This post contains affiliate links.
Something about making Homemade Breadsticks is so rewarding, and they're so simple, soft, and fluffy. We've got a variety of seasoning toppings you can use.
If you love bread recipes, make sure to try the Best Homemade Rolls, Garlic Knots, Buttermilk Cornbread, Cinnamon Roll Biscuits.
Amaze breadsticks we serve with everything.
Now, there's just no reason to be intimidated by making any type of bread (if you have a good recipe) and our homemade breadsticks are no exception. I'm telling you, they're EASY, plus they're cost effective, have the perfect soft texture, and go with every dish! To make it really worth your time, make a big batch of these and freeze the shaped dough or baked breadsticks for another day.
How to make Breadsticks:
Make the Dough: Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and stir. Let it rest for 5 minutes until it starts to foam on top. (If using Instant yeast, skip this step and add all of the ingredients to the bowl.)
Knead: Add in 1 ½ cups flour, oil, and salt and mix until combined, on medium speed. Add another 1 ½ cups flour or so, until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl but still slightly sticky when touched. Add additional flour if needed. Knead in stand mixer for several minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic
Rise and Shape: Cover bowl tightly with a dish towel and allow dough to rise until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours. Punch the dough down, then divide into 12 equal sections. Roll each dough ball into a 9 inch rope. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet, cover with a dish towel and rise again for 1 hour.
Bake at 425ºF for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven, brush tops with butter, and place on wire cooling rack. Serve this soft breadsticks recipe with your favorite main dish or soup.
Storage and Freezing Instructions:
Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container on the counter for a day or two, or freeze them.
To Freeze Breadstick Dough: Follow the instructions for the dough, allowing it to complete the first rise, then shape into breadsticks and place on a baking sheet. Spray a piece of plastic wrap with cooking spray then wrap it lightly over dough. Place pan in freezer and “flash freeze” for 1 hour. Transfer breadsticks to a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake it, place frozen breadstick dough on a greased cookie sheet, cover with a dry towel and allow breadsticks rise for several hours, until room temperature and risen bigger.
To Freeze Baked Breadsticks: Allow breadsticks to cool completely then transfer to a freezer safe bag and freeze for 2 months.
Breadstick Flavors Variations:
- Garlic Butter Topping (Olive Garden style): Mix together ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 4 Tablespoons salted butter and spread over warm breadsticks.
- Cheesy Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with melted butter and sprinkle ½ cup finely shredded cheese on top (we do ¼ cup parmesan and ¼ cup mozzarella). Cover, rise, and bake as directed.
- Little Caesars Crazy Bread: Brush warm-from-the-oven breadsticks with garlic butter topping (above) and sprinkle with powdered parmesan cheese.
- Cinnamon Sugar Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with 2 Tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 ½ tsp cinnamon). Cover, rise, and bake as directed.
Serve With:
- Homemade Lasagna
- Boursin Pasta
- Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Taco Soup
- Chicken Parmesan
- Creamy Zuppa Toscana
- Quinoa Salad
- Pink Sauce Pasta
- Spaghetti
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
Easy Homemade Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups warm water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 – 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3 Tablespoons oil, or melted butter
- butter, , for brushing on rolls
Instructions
- Proof Yeast: Add warm water, yeast and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and stir gently. Rest for 5 minutes. The yeast should lightly foam on top. If it doesn't, the yeast may not be fresh. (If using Instant Yeast, skip this step and add the yeast, water and sugar with the rest of the ingredients).
- Add 1 ½ cups flour, salt and vegetable oil then mix on medium speed to combine.
- Knead: Add another 1 ½ cups flour. The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl but still be very slightly sticky to the touch. Add remaining ¼ cup of flour, only if needed. Knead mixture for 5-7 minutes.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to a large, greased bowl and cover with a dish towel. Allow to rest and rise until double in size, about 1.5 hours.
- Shape Breadsticks: Once risen, punch dough down and divide into 12 equal parts. Roll each piece of dough into a 9-inch rope and transfer to a greased cookie sheet.
- Second Rise: Cover with a dish towel and rise again for 1 hour.
- Bake breadsticks at 425 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven, brush tops with butter, and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!
- Store leftover breadsticks in an airtight container on the counter for a day or two, or freeze them.
Notes
- Garlic Butter Topping (Olive Garden style): Mix together ½ teaspoon garlic powder and 4 Tablespoons salted butter and spread over warm breadsticks.
- Cheesy Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with melted butter and sprinkle ½ cup finely shredded cheese on top (we do ¼ cup parmesan and ¼ cup mozzarella). Cover, rise, and bake as directed.
- Little Caesars Crazy Bread: Brush warm-from-the-oven breadsticks with garlic butter topping (above) and sprinkle with powdered parmesan cheese.
- Cinnamon Sugar Breadsticks: Form breadsticks on baking sheet, brush with 2 Tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (¼ cup granulated sugar + 1 ½ tsp cinnamon). Cover, rise, and bake as directed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Text me new recipe ideas!
Simple, tasty ideas sent once a week. No spam.
Follow Me
*I originally shared this post September 2014. Updated April 2020 and August 2024.
These are fantastic! So much better than store bought.
Good recipe, the bread sticks from the freezer section tasty just like this.
Made these with my 3 year old today and they turned out great. It was our first baking experience together and she loved getting the flour everywhere! Thanks
I’ve baked these a few times now and everyone who has tried them absolutely loves them! I’m baking some again for a Christmas dinner because my friend requested them.
I have one small question though: is there a way to ensure that these won’t stick to the baking sheet while in the oven? For some reason, they always stick with me even when I grease everything.
Try parchment paper!
I made these with dinner last night and they were delicious! I don’t have a mixer so I mixed and kneaded the dough by hand. I don’t understand all the comments saying the recipe didn’t call for enough flour. I used 3 cups when mixing in the bowl and then added a small handful when kneading on the counter and the dough was perfect.
You have WAY too much liquid for only 2 and a half cups of flour. I ended up having to use over 3 and a half cups of flour to get a dough that was even remotely acceptable. I had to dump the dough on the counter and finish it by hand instead of with a dough hook Which means it was likely over mixed/kneaded in the process. I used to make fresh bread dough daily for a living in huge patches. This is an awful recipe.
SO good! I made a triple batch for a party and they were a hit. Everyone loved them and a few people asked for the recipe.
Absolutely terrible. Even after adding 2x the amount of flour, the dough is too sticky and wet to be remotely usable. Recipe should be measured by weight.
I’m betting they pack their measuring cup with flour instead of measuring it the right way. If you measure flour properly this recipe is absolute garbage. I had to use almost 4 cups of flour to get a workable dough.
Same!!
Very good breadsticks we love them we go out and get pizza every Friday and bring it home home and these breadsticks will be made during the day so they will be ready for pizza. Thanks for the recipe.
Love this recipe it was a hit! Thankyou for sharing!
My first time. Thank you , they turned out perfect.