This Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread is my secret weapon for a super quick, easy, and incredibly delicious appetizer or side dish! Using store-bought flatbreads (like naan or pita), this recipe creates warm, buttery, garlicky bread topped with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan in just minutes. I absolutely love how simple this Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread is – it requires minimal ingredients and effort but delivers maximum flavor. It’s perfect for serving with dips, alongside soup or salad, or as a simple starter for any meal, especially wonderful for spring gatherings!
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread
- Incredibly Easy & Quick: Uses pre-made flatbread and comes together in about 20 minutes total!
- Flavorful Garlic Herb Butter: The simple combination of butter, garlic, parsley, and olive oil is classic and delicious.
- Versatile: Perfect as an appetizer, side dish for soups and salads, or a base for other toppings.
- Customizable: Easily change up the herbs, add cheese, or other seasonings.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Warm, buttery garlic bread is always a hit!
Ingredients for Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread
Here’s what you’ll need for this quick and easy flatbread. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Flatbread Base
- Fresh flatbreads (naan or pita recommended) (Bread)
Garlic Herb Butter
- Unsalted butter (Fat)
- Garlic, finely grated (Aromatic)
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped (Herb)
- Olive oil (Oil)
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Black pepper (Spice)
- Grated Parmesan (optional) (Dairy)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the classic garlic-parsley combination on this Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread, but feel free to experiment:
- Different Herbs: Use fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, or chives instead of or in addition to parsley.
- Cheesy: Add shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese on top along with or instead of the Parmesan during the last few minutes of baking.
- Spicy: Mix a pinch of red pepper flakes into the garlic butter mixture.
- Everything Bagel: Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the buttered flatbread before baking.
- Make it a Pizza Base: Use the garlic butter base and add your favorite pizza toppings before baking.
How to Make Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread
Let me show you how incredibly simple it is to make this delicious Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread:
Prep Oven and Butter Mixture
- First, I preheat my oven to 350ºF (180ºC).
- In a shallow plate or small bowl, I mash the softened (room temperature works best!) unsalted butter with the olive oil, finely chopped fresh parsley, finely grated garlic, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Using grated garlic distributes the flavor intensely!
- I mix this together until it’s completely smooth and combined. I set aside about half of this mixture if I want to use it as a fresh dip or spread later.
Top and Bake Flatbread
- I line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. The original recipe likes foil as it can prevent melted butter from dripping, but parchment paper also works well for easy cleanup.
- I lay my flatbreads (naan or pita) on the baking sheet. If using foil, I sometimes form little rims with the foil around each flatbread to help contain the butter.
- I spread the garlic herb butter mixture evenly over the top surface of each flatbread.
- I place the baking sheet in my preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes. I look for the butter to be bubbly and the edges of the flatbread to be golden brown and slightly crisp.
Finish and Serve
- I carefully remove the flatbreads from the oven.
- I transfer them to a cutting board (lined with parchment paper if desired for less mess).
- If I like, I sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the hot flatbreads right away.
- I slice the Garlic Herb Butter Flatbreads horizontally (into strips or wedges).
- Serve!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Garlic Flatbread
Here are my secrets for making this Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread truly exceptional:
- Use Room Temperature Butter: Softened butter mixes much more easily with the garlic and herbs than cold butter.
- Fresh Garlic & Parsley: These provide the best, most vibrant flavor compared to dried versions. Grating the garlic releases maximum flavor.
- Don’t Overbake: Bake just until the butter is bubbly and the edges are golden. You want the center to remain relatively soft.
- Use Good Quality Flatbread: Start with fresh naan or pita that you enjoy for the best base.
- Serve Warm: This flatbread is definitely best enjoyed warm and fresh from the oven.
How to Serve
This Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread is incredibly versatile! Serve it warm as:
- An Appetizer: Perfect on its own or with dips like hummus, marinara sauce, or the reserved garlic butter.
- A Side Dish: Fantastic alongside soups (like tomato or lentil), stews, chili, or salads.
- With Pasta: Great for soaking up pasta sauce.
- A Snack: A simple and satisfying savory snack.
Slice into strips or wedges for easy sharing.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Garlic Butter: You can make the garlic herb butter mixture up to 3 days ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator. Let it soften slightly at room temperature before spreading.
- Baked Flatbread: This flatbread is best served fresh. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
- Reheating: Reheat briefly in a toaster oven, regular oven, or air fryer at around 350°F (175°C) for a few minutes to restore warmth and some crispness. Microwaving will make it soft.
FAQs about Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread
- Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?
- Yes, you can substitute about ½ – 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, but fresh grated garlic provides a much more potent and fresher flavor.
- Can I make this on the grill?
- Yes! Spread the butter mixture on the flatbreads and grill briefly over medium heat until lightly toasted and the butter is melted. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- What kind of flatbread is best?
- Store-bought naan or thick pita bread works wonderfully for this Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread. Choose your favorite!
Enjoy this incredibly easy, flavorful, and versatile Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread! It’s a perfect quick addition to any meal.
Print
Oven-Baked Garlic Herb Butter Flatbread
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Snack, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Description
These garlic herb butter flatbreads are perfect as an appetizer, and you can play as much as you want with the toppings! Soft flatbreads are coated with a delicious garlic-herb butter and baked until golden.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package of 2 fresh flatbreads (naan or pita bread recommended)
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Make Garlic Herb Butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, olive oil, finely grated/minced garlic, and finely chopped fresh parsley. Mash and stir with a fork until completely smooth and well combined. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of this mixture in a separate small bowl for serving, if desired.
- Prepare Flatbreads: Lay the flatbreads on the prepared baking sheet. Optional: Form low rims with the aluminum foil around each flatbread to help contain the butter.
- Spread Butter: Spread the remaining garlic herb butter mixture evenly over the top surface of each flatbread.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the butter is bubbly and melted, and the edges of the flatbread are golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the flatbreads from the oven. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Transfer to a cutting board, slice horizontally or into wedges, and serve immediately with the reserved garlic herb butter for dipping (if using).
Notes
- Flatbread: Pre-made naan or pita bread works perfectly. Choose a thickness you prefer.
- Butter: Use softened butter (room temperature) so it mixes easily with the other ingredients and spreads well.
- Garlic: Finely grating or mincing the garlic ensures it distributes evenly.
- Foil Rims: Creating foil rims around the flatbread on the baking sheet is optional but can help prevent the melted butter from dripping off onto the oven floor.
- Serving: These are best served warm and fresh from the oven.
- Variations: Add other herbs like rosemary or thyme, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture.
- Storage: Store leftovers loosely covered at room temperature for a day, or wrapped in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat briefly in the oven or toaster oven.