Homemade Garlic Knots

My family can’t get enough of these Homemade Garlic Knots! Grab some pizza dough, twist it up into knots & slather them with garlic butter!

garlic knots on a plate with a bowl of marinara in the center

Why We Love Garlic Knots

  • Garlic knots are my oldest son’s obsession. Anytime we go to an Italian restaurant he has to have them. He has a carb obsession like me. This recipe got a big fat thumbs upfrom him the first time I made them.
  • This recipe is easy to make and can become semi-homemade for a super easy side dish on Italian night at home. Pair your favorite pasta dish with a salad and these garlic knots for a fantastic meal.
  • I like to make a double batch and freeze some knots for later. It’s a great way to save money and have an easy option for the kids to snack on.
close up of a garlic knots with parmesan and parsley on a baking sheet

What are garlic knots made of?

PIZZA DOUGH: This recipe for garlic knots start out with pizza dough. You can use homemade pizza dough, store-bought dough (not the canned stuff!), or get some dough from your local pizzaria.

FATS: I like to use a combination of butter and olive oil to get that gorgeous golden brown crust. I you can use all butter or olive oil if you prefer, but I highly recommend having butter in the mix.

SEASONING: We’re keeping it classic with garlic, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper. I absolutely love oregano. If it’s not your jam, substitute more Italian seasoning or some dried basil.

GARNISH: If you want to give these garlic knots a little pizzazz, top them with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley once they’re finished. I recommend grated parmesan for the best coverage, just stay away from the shelf stable stuff.

ingredients to make garlic knots with text labels

How to Make Garlic Knots

Jump to Recipe

STEP 1 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Then lightly flour a work surface and place the pizza dough on it. Cut the dough into quarters and then cut each quarter into thirds for a total of 12 even pieces.

pizza dough cut into pieces on a floured cutting board

STEP 2 Roll each dough piece into a 6-inch rope. Then tie each rope into a knot. Place the knots onto the prepare baking sheet and let them rise for 1 hour at room temperature.

pizza rolled into ropes and then twisted into knots

STEP 3 Once the dough has proofed, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combined the melted butter, olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper.

butter, olive, oil, and seasonings mixed together in a bowl

STEP 4 Brush the garlic butter over the top of each knot. Bake the knots for 15-20 minutes or until the tops start turning golden brown.

garlic butter mixture brushed over dough knots on a lined baking sheet

STEP 5 Remove the pan from the oven and brush the knots with the rest of the garlic butter. Then sprinkle on some Paremsan and parsley and they’re ready!

baked garlic knots on a baking sheet topped with parmesan and chopped parsley

Tips & Tricks

  • I like to serve these garlic knots with a bowl of marinara or alfredo sauce for dipping. They’re delicious warm or at room temperature and you can easily double this recipe for a crowd.
  • If you prefer to to use parmesan and parsley on top, it’s totally okay to skip adding them. These knots are just as delicious without the extra garnish.
  • These garlic knots freeze well. Prepare them all the way up to proofing the knots and then brushing the with the garlic butter. Then place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1 hour. After that, transfer the knots to a food storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, thaw them on a baking sheet on the counter before baking as directed.
close up of a garlic knots resting against a bowl of marinara

Garlic Knots Recipe FAQ

Should you refrigerate leftover garlic knots?

You don’t have to refrigerate leftover garlic knots if you don’t want to. They should be kept in an airtight container and will last 3 days at room temperature or 1 week in the fridge.

How many calories in a garlic knot?

One homemade garlic knot has 151 calories. Since these knots are a bit bigger than the pre-made ones, the calorie count is higher. However, compare that to 130 calories for one frozen garlic knot or 110 calories for one Papa John’s garli knot and it’s really not that big of a difference.

What pizza chain sells garlic knots?

If you want standard garlic knots like these, Papa John’s if your best bet. Dominos has “bread twists” in parmesan or garlic flavors. They’re similar to garlic knots but have a different shape and they don’t combine the flavors.

garlic knot browken in half and stacked to show fluffy inside

More Italian Favorites

More tasty finger foods for your party

square close up of image of a garlic knot leaning against a bowl of marinara

Homemade Garlic Knots

Julie Kotzbach
My family can't get enough of these Homemade Garlic Knots! Grab some pizza dough, twist it up into knots & slather them with garlic butter!
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Proofing Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 knots
Calories 151 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Spread the flour over a clean work surface. Place the pizza dough onto the work surface and cut it into 4 equal pieces. Then cut each quarter piece into 3 even pieces for a total of 12 pieces.
  • Roll each dough piece into a 6-inch long rope. Tie each rope into a knot. Place the knots onto the prepared baking sheet. Let them rest on the counter to proof for 1 hour.
  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Min a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper. Brush the garlic butter all over the knots. (Save the extra butter for later.)
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are beginning to turn golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven. Brush the knots with the rest of the garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

If you want to make mini knots: Cut the dough into 24 pieces instead of 12 and proceed as directed. Start checking the knots around the 10 minutes mark. Since they’re smaller they won’t need to cook for quite as long.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 knotCalories: 151 kcalCarbohydrates: 19 gProtein: 3 gFat: 7 gSaturated Fat: 3 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 3 gTrans Fat: 0.2 gCholesterol: 10 mgSodium: 322 mgPotassium: 7 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 2 gVitamin A: 119 IUVitamin C: 0.01 mgCalcium: 4 mgIron: 1 mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Keyword garlic knots
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5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Hi Julie,
    I would love to make these for our Italian dinner night, but would prefer making them ahead. If I flash freeze them…that is once baked with garlic butter or raw?

    1. Hi Betty! To prepare these rolls for the freezer here’s what you need to do.
      Prep the knots through step 3. Then, preheat your oven to 275 degrees instead of 400 degrees. Bake the rolls for 15 minutes. The rolls will still look pale and undercooked, but the inside will be cooked. Remove them from the oven and cool to room temp. Flash freeze ’em on a sheet pan until they are completely frozen (about 4 hours), and then transfer frozen rolls to a freezer bag. The rolls will stay good frozen for 2-3 months
      When ready to serve: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and bake from frozen until they are nicely browned on top and thawed in the center, about 10-15 minutes. Brush with garlic butter topping and serve.

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe tasted exactly like papa John’s. So Good!!!