Homemade garlic knots don’t have to be difficult to be delicious! These garlic knots are super easy – they can be made from scratch in just 30 minutes.
These homemade garlic knots are ready – start to finish – in just half an hour. And they taste so good that you’d never guess how easy they are!
This is a great starter recipe if you’ve never made anything with yeast before. It’s pretty hard to hurt this dough (just don’t kill the yeast!).
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how easy this recipe really is.
“So good! I will add 3tbs butter for topping next time. Freaking delicious, so easy! Great last minute add to any dinner” – Kylie
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Butter – I use salted butter in both the dough and the garlic butter topping. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt to 3/4 teaspoon in the dough and add a pinch or two to the garlic butter.
- Milk – I like to use 2% milk. Using skim milk will give you a leaner dough and using whole milk will give you a slightly softer, richer dough.
- Instant yeast – You can also use active dry yeast. See the section below in FAQs for more information.
- Garlic powder – Be sure to use garlic powder, not garlic salt.
- Parmesan cheese – The cheese is optional. Feel free to omit it if you prefer.
How to make homemade garlic knots
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: In a small saucepan, melt butter. When butter is mostly melted, stir in milk, and heat mixture to 100-110 F.
Step 2: Meanwhile, add yeast and honey to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl if mixing by hand.
Step 3: When milk mixture is at temperature, add to yeast and honey; stir to combine.
Step 4: Add salt and egg, and stir until combined. Stir in 2 ½ cups of flour.
Step 5: Add remaining flour until dough clings to paddle and cleans the sides of the bowl. Switch to the dough hook, and knead for 2 minutes (or by hand for about 5 minutes).
Step 6: With lightly floured hands, shape dough into 12 knots, and place dough on prepared baking sheet. Cover, and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
Step 7: Bake for about 9-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. While the knots are baking, prepare the garlic butter.
Step 8: In a small bowl, stir together ingredients for garlic butter.
Step 9: After removing the rolls from the oven, brush with garlic butter, sprinkle with cheese if using, and enjoy!
How to tie knots
The knots can be either tied into into a simple knot or shaped into a fancier knot.
Simple knot
To form a simple knot, roll the dough into strips that are about 6 inches long. Tie the strip into a loose knot and place on the baking sheet.
Fancy knot
To form a fancy knot, roll the dough into a strip that’s about 6 inches long.
Tie the dough into a knot leaving the middle open and the ends long.
Pull one end underneath the dough into the center. Pull the other end over the dough.
Press the two ends together to seal them. Then flip the garlic knot over and place it end side down on the baking sheet.
FAQs
You can! Just use an equal amount of active dry yeast. After step 5, let the yeast mixture sit for 5-10 minutes or until foamy. Then continue with the recipe as-written.
I recommend storing the leftover garlic knots in an airtight container.
Garlic knots are best eaten just after they’re made. They will keep for 2-3 days when properly stored.
Absolutely! If you want more garlic butter, simply double the garlic butter ingredients.
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Homemade Garlic Knots
Ingredients
Garlic Knots
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 3-3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Garlic Butter
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3-4 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 Line a 9×13-inch rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter.
- When butter is mostly melted, stir in milk, and heat mixture to 100-110 F.
- Meanwhile, add yeast and honey to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl if mixing by hand).
- When milk mixture is at temperature, add to yeast and honey; stir to combine.
- Add salt and egg, and stir until combined.
- Stir in 2 ½ cups of flour.
- Add remaining flour until dough clings to paddle and cleans the sides of the bowl.
- Switch to the dough hook, and knead for 2 minutes (or by hand for about 5 minutes).
- With lightly floured hands, shape dough into 12 knots, and place dough on prepared baking sheet.
- Cover, and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
- Bake for about 9-12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
- While the knots are baking, prepare the garlic butter.
- In a small bowl, stir together ingredients for garlic butter.
- After removing the rolls from the oven, brush with garlic butter, sprinkle with cheese if using, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Butter – I use salted butter in both the dough and the garlic butter topping. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt to 3/4 teaspoon in the dough and add a pinch or two to the garlic butter.
- Milk – I like to use 2% milk. Using skim milk will give you a leaner dough and using whole milk will give you a slightly softer, richer dough.
- Instant yeast – You can also use active dry yeast. Just use an equal amount of active dry yeast. After step 5, let the yeast mixture sit for 5-10 minutes or until foamy. Then continue with the recipe as-written.
- Garlic powder – Be sure to use garlic powder, not garlic salt.
- Parmesan cheese – The cheese is optional. Feel free to omit it if you prefer.
- Nutrition facts have been estimated.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Originally published 1/6/14. Updated with new photos on 10/5/19. Updated again on 1/3/22 with additional photos, tips, and information.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Lauren says
The best 30 minute yeast bread recipe I’ve ever made. I was so impressed by how great of ride these little knots got in just 10 minutes. Super fluffy and super yummy! Will be my new standard quick garlic bread recipe with pasta moving forward.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad you liked them! =)
Joy says
I used this bread recipe for cinnamon rolls (omit garlic butter obviously) OMG they were HEAVEN.
Kate says
Thank you! I have a cinnamon version. =)
Ellie says
I made these with everything but the bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s instead of the garlic butter and oh my goodness are they good! The rolls themselves are so tender and light and fluffy… I will definitely be making them again!
