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Air Fryer Garlic Bread

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Crispy, golden-edged garlic bread made in the air fryer in just 5 minutes — no preheating required. Works with baguette, Italian bread, or French bread, with an easy cheesy variation.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 Italian bread, baguette, or French bread, halved lengthwise
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (not melted)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced — or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped — or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Optional (cheesy version): 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine softened butter with minced garlic (or garlic powder), chopped parsley, and salt. Mix with a fork until fully incorporated and creamy.
  2. Place the bread halves cut-side up. Spread the garlic butter generously across the entire cut face, edge to edge.
  3. Place bread halves butter-side up in the air fryer basket. Do not preheat. Air fry at 350°F for 5 minutes, checking at the 4-minute mark for golden edges and absorbed, crisping butter.
  4. For cheesy garlic bread, add cheese at the 3-minute mark and continue cooking for 2 more minutes until melted and beginning to brown. For a more blistered top, increase temperature to 375°F for the final 2 minutes.
  5. Remove from the basket, rest 30 seconds, then slice into portions. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

Do not preheat the air fryer — starting cold allows butter to absorb evenly before browning begins.

Use softened (not melted) butter so it adheres to the bread surface instead of pooling and creating soggy spots.

For cheesy bread, mozzarella adds stretch and melt; Parmesan adds a browned, nutty crust. Combining both (1/4 cup mozzarella + 2 tbsp Parmesan) gives the best result.

Frozen store-bought garlic bread: cook at 350°F for 6–8 minutes with no thawing; remove foil wrapping first.

Find it online: https://airfrycentral.com/air-fryer-garlic-bread/