Divine 1-Hour Homemade Breadsticks
Quick to make, these divine homemade breadsticks prove that making yeast dough from scratch is easy. The result is delicious breadsticks in under an hour!
Easily one of the most oft-made bread recipes around here, these breadsticks have been a staple for nearly two decades. Easy, fast, and SO YUMMY!
Homemade Breadstick Dough
The dough for these homemade breadsticks is extremely straightforward and easy.
It can be made in a stand mixer with a dough hook or can easily be made by hand (with an old-fashioned bowl, spoon, and hand-kneading).
The breadstick dough is resilient and pretty much foolproof. Leave it to rest/rise right in the bowl it was mixed in.
Cutting and Shaping the Breadsticks
After the dough has rested for a few minutes, pat it into a thick rectangle, about 16-inches by 7-inches or so.
Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 1-inch strips.
Give each breadstick a little twist (optional, but I always do it) and place on a half sheet pan that’s been slathered with butter (as noted in the recipe).
I usually get anywhere from 14-16 breadsticks out of the recipe.
Sprinkle the breadsticks with seasonings. I like to use a garlic seasoning blend (lots of options at the store for this: Johnny’s garlic spread, Spice Islands Garlic and Herb).
If you don’t have a pre-mixed blend, you can use dried oregano, dried basil, or Italian seasoning.
Let the breadsticks rest and rise until noticeably puffy and then bake until golden.
You can brush with butter right out of the oven, if desired.
You won’t believe how easy and delicious these breadsticks are.
Most of the time, we double the recipe because it’s hardly any extra work for double the breadstick goodness (and the kids devour the leftovers for snacks and lunches).
They are our go-to side dish for everything from Instant Pot pasta to creamy soup.
They are fabulous!
A Fan Favorite
With over 500 5-star reviews, this homemade breadsticks recipe has become a beloved favorite of many!
Judy says: Love love love this recipe. So quick. So convenient. So YUMMY! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lauren writes: These came out amazing….I’m on my second batch my husband demanded I make another batch this week as well. Definitely a hit! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
KD writes: Just tried this recipe tonight! This will be a hit for my movie nights. So soft and fluffy and VERY easy recipe to follow! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maegen says: Made these last night and they turned out amazing. We doubled it and put butter, cinnamon, and sugar on half for dessert. We will be using this recipe again for sure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FAQs for Divine 1-hour Breadsticks
Yes, you can shape the breadsticks, place on the pan, cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours before baking.
Yes.
I usually use a garlic/herb seasoning or Johnny’s garlic seasoning. You can also use dried basil, oregano or Italian seasoning.
Divine 1-Hour Breadsticks
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 cups (426-568 g) flour (see note)
Butter and Topping:
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)
- Dried herbs, garlic salt and grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (or in a large bowl by hand), mix together the water, yeast, sugar, salt and one cup of the flour.
- Continue adding the flour until the dough just clears the sides of the bowl; knead for about three minutes. It should be soft and slightly sticky without leaving a lot of residue on your fingers.
- Let the dough rest in the bowl for 10 minutes.
- While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the melted butter onto large, rimmed baking sheet (about 11X17-inches).
- On a lightly greased countertop, pat the dough into a long rectangle, about 16-inches by 7-inches or so. Cut the dough every 1-inch (more or less) into strips with a pizza cutter.
- Twist each strip slightly and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with dried herbs of choice, garlic salt and Parmesan cheese.
- Let rise for 20 minutes (you can cover with greased plastic wrap, if desired, I usually go without). Bake for 15 minutes until golden.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: adapted from my sister-in-law, Erin W.
Hi Mel-Recipe looks great!
I wanted to freeze part of the dough which you mentioned doing above. Could you tell me what steps I need to take once I take the dough out of the freezer. Can it thaw on the counter? how long? Does it need to rise longer? Thanks!
