These easy Parmesan breadsticks knots are buttery, fluffy, and so good! Easily some of the best bread to ever come out of my kitchen.

There are four simple tips that make these homemade breadstick knots absolutely incredible, and I’m sharing them with you today!

Parmesan breadstick knot with shredded Parmesan cheese and white and blue cloth on wood board.

Four Tips to Make the Best Bread of Your Life

The dough for these Parmesan breadstick knots is very easy and straightforward (it originates from these divine 1-hour breadsticks).

What sets them apart from the crowd are these four tips:

  1. swapping out all-purpose flour for bread flour (result: insanely fluffy and chewy bread)
  2. adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the dough (result: delicious, punchy flavor)
  3. forming the breadsticks into knots (result: puffy, thick breadstick knots)
  4. liberally brushing with butter hot out of the oven (result: BUTTER 😍 need I say more?)
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese added to breadstick dough in white Bosch mixer with dough hook.
Breadstick dough mixed in Bosch mixer with dough hook.
Nine risen breadstick dough knots on buttered baking sheet.
Brushing butter over the top of hot, baked parmesan breadstick knot.

How to Shape Parmesan Breadstick Knots

Forming the breadsticks into knots is super simple.

  1. Portion the dough into 12 pieces (about 2.75 to 3 ounces each).
  2. Roll each piece into a thick breadstick shape about 6 inches in length.
  3. Lift one end over the other creating a loop.
  4. Bring the end through the loop forming a knot.
Dough formed into long, thin breadstick on white counter.
Forming breadstick knot by twisting breadstick ends one over the other.
Bringing end of breadstick dough through hole to make breadstick knot.
Breadstick dough knot on white counter.

Don’t stress if your knots don’t look perfect! Most imperfections go the way of the world once the breadsticks rise and bake. And I promise, they’ll taste phenomenal no matter how they look.

Here’s a quick 30-second video tutorial for an additional visual, if you need it ⬇️⬇️:

Best Bread in the Whole World

These easy Parmesan breadstick knots are incredible. Like, they are one of our most oft-made bread recipes.

They are fast. They are easy.

They are gorgeous. And they are amazingly delicious.

Plus, they pretty much can be served with anything. Pasta, soup, pot roast. You name it.

My daughter loves them so much that she often makes a batch just for herself and then strategically hides them from her brothers so she can take one or two in her school lunches all week.

Several baked breadstick knots on wood board with white and blue cloth.

Rave Reviews

As always, you don’t have to take just my word for it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Divine. Perfection. So easy. SO yummy. Making these makes me look like a domestic goddess, all thanks to Mel. -Katie S.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What?!?!? Absolutely incredible bread in under an hour?!?! Perfection! So fluffy and flavorful. My husband (who is not a bread-guy) ate 4 of them….and would have continued, but he ruefully excised himself from the table so that he wouldn’t have to face the temptation of more. Sooo good! Make these!!!! -Maichael

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just had these with lasagna! Sooooo good!!! -Alisha O.

If you haven’t tried these breadstick knots yet, make them ASAP! I promise you won’t regret it.

Breadstick knot torn in part and stacked with two halves on top of each other.
Several baked breadstick knots on wood board with white and blue cloth.

Parmesan Breadstick Knots

Yield: 12 breadstick knots
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
4.77 stars (72 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast (see note for active dry yeast)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 to 3 ½ cups (426 to 497 g) bread flour or all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (57 g) finely grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best)
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted

Instructions 

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the water, sugar or honey, yeast, salt, garlic powder, and 1 cup of the flour. Mix to combine. With the mixer on low speed, add the cheese and then gradually add the flour until the dough forms a ball and clears the sides of the bowl.
  • The dough should be soft and slightly tacky to the touch. Knead for 4 to 5 minutes. If the dough starts clinging to the sides of the bowl (or the center column of a Bosch mixer), add additional flour, as needed. Take care not to over flour the dough.
  • Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minute (or up to an hour; it's totally fine if the dough doubles in size).
  • Spread the melted butter on a half sheet pan (11X17-inch rimmed baking sheet).
  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly greased countertop and cut the dough into 12 even pieces, about 2.75 to 3 ounces each.
  • Roll each piece into a thick strip about 6 inches in length. Lift one end over the other creating a loop. Bring the end through the loop forming a knot. See the pictures in the post for a visual.
  • Place the breadstick knots an inch or so apart on the prepared baking sheet. Let them rest until noticeably puffy, anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Bake the breadsticks for 15-16 minutes until golden. Brush with additional melted butter out of the oven, if desired (not necessary, but delicious).

Notes

Yeast: for active dry yeast, proof the yeast by stirring the yeast together with a few tablespoons warm water and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl and letting it rest until foamy and bubbling. Cut the water in the recipe down by a few tablespoons or plan to add just a bit more flour when mixing the dough. 
 
Author: Mel
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American, Italian
Method: Bake
Serving: 1 Roll, Calories: 185kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 237mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g

Recommended Products

Bosch Universal Stand Mixer
Bench Knife/Scraper
Cookie Sheet {Half Sheet Pan}

Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (originally published in my 2016 eCookbook – no longer for sale)

Two Parmesan breadstick knots on white plate.

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