Homemade Garlic Knots are a timeless pizzeria favorite. Made with a double-rise pizza dough, they bake until golden and puffed, then get finished with a fragrant herb garlic butter. They’re an easy crowd-pleaser for weeknight dinners or gatherings.

These knots are delicious on their own or dipped in a favorite sauce. Try them with warm marinara or alongside a creamy pasta for a satisfying meal. They pair especially well with soups and salads or can be enjoyed straight from the oven.

What to Expect from These Garlic Knots

• Difficulty – This recipe is medium difficulty: the hands-on time is moderate, but a double rise means you’ll need a couple of hours overall.
• Taste – Light, fluffy knots with a rich garlic-butter finish and a hint of fresh parsley.
• Yield – The recipe makes about 36 garlic knots. You can scale the quantities as needed in the recipe card below.

Ingredients

• Flour – Strong bread flour gives the best structure and chew.
• Salt – Regular table or sea salt.
• Yeast – Instant yeast, added directly to the dry ingredients.
• Sugar – A small amount helps activate the yeast and promote browning.
• Olive oil – Adds flavor and improves dough texture.
• Warm water – Activates the yeast; should feel warm to the touch (not hot).
• Garlic butter topping – Butter, minced garlic, salt and finely chopped parsley make a simple, flavorful finish.

NOTE The full ingredient amounts and the printable recipe are provided in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Instructions

1. Combine dry ingredients – In a large bowl whisk together the flour, salt, instant yeast and sugar. Drizzle in the olive oil and stir briefly.
2. Add water – Make a well in the center and pour in the warm water. Use a fork to pull the flour into the water until a sticky dough forms.
3. Knead – Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting your hands as needed, until the dough becomes soft, elastic and springs back when touched (about 5–10 minutes).
4. First rise – Place the dough ball in a lightly floured bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and leave in a warm spot until doubled in size (about 1–2 hours).
5. Divide – Punch down the dough, flatten it slightly and divide into four equal portions.
6. Form knots – Flatten each portion into a roughly 6 x 5 inch rectangle, cut into eight pieces, roll each piece into a 6-inch rope and tie into a knot.
7. Second rise – Arrange knots on parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart (about 15 per sheet). Cover with a damp towel and let rise until doubled (30–90 minutes).
8. Bake – Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the knots for 12–15 minutes, until golden.
9. Make topping – Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, add minced garlic and salt, cook briefly (about 1 minute), then remove from heat and stir in the parsley.
10. Finish and serve – Brush the hot knots generously with the garlic butter and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

• Choose bread flour – Bread or strong flour has higher protein and creates better gluten structure for a light, chewy knot.
• Water temperature matters – Yeast activates best between 105–115°F (40–46°C). Too cool and it won’t rise; too hot and it can kill the yeast.
• Knead until elastic – Knead until the dough stretches easily and springs back. Kneading time varies but generally 5–10 minutes by hand.

Substitutions and Variations

• Dough – Use store-bought pizza dough for convenience, though results may differ from homemade dough.
• Topping – Swap the butter for olive oil if you prefer. Fresh basil or other herbs can replace parsley for a different flavor.
• Additions – Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the knots before or after baking for extra savory flavor.

Serving Suggestions

• With soups – Serve with hearty soups such as minestrone or potato-leek for a comforting meal.
• As a snack – They’re excellent on their own, warm from the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Homemade Garlic Knots

Homemade Garlic Knots are a classic pizzeria favorite made from double-rise pizza dough and finished with herb garlic butter. Soft inside, golden outside, perfect for sharing.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Rise Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 4 Cups flour strong white bread
• 1 level teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 1/4-ounce or 7 grams packet instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups warm water hot to touch

Other:

• 5 Tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves Garlic crushed
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon finely chopped parsley

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, salt, instant yeast and sugar. Mix well to combine. Drizzle over the olive oil and just give a quick stir.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour in the water. Using a fork, start pulling the flour into the water until you have incorporated all the flour. The dough should be really sticky at this point.
• Take the dough out of the bowl and place on a clean and lightly floured surface. Lightly flour your hands and start kneading the dough. Flip and knead the dough until it’s soft, elastic and springs back when touched. This will take between 5–10 minutes.
• Place the ball of dough in a large flour-dusted bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and place in a warm room for about an hour or up to two hours until the dough has doubled in size.
• Punch down the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Flatten it out slightly and divide it into 4 equal portions.
• Take each portion and flatten it out to a rectangle/square shape that’s approximately 6 x 5 inches. Cut it into 8 equal portions. Take each portion and stretch it out like a shoelace to about 6 inches in length. Tie it into a knot and repeat for as many as you are making.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place about 15 on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
• Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size, about 1/2–1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the garlic knots for 12–15 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven.

For the topping

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and salt and cook for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley.
• Brush the garlic knots with the garlic butter and serve immediately.

*Times are estimates; appliance performance may vary.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Garlic Knots

Amount Per Serving (1 Garlic Knot)

Calories 72
Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 4mg1%

Sodium 47mg2%

Potassium 15mg0%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 49IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 3mg0%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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