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Sassy Calabrian Garlic Bread

As seen in Perfect Companions for Any Meal.

Tons of Calabrian chili make this bread pop. Mix in a bunch of roasted garlic and chopped herbs and you’ve got a real flavor bomb. To start, bake the garlic until it’s all jammy and spreadable. Combine it with a pile of parmesan, parsley, basil, chili paste, and soft butter. Slather this mix everywhere you can on sliced baguette. Bake till golden and crisp. Dust with extra cheese and chow down. It’s got that perfect crunch on the outside and stays soft in the center. Total crowd-pleaser for snacking or on the side.

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Lindsey
Created By Lindsey
Last updated on Sat, 21 Jun 2025 20:45:52 GMT
Toasty bread with bubbly cheese and fresh chopped herbs on top. Save Pin
Toasty bread with bubbly cheese and fresh chopped herbs on top. | cookbing.com

This warm Calabrian chili and herb garlic loaf flips an ordinary baguette into a total crowd-pleaser. Roasted garlic, lively peppers, and bunches of herbs bring big, bold flavors to every crunchy, fluffy mouthful.

I first made this spicy, garlicky bread for a handful of friends at dinner. It vanished before anything else even hit the table. Now, any time we do Italian, my family ALWAYS asks for it.

Mouthwatering Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter: let it soften out on the counter, so you control the salt and it mixes easy
  • Fresh garlic heads: roasting brings out all the sweet, toasty flavor—so much better than the jarred stuff
  • Extra virgin olive oil: helps roast the garlic and layers on even more taste
  • Fresh basil and parsley: bright, fresh herbs that kick the whole bread up a notch
  • Shredded parmesan cheese: loads in extra savory notes and gives you those melty golden cheese pieces
  • Calabrian chili paste: pops with fruity heat that you can’t get from red pepper flakes
  • French or sourdough baguette: nice and chewy so it holds all that buttery goodness without getting soggy

Easy Directions

Roast your garlic:
Turn your oven to 400. Slice the tops off garlic bulbs, set them cut-side up, drizzle on olive oil plus some salt and pepper, then pack up in foil and roast 40–50 minutes. Let them cool, then drop the oven to 350 so it’s ready for your bread.
Whip up that herby chili butter:
Grab a bowl, toss in your soft butter, a handful of parmesan, chopped parsley and basil, and spoon in whatever chili paste you want. Season it up a touch. Once the garlic’s cooled off, squeeze out the cloves—they pop right out—and mix them in with everything till you’ve got a streaky, smooth spread full of herbs.
Spread and top the bread:
Slice your bread into thick pieces (think about half an inch), set them on a baking tray with parchment, and smear them everywhere with your buttery mix. Finish with a sprinkling of extra cheese for big flavor and crispness.
Bake it up:
Bake the slices at 350 until the cheese bubbles and corners are golden but the centers stay soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. This goes quick, so keep an eye out! Pull it out, toss on a little more parmesan, and eat right away for max crispy joy.
A slice of bread with greens on it. Save Pin
A slice of bread with greens on it. | cookbing.com

Roasted garlic is straight-up magic. I stumbled on it years ago and now I use it way too much. Roasting means it turns so mellow, sweet, and nutty. That’s what makes the whole butter blend taste so rich and deep.

Make-Ahead Ideas

Prep the butter and get the bread slices ready a day or so before. Just coat the bread with butter, wrap tight, and stash in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, unwrap and bake—add another couple minutes if it was cold. Or you can get your butter all done ahead, keep in the fridge, and let it warm up before spreading.

Awesome Pairings

Goes perfectly with saucy mains like lasagna or spaghetti. It’s got a spicy zing that really cuts cheesy or creamy pasta, and it rocks with lighter ones too. Round out your table with olives, good cured meats, and cheeses, and you’ve got an easy starter. Bonus—it totally upgrades a soup night.

Chili Pointer

Calabrian chili paste is a Southern Italian thing, famous for a fruity kick and solid heat you won’t find in basic chili flakes. If you don’t see it in stores, just swap in red pepper flakes and a little honey. You can use as little or much as you want—up the heat for spicy fans, or use less for mild tastes.

Three slices of bread with cheese and herbs. Save Pin
Three slices of bread with cheese and herbs. | cookbing.com

Common Questions

→ Can I substitute Calabrian chili paste?

Totally! Toss in chili flakes or pick another spicy chili spread to get the same punch.

→ What type of bread works best?

Grab a French baguette or sourdough for the yummiest bite and crunch.

→ Can I prepare this in advance?

For sure—make the butter-herb mixture and roast the garlic ahead. Only assemble and bake when you’re ready.

→ How do I store leftover garlic bread?

Just pop leftovers into an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep fresh for a couple days. Toast up again when you want more.

→ Can I make this dairy-free?

Yep! Just switch regular butter for plant-based and sprinkle on nutritional yeast instead of cheese. Easy.

Calabrian Garlic Bread

You'll bite into cheesy, bold bread loaded with chili, roasted garlic, basil, and tons of parmesan.

Preparation Time
10 Minutes
Cooking Time
40 Minutes
Overall Time
50 Minutes
Created By: Lindsey

Recipe Type: Side Dishes

Skill Level: Moderate

Type of Cuisine: American

Serves: 4 Portions

Diet Preferences: Suitable for Vegetarians

What You'll Need

01 1 crusty baguette (French or sourdough work great)
02 1/2 tsp Calabrian chili paste or swap with some chili flakes
03 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, extra is cool
04 1/4 cup chopped basil and parsley
05 Cracked black pepper to your liking
06 Kosher salt, sprinkle as much as you like
07 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
08 2 whole garlic heads
09 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened on the counter

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 01

Sprinkle on extra parmesan while everything's still warm, then grab a slice and bite right in.

Step 02

Pile on your cheesy herb butter over every piece of bread. Chuck any leftover parmesan on top. Pop into the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes. Bread should crunch but stay buttery inside.

Step 03

Squish those roasted garlic cloves straight into a bowl with the softened butter. Add basil, parsley, loads of parmesan, your chili paste, and season it up. Stir until it all looks creamy.

Step 04

Take out those roasted garlic bulbs and give them time to cool back down a bit. Drop the oven temp to 350°F.

Step 05

Slice the tops off the garlic heads, pour on olive oil, and dust with salt and pepper. Wrap everything up in foil tight and into a hot oven at 400°F. It’ll need 40-50 minutes to get all soft and golden.

Step 06

Cut the baguette into thick slices. Lay them out on some parchment-lined baking sheet.

Helpful Notes

  1. Go with super-fresh herbs and good cheese if you can find them. Makes it sing.
  2. Can't get Calabrian chili paste? No sweat. Just toss in chili flakes for a hit of heat.

Essential Tools

  • Parchment paper
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet
  • Chef's knife

Allergen Warnings

Always review the ingredient labels for allergens or consult a healthcare professional with concerns.
  • Dairy inside (butter and parmesan)
  • Gluten in the baguette

Nutritional Info (Per Portion)

Nutritional values are approximations and shouldn’t be viewed as customized health guidance.
  • Calories: 211
  • Fat Content: 24 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 0.02 grams
  • Protein Content: 0.2 grams