Amber
Amber – it depends on if you freeze the dough already shaped into breadsticks or if you freeze it in a ball to roll out for breadsticks later. To freeze as breadsticks, shape the dough into breadsticks, put them on the baking pan, cover them with a lightly greased layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. Place in the freezer. Take them out about 5-6 hours before you want to bake them. Let them sit at room temperature to thaw and rise. Bake as directed. You can also freeze a ball of dough. I do this all the time – I place the ball of dough in a greased ziploc bag and freeze it. I take it out about 4 hours before I want to use it. Once it has thawed and come to room temperature, I shape into breadsticks, let them rise and then bake them. I hope that helps!
I mean active dry yeast and instant?
Mel,
Is there a difference between active dry yeast and active? Because I’ve tried this recipe twice using active dry and each time the dough seems way to runny and i’ve followed the directions to a T. However; I made your french bread rolls using active and they turned out great. I would just like to know because I plan on making your new posted cinn rolls this weekend, but I only can find active dry yeast at the store and since I want these to turn out for family, I can’t afford any mistakes! lol
Tami – yes, there is a difference between active dry yeast and instant. You can check out my yeast tutorial for more info but in short, active dry yeast needs to be proofed in water whereas instant yeast does not. I don’t know as if it would cause a dough to be runny, though. You may just need to add more flour to the breadstick dough to make it more smooth and soft. If you can only find active dry yeast, just proof the yeast in the warm water (or buttermilk for the cinnamon rolls) prior to following the recipe. On the cinnamon roll recipe, I actually included in the comments instructions for using active dry yeast so check it out if you want more info. Good luck!
I made your Baked Manicotti and these bread sticks tonight. The Baked Manicotti was delicious and we’ve got plenty left over for dinner tomorrow night (plus some for freezing!). The bread sticks were definitely a bust. I have no idea what I did wrong, but they were flat and bland. I did overcook them a tad, but even if they had been cooked 1 or 2 minutes less, they still wouldn’t have been what I was hoping for. So sad. 🙁 I guess I messed up the unmessupable recipe after all. After reading all the great reviews I am tempted to try to make them again someday… this is the first recipe of yours that I’ve tried and not had good results (which I’m sure is my fault).
Anissa – glad you liked the manicotti but I’m sorry that the breadsticks didn’t work out for you. If you dare try them again someday, try adding another 1/4 teaspoon salt to the recipe or doctoring it up in a way that will help your tastebuds love them!
I made these tonight. Amazing!!!!! My family of 4 loved them. I even made 4 cinnamon rolls out of some spare dough from this batch and they were yummy too!! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Kensi – brilliant idea with the cinnamon rolls! I’m thrilled these were such a hit with your family.
hmm, i think i may have forgotten to tell you how delicious these were. although i am a *wee bit of a * bonehead….and for some reason thought i was supposed to cook them for 25-30 minutes (um, duh, why would i even think that made sense at ALL??!!! i tend to go way too much by memory which doesn’t work when you have CRS (can’t remember S$!T) disease) so they cooked a little longer than they should have (of course i checked on them before they’d been in as long as the timer was set for, but of course, not before they’d cooked longer than they should have) so they were *nicely* browned….so a tad crispy! but still very yummy and i can’t wait to make them again and actually cook them for the right amount of time 🙂
mia – sorry the first time you tried these they got overbaked but I’m glad you liked them anyway! I hope they turn out even better next time!
I made the divine breadsticks last night with your pizza sauce recipe for dinner last night and it was amazing! It’s busy season and my husband isn’t home until late and I have super picky kids so I hate slaving away and have them not eat what I’ve made but they gobbled up those breadsticks and had fun dipping them in the sauce. Thanks!
Hi Apryl! Thanks for your comment on these breadsticks. I’m so glad your kids appreciated these breadsticks!
Julianne – hey, that cheese from the green can…is really cheese, believe it or not, so no worries on using it. I use it too from time to time (and most always on these breadsticks). I’m glad you have been enjoying this recipe.
OK, we made these again tonight, and I can’t believe I’ve never left a comment.
THESE ARE SO GOOD. Everyone should try them. And then eat 7 of them, like I did at dinner tonight. It will make me feel better.
(PS – we do butter, garlic powder and Parm. cheese — from the green can! — and it really is “divine”. Just in case anyone was wondering if they can do these sans herbs. You can, you can!)
