Cajun Garlic Bread

Cajun Garlic Bread is a fun twist on the classic. It’s soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and loaded with garlic, parmesan and the perfect amount of Cajun spice. Made with a homemade garlic butter and baked to perfection, this is the recipe you’ll return to again and again.

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A plate holds several slices of Cajun garlic bread on a stone surface near bowls of Parmesan cheese and freshly minced parsley

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Can you believe that I have never made or shared a garlic bread recipe up until this point?

It feels silly to admit that I never really made it before, and I never really thought about developing a recipe for it because someone else always seemed to show up with homemade garlic bread before it crosses my mind.

And then one of my friends mentioned that I seem to have a flair for all things Cajun and using Cajun seasoning in dishes where maybe you wouldn’t necessarily expect it. And so the wheels started turning and I wondered: could I make garlic bread with Cajun seasoning?

Turns out I could. Also turns out that the first batch had way too much Cajun seasoning and garlic for anyone to find it palatable in our house, myself included.

Lessons learned.

Why I love this recipe:

The resulting garlic bread recipe we’ve got here is soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It’s got fabulous garlic flavor that shines without it smacking you in the face, and there’s a nice kick from the Cajun seