butter!
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Fresh Garlic – Use more or less to your liking
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Fresh Rosemary Leaves
  • Parmesan Cheese – You can also use Asiago Cheese or Pecorino Cheese or mix of all three!
  • Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper

Homemade garlic butter with parsley

How to Make Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Let butter soften to room temperature. Preheat oven to 425°F.

Using a serrated knife, slice bread into 3/4″ – 1″ thick slices. Be sure not to cut all the way through the bread loaf.

In a medium bowl, combine butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley, rosemary, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined and creamy.

Using a rubber spatula or spoon, stuff butter mixture evenly between each bread slice.

Wrap stuffed ciabatta bread tightly with foil. Bake for 20 minutes on a baking sheet. Unwrap the foil and continue baking until golden brown, about 5 minutes longer. Serve hot and enjoy!

Stuffed Garlic Ciabatta Bread

How to Store Leftovers

You probably won’t have leftovers but if you do, allow the garlic ciabatta to cool completely before storing. Wrap the bread tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Store in the refridgerator and eat within 3-4 days. Any longer than that, the bread may become stale and dry.

Can I Freeze Garlic Bread?

Yep! To freeze garlic bread, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to use, thaw the bread in the refrigerator and then reheat in oven or toaster oven. It’s best to freeze garlic bread that has not been toasted yet. Toasting it after thawing will result in a crispier texture.

Ciabatta Bread Variations

  • Use fresh basil instead of parsley to add a sweet and peppery flavor to the garlic spread.
  • Use diced chives instead to add a subtle onion flavor to the garlic spread.
  • Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese on top of the bread before baking for a melted, cheesy flavor.
  • Top warm slices of garlic ciabatta bread with chopped ripe tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil for a classic bruschetta-style treat.

What to Serve with Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Garlic ciabatta bread can be served with a variety of dishes, alone as a snack or used for dipping. Here’s a few our favorite recipes serve with stuffed garlic ciabatta bread:

This ciabatta garlic bread recipe is sure to make your taste buds sing! The crunch of the crust pairs deliciously with the soft tender center, and a simple mix of butter and garlic harmonizes perfectly to create a flavor combination that is hard to beat. Between the convenience of this simple recipe and the unbeatable flavor, this is guaranteed to be a family favorite.

stuffed garlic bread

Stuffed Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Posted by Dee
The crunchy outer crust on this stuffed garlic ciabatta bread gives way to a pillow-soft interior, packed full of fragrant rosemary, zesty garlic and the perfect blend of butter and olive oil for added richness – it's sure to be a hit!
5 from 33 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 10 -12 slices
Difficulty Easy

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf ciabatta bread
  • ½ cup butter, one stick, softened at room temperature
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped fine
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Let butter soften to room temperature. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Using a serrated knife, slice bread into 3/4″ – 1″ thick slices. Be sure not to cut all the way through the bread loaf.
  • In a medium bowl, combine butter, olive oil, garlic, parsley, rosemary, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined and creamy.
  • Using a rubber spatula or spoon, stuff butter mixture evenly between each bread slice.
  • Wrap stuffed ciabatta bread tightly with foil. Bake for 20 minutes on a baking sheet. Unwrap the foil and continue baking until golden brown, about 5 minutes longer. Serve hot and enjoy!
Keyword stuffed ciabatta garlic bread
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Meet Dee

Meet Dee

I love to share recipes with real ingredients that are both sweet and savory (especially sweet:) My mission with Gimme From Scratch is to inspire you with recipes that will bring your families together in the kitchen. I'm introverted at heart but know how important socializing can be for maintaining good relationships, when writing not only am looking forward to sharing information - It's also building connections between readers who love good food as much as I do!

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