That’s funny, Reagan! Glad to know this recipe has been your favorite for a long time.
So… funny thing, I decided I would try a *NEW* breadstick recipe from the one I grew up making and the one I have always used. I started making these and realized that it is the same recipe except I only put garlic salt and parmasean cheese on mine! 🙂 I’ll try it with some yummy Italian herbs!
Thanks, Jenn! That’s a major bonus when you can wow the in-laws!
These. Are.Wonderful! Not only did my children gobble them right up, my inlaws who dropped by right after dinner loved them as well. I will be making them over and over for years to come!! Thanks Mel!
Jamy – wow, the cinnamon sugar variation sounds delicious!
Oh my… I had some left over dough, and I just made some cinnamon/sugar breadsticks served with syrup for my kids’ breakfast. They loved that too! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
kmcanoeist – Great idea for storing these little babies for the next day. I’m glad you like them – I usually sub half whole wheat also and like the “nuttier” texture.
I made these last weekend and again today..I substituted half whole wheat bread flour and the texture was perfect! What a great, super-easy recipe!
It’s just the two of us in my house, so we eat a few with dinner, then cut them in half and store them on the counter in a tupperware for a few days to eat as a tasty snack.
I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
These are so easy and so yummy definitely adding them to the rotation!
Dalton Family – so glad you like these! Thanks for letting me know.
Veronica – glad there is such a happy trail with these breadsticks! Thanks for sharing your link – I think your breadsticks look delicious (and so does that spaghetti and meatballs!!).
I got a comment on my myspace profile yesterday from a friend that saw the pic I posted of these breadsticks (I post a picture of almost all the food I make) and clicked the link to get the recipe off your blog. She posted her own picture of the breadsticks (which looked much better than mine–just like yours, in fact and thanked me for sharing the link b/c they were a hit at her sister’s birthday dinner. So I’m thanking you, again, for sharing this and all your wonderful recipes. YEA! Here’s the link to my picture: http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/52/l_bc5424dc809842b2851fa295ab33f4a7.jpg
Annabeth – sorry these were less than divine for you. I’ve never had the same bland results but maybe you are right – adding a teaspoon of salt may help. Good luck!
Boy, I don’t know what I did wrong, but mine did not turn out ‘divine.’ They were fine and the family ate them up, but there wasn’t enough flavor. Almost bland. I think I need to add a tad more salt in the recipe, and put more herbs on top. Don’t worry, I’ll try them again. I NEED a breadstick recipe!!!
Veronica – I know, I had the same feeling about these breadsticks – they are so FAST!! Especially when other yeast bread recipes can be so time consuming. I am so glad they were a hit. Thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know.
I’m glad you reposted this b/c I’ve only been subscribed for a few months & wouldn’t have ever done a search for breadsticks on your blog or even on the internet b/c I thought they were probably too much work. When I saw that they only needed 1/2 hour rising time, I realized how wrong I was and made them to compliment our spaghetti and meatballs dinner tonight. YUM! So easy–I was able to get the entire meal made in an hour and a half, which is ridiculous considering that homemade bread usually takes longer than that by itself. Thank you so much for sharing!~Veronica
Carla – that’s cool that the breadsticks still turned out great even without rising time – that will be a great tip for me if I am ever in a hurry. Thanks for letting me know you liked them!
I made these for supper last night to go with lasagana. Four of us ate the entire batch!! I was running late so I didn’t have time to let them rise, I just threw them in the oven as soon as I was done forming them. They still turned out great! Thanks for a great new breadstick recipe!
Yeah, I hear ya about the processed stuff, but sometimes (O.K. alot of times) it’s alot quicker to just press the easy button. I’ve been impressed that all your recipes seem to be really wholesome, but they also seem to take a ton of time to make. Maybe it’s all in my mind though because the bread sticks baked up pretty quick, and it probablly takes the same amount of time to place a phone call and go pick up a pizza as it does just to throw a quick rise together!!!
Leisel – I’m glad the breadsticks disappeared as fast in your house as they do in mine! Thanks for letting me know. And in answer to your questions, I guess it depends on what you mean by shortcuts. I feel like I take shortcuts all the time in the kitchen – I’m always improvising a recipe or suiting it to my timeframe, etc…but usually I don’t take shortcuts on ingredients (unless it is just a straight substitution) since I try to stay away from processed stuff. And I guess it depends on the day but I probably am in the kitchen at least 2 hours a day (maybe more if I’m baking and less if my kids don’t want to be in there with me). Thank you for asking and for being so nice. I have a lot to learn so I guess I better keep trying!
Melanie, thanks for another great recipe. I had guests over last night and I served these up. I actually made a double batch. They couldn’t stop talking about them, and there wasn’t a single stick left after dinner. I do have one question for you, maybe two. . . Do you ever take any short cuts when you’re cooking and seriously how much time do you spend in the kitchen per day?? You’re amazing!
These look great – and I posted almost the same recipe on my blog the other day! The main difference with mine is that I just cut them and leave them in the pan – but yours look so nice all twisty like that! I’ll have to try it that way. Thanks for the idea! http://www.pickynomore.blogspot.com
These look delicious too! They look like the perfect thing to serve with spaghetti or pasta.
Bradley, DeAnna, and Donovan – thanks for your comment! I’m glad that your husband gave rave reviews without you having to fish for a compliment – that’s a sign of a successful recipe! Thanks so much for letting me know, I’m glad these breadsticks were a hit.
I found these a few weeks ago while looking through your bread recipes. I LOVE them! I always know a winner because my husband will tell me he likes them without me having to ask, and he said they were awesome! We had them with chili and pasta…I love them with anything!!
Christina – I’ve never tried freezing the breadsticks after they are made but a lot of times I just halve the dough amount when I make them since my family is small, too. I’ve also made the full batch of dough and then cut the dough in half and put half in a freezer bag (lightly sprayed with cooking spray) and frozen the dough to thaw later to make into breadsticks.
Liz – thanks for seconding my opinion. I think I remember you telling me you liked these…I’m glad – we eat them often at our house!
Those are divine all right. There really is nothing, absolutely nothing I like better than homemade bread. Your breadsticks are perfect- with their parmesan and herbs.
Oh wait, I just read the first paragraph (I started reading at the second paragraph for some reason). I guess I assumed right – whew- when I posted that comment I thought, ‘that’ll be embarrassing if she was referring to a different Erin…’ 🙂 haha!
Yes, these are my all time favorite breadsticks. Isn’t it great to have a recipe that always turns out perfectly? Cool that you also prefer them too, after all this time! (I’m assuming I’m the Erin you adapted them from. :))
I am making spaghetti this week and these are perfect!
the little twist is my most favorite part. well, that and the overall fluffiness. and the parmesan. and the choice of herbage. 🙂
Can you freeze these? They sounds really good, but will yield way too many for a dinner!
I second everything you said about these breadsticks. They really are divine. We love them at our house! -Liz K.
Dani – glad you’ve liked these for a while now! Thanks for letting me know. That’s funny about your sister – at least she appreciates a good meal, right?
divine indeed! i’ll take five please!
NICE. I was just about to come on here and ask for a bread suggestion for tonight’s soup night. I think I’ll go with these. However, I’m not very good with which spices go nicely with what…so I know you said just do whatever, but could you possibly, maybe, give me a couple spices that go well with each other. And if that weren’t enough-do you just lightly sprinkle said spices or use quite a bit? Thanks so much!!!:) I’ll have to let you know how it goes, and if they are a hit (which they will be because they are from you…) Oh, and new ward:(. I’m sure you already heard.
These are my favorite bread sticks! I love them more than Olive gardens bread sticks!! AMAZING!
These were one of the first things i made when i found your recipe blog! they are soooo yummy i cant handle it, and my sister now asks me to make dinner for them just so she can have these 🙂
These look incredibly delicious. I love breadsticks!
These are making me hungry! I’m planning to make your manicotti with lasagna noodles for dinner this weekend. Now the question is what to serve with it – these breadsticks? or the garlic bread you posted awhile ago? Decisions…