Kate says
Thank you! I have some of that seasoning. I’ll have to give that a try!
bridgett says
these look great. I dont have honey can I use something else? Also have you ever tried it with minced garlic wondered if it would be ok?
Kate says
You could use granulated sugar. I haven’t tried it to say.
Julia says
These were so fun and easy to make! I sampled one immediately and was blown away by the fluffy melt in your mouth texture. However, I could have likely made 20 instead of 12! They came out much bigger than expected and I almost ran out of butter to brush on top. Will definitely make again.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them! =)
Jessica says
I love these!! They’re easy to make and super yummy! All 4 of my kids and my husband loved them and chowed them down quickly! Thanks so much!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that they were a hit! =)
Linda H says
Would these be ok to make ahead of time and instead of baking right away keep covered in fridge. I know they’d take longer to rise as they’d have to come to room temp. But was thinking they’d be great to pop in oven as my Sunday roast was resting :)
Kate says
Hi! I haven’t tried to make these ahead of time. You might find that you need to adjust the amount of yeast as there’s more yeast in this recipe because of the shorter rising time. Best of luck with it! =)
Stephanie says
Have you tried freezing these?
Kate says
Hi! Unfortunately, I haven’t tried freezing this recipe.
Alex says
Is that two table spoons of yeast??
Kate says
Yes, it’s 2 tablespoons of yeast.
Karis says
Hi I am making Chicken Alfredo for supper tonight and thought I better make garlic bread with it and it was already getting late and came across your recipes. So I just got the first batch out and they are delicious but, came out kinda like biscuits might of been the yeast I used it had been in freezer for awhile. Other than that what an easy recipe I will be saving it for later use Yum
Kate says
Thanks! I’m so happy that you liked it! Please let me know if you have any questions for next time.
TS says
will it work without the garlic butter (as regular buns)?
Kate says
Yes, you can leave the garlic butter off if you prefer.
Audrey Alexander says
Am I the only one who doesn’t know how to tie the knots?!? Even when I figured it out, it had 4 loop and not 5.
Kate says
Nope! I had several questions so I made a video showing how to tie the knots. If you scroll just above the recipe, you should see it.
Jan Bevins says
the video link doesn’t seem to link to anything
Kate says
Sorry about that! I moved the video to the top of the post to try to make it easier to find.
Carie F says
I make these all the time now! They are a favorite at my house. They are soft and chewy and delicious. Even when i think I have messed up the knots, they come out beautiful. Thanks for this recipe!
Kate says
Yay!! I’m so glad that you like them and that they’ve come out well for you. Thanks for commenting!
Raegan says
I used 3/4 cup almond milk instead and not quite as much flour, but just gauged it! Turned out delicious, have shared this recipe with a few friends already and it’s only been 2 hours post feast!!!
Kate says
That’s great! I’ve had good luck using almond milk in other recipes, but it’s helpful to hear that it works in this one, too. Thanks for taking the time to comment! =)
Lisa says
These are the most gorgeous rolls! I fix supper for my kids & grandchildren during the week & these rolls were tonight’s bread selection. This dough is lovely to work with and I’m amazed how fluffy the rolls are. Often when I have tried a bread recipe that claims to be ready in under an hour, it is so dense and heavy. I’ve been baking bread for more than 50 years and this recipe is a keeper. Thanks so much for posting it.
Kate says
Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you liked them. =) Thank you for taking the time to comment!
Janie says
These are delicious, so light and fluffy. I had my daughters taste test them for me, because I wanted to serve them at an event. They all thought they were terrific. So, easy!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them and found them easy to make. Thank you for commenting! =)
Laura MacCombie says
I would just like to know if they freeze well? I would like to make them for a baby shower and would like to do them ahead of time….appreciate it…
Kate says
I haven’t tried freezing them, but I think that they would freeze well. Hope that helps!
Lilly P says
I am a teenager and I just made these in like 45 mins and they were delicious ? I would 100% recommend these they were so easy! I halved the recipe to see if I liked them and I totally regretted halting it! You only need to use one packet of the yeast and they will turn out fine… mine did!!!
Kate says
Awesome! My family loves these knots, and I’m glad to hear that you liked them, too! Also, thanks for your note about the yeast. =)
Lilly Pow says
I’m very confused where does the cheese come in to the recipe?
Kate says
The cheese is optional. You can sprinkle a little on at the end if you would like.
Lilly P says
Ok Thank You!!!
Kate says
You’re welcome! =)
Kaisha says
I eanted to make Italian for dinner and I usually do a garlic parmesan breadstick recipe I have somewhere but i couldn’t find it so i research The internet and found these nice looking knots. Recipe was easy fast. I had to go to you tube to learn how to make the knots because the video on the site didn’t work. But they were awesome and beautiful. This humble Puerto Rican family I wants to say thanks for the recipe. We loved it.
Kate says
I’m so glad that your family liked them! =) Thank you for letting me know that the video wasn’t working. I’m sorry that it wasn’t up and running, but I’ve gotten it to work now. Thank you for coming back to comment!
Lacey says
Oh my stars! ! I love, love, love these! They’re going on our regular rotation. Thanks for the recipe!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked the garlic knots! Thank you for coming back to comment. =)