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This homemade garlic knots recipe is made with our foolproof pizza dough and zesty garlic butter. Perfect for kid’s parties or alongside soup or salad!
These homemade garlic knots will transport you right back to childhood. I love using them to sop up soup broth and pasta sauce. My kids beg me to make them when their friends come over with a variety of different dipping sauces. I always oblige and then steal a couple of them for myself!
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s touch on a little history. So many pizzerias carry garlic knots these days, but where did they actually come from? Garlic knots first started appearing in New York City pizza shops in the 1940s. These little morsels were a simple (and delicious!) way to not waste leftover pizza dough scraps. Whenever you make homemade pizza, you can do the same. All hail a budget bite!
Note: For this recipe, you’ll need to prepare homemade pizza dough ahead of time. Make it a day in advance to cut down on day-of prep, or pick up some pre-made dough from the grocery store. Trader Joe’s has a great ready-to-use dough in the refrigerated aisle when you’re in a pinch!
How to Make Pizza Dough for this Garlic Knots Recipe
This pizza dough recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and a couple of simple steps. Below, find an overview of the process.
- Make the Dough: Using a stand mixer with a dough hook or a wooden spoon, mix the dry yeast, salt, sugar, olive oil, and warm water together. Next, slowly add the flour just until it’s well-combined. That’s right – there’s no need to knead!
- Let the Dough Rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for about two hours at room temperature, or until it doubles in size. And BAM – you have perfect pizza dough to use for your garlic knots!
How to Make this Garlic Knots Recipe
Making this garlic knots recipe requires pizza dough and a few other simple ingredients.
- Make the Pizza Dough: Prepare a batch of pizza dough or pick up pre-made dough from the grocery store for a shortcut.
- Shape the Dough: Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into thin strips on a floured surface. Next, tie each one into a knot.
- Bake the Knots: Assemble the knots on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them in the oven for 10-12 minutes at 400℉, or until they turn golden brown.
- Slather with Herb Garlic Butter: Once the garlic knots come out of the oven, slather them with the melted butter mixture. Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Here you’ll find a collection of quick-hitter tips and tricks to help you nail this garlic knots recipe.
- Don’t roll the dough out too thin. Roll the dough out to 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick for best results. This will ensure that your knots are sturdy enough to shape and dip.
- Play around with different seasonings. Consider this garlic knots recipe a great foundation to tweak and alter to your specific taste buds. Want to go fancy? Swap in truffle butter. Love herbs? Add in fresh rosemary, basil, or oregano – or all three! Want cheesy garlic knots? Toss in some parmesan cheese or asiago cheese.
- Slather the knots in butter right out of the oven. Once you pull the knots out of the oven, waste no time in slathering them in garlic butter. This will help the seasoning stick to the knots, while also keeping them nice and moist.
What do you Eat Garlic Knots with?
Garlic knots can be served alongside most salads, pastas, and soups, or eaten with a variety of dipping sauces like alfredo, ranch, or marinara for a fun appetizer. They pair wonderfully with caesar salad, shrimp fettuccine alfredo, or creamy tortellini soup. They are perfect for kid’s parties, movie nights, and casual get-togethers with friends!
Storing Garlic Knots
Whether you have a handful of knots to store for the next week or you doubled or tripled the recipe to freeze, find all the best storage tips here.
- Refrigerator: Keep garlic knots on hand for up to a week by storing them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them from going stale.
- Freezer (Baked): If you’d like to have garlic knots on hand for up to 1 month, freeze them. To do so, assemble them on a lined baking sheet and pop them in the freezer. Once completely frozen, transfer the garlic knots to a freezer-safe bag. To thaw, place them in the fridge overnight.
- Freezer (Raw): If you’d like to have garlic knots on hand for up to 3 months, double or triple the recipe and freeze them raw. To do so, assemble them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, pop the entire baking sheet in the freezer. Once completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. To bake, simply place the frozen notes in the oven and bake according to the recipe instructions.
FAQ
Are garlic knots a New York thing?
Yes, garlic knots are a New York thing. They were first created in pizzerias in the Big Apple to prevent food waste by putting leftover pizza dough scraps to good use.
How long do garlic knots last?
Garlic knots will last for up to a week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
How far in advance can I make the pizza dough?
The pizza dough can be made up to a week in advance. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to make the garlic knots recipe.
Can I freeze these garlic knots?
Yes, this garlic knots are great for freezing. To do so, allow them to cool completely. Pop the entire baking sheet into the freezer. Next, transfer the frozen knots to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Can I use a different dough besides pizza dough?
In a pinch, you can use Pillsbury Crescent Dough instead of homemade pizza dough. Additionally, Trader Joe’s has a great premade pizza dough in the refrigerated section if you’re looking for a shortcut.
Other Tasty Bread Recipes
- Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe – Herby-Italian flatbread
- Cheesy Bread Recipe – Perfect garlic and cheese bread
- Easy Homemade Naan Bread – Indian-style flatbread
- Ukrainian Garlic Bread (Pampushky) – Garlic and sunflower oil bread
Recipe
Easy Garlic Knots Recipe
Print Pin
Servings
30 Pieces
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 13 minutes mins
Total Time 33 minutes mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This homemade garlic knots recipe is made with our foolproof pizza dough and zesty garlic butter. Perfect for kid's parties or alongside soup or salad!
Ingredients
- 1 pizza dough
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp dry or fresh parsley
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
US Units – Metric
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into thin strips.
Tie each dough strip into a simple knot. Bake them at 400°F for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Next, add in the oil, parsley, and pressed garlic. Add salt to taste.
Brush each dough knot with a garlicky glaze and serve warm!
Nutrition Facts
Easy Garlic Knots Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 58 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 4mg1%
Sodium 95mg4%
Potassium 2mg0%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 47IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 1mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
