Easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread

How to make 'buttery', garlicky air fryer garlic bread (oven method also included) with just 4 ingredients in under 10 minutes! This vegan garlic bread is crispy around the edges with a soft garlic-'butter' center and ready to complete any meal!

4-Ingredient Vegan Air Fryer Garlic Bread in 10 minutes!

When it comes to side dishes, garlic bread is a top-tier option. With a flavorful vegan garlic-butter topping over tender bread with crispy edges, this simple side is super delicious, pairs well with tons of meals, and is quick and simple to prepare at home as oven-baked or air fryer garlic bread!

While there are options for dairy-free garlic bread in some grocery stores now, the options are still few and far between and not readily available everywhere. Luckily, this vegan garlic bread recipe requires just 4 ingredients and is customizable. I.e., use gluten-free bread, adjust the amount of topping used, add vegan cheese, fresh herbs, or some spice, etc., and all 100% dairy-free!

Best of all, this air fryer garlic toast/ bread is meal-prep and freezer friendly. Just add a couple of minutes to the cooking time for delicious air fryer frozen garlic bread! When ready, enjoy the vegan garlic bread with soups (like this Vegetarian Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup), veggie stew, pasta dishes, and more!

The Ingredients

This vegan garlic bread recipe requires just four base ingredients.

• Vegan butter: Use your favorite dairy-free butter, lightly salted.
• Garlic: Use minced garlic, adjusting the amount to taste.

For an alternative flavor profile, you could use roasted garlic, increasing the amount to taste. The flavor is super mellow but delicious.

• Nutritional yeast: (optional) Will add a subtle cheesiness and umami depth, like a vegan parmesan cheese alternative.
• Bread: I like to use a baguette, but you can also use other Italian bread, ciabatta bread, naan, and focaccia, a crusty loaf, or even sandwich bread (for garlic toast in an air fryer) in a pinch. Use gluten-free bread if necessary.

Recipe Variations and Add-Ins

There are several simple ways to add extra flavor to the air fryer garlic toast/bread, whether you want spice, 'cheesiness', or added depth.

• Parsley: One of the easiest ways to boost your homemade vegan garlic bread is with freshly minced parsley. Scallions/green onion and/or chives should also work.
• Dried herbs: For a different flavor, experiment with herbs like Italian seasoning, dried thyme, and/or oregano.
• Red pepper flakes: Adjust the amount to taste based on if you'd like a subtle heat or POW! Alternatively, add some chili sauce directly to the vegan garlic butter mixture.
• Vegan cheese: Use a vegan cheese that melts well. I like to use a cheddar-style cheese and shred it over the air fryer garlic toast before cooking it. Vegan parmesan to sprinkle over the bread slices will also work well.
• Black pepper: Added to taste.
• Onion powder: Added to taste for extra depth. I recommend ½ teaspoon to begin with.

How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Bread?

Preparing garlic bread in an air fryer is simple and requires just a few fuss-free steps.

• 1) In a small bowl, combine the vegan butter, garlic, and nutritional yeast (if using) and mix thoroughly.

• 2) Then, slice the baguette in half lengthwise or into individual 1-inch round slices and spread the garlic butter mixture across each half.

For a more traditional supermarket-style pull-apart vegan garlic bread baguette, place a chopstick or pencil beside the baguette and slice the baguette every 1-inch apart until you reach the pencil/chopstick (so you don't cut entirely through the slices, similar to Hasselback potatoes). Then spread the vegan garlic butter mixture between the crevices so both sides of the bread are buttered. Spread any excess over the top of the baguette, too, and cook.

• 3) Place the garlic bread in a single layer, face-up in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece.

• 4) Air fry the garlic bread at 350F/177C for 4-5 minutes, watching it to ensure it doesn't burn.

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• Use softened vegan butter: Otherwise, combining all the ingredients for the topping will be hard. To soften it quickly, microwave the vegan butter for a few seconds.
• Be liberal with the topping: Dry vegan garlic bread with barely any topping is so disappointing. Be liberal with it!
• For a stronger garlic flavor: Instead of adding more garlic (which you can also do), add depth and robustness to the garlic flavor by adding garlic powder.
• Soft vs. crispy garlic bread: If you'd prefer softer air fryer garlic bread, wrap the bread loosely in foil when cooking it, so to lock in moisture. Remove the foil in the last 2-3 minutes for soft bread that's subtly crisp on the edges.
• Air fryer time will vary: Based on the size, thickness, and type of your bread, as well as your air fryer model. You can also adjust the time based on how crispy you want the air-fried garlic bread to be.

How To Serve Vegan Garlic Bread?

Garlic bread is a super versatile (and delicious) side for almost any meal. Some of my favorite meal pairings include:

• With soups and stews
• To mop up vegan chili
• Saucy vegan pasta dishes and lasagna
• Creamy curries and curried dishes
• As a crunchy side to salads (like a vegan Caesar salad or an Italian tomato-based salad)
• Serve the air fryer garlic bread with warm marinara sauce for dipping
• Use the air-fried garlic bread as a base for bruschetta
• Slather with some of my easy vegan cheese sauce

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can prepare the vegan garlic butter mixture and store it covered in the fridge for 5-7 days. To use it, bring it back to room temperature, spread over bread, and air fry as usual.

Alternatively, spread the vegan garlic butter over the baguette and then flash freeze the slices until solid. Transfer them to a Ziplock/Stasher bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Air fry the frozen garlic bread, adding a minute or two to the air frying time.

Store: Enjoy the air-fried garlic bread immediately for the best texture. Leftovers will store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you have any leftover vegan garlic butter mixture, cover it and store it for several days in the fridge.

Reheat: Place it back in your air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through (just 2-3 minutes should be enough).

More Vegan Air Fryer Recipes

• Hasselback potatoes
• Dehydrated apple chips
• Crispy air fryer tofu
• Air fryer pizza rolls
• Vegan black bean nachos
• Air fryer hash browns
• Butternut squash (cubes & halves)
• Air fryer asparagus

If you try this easy vegan air fryer garlic bread recipe, I'd love to know what you think in the comments below. I'd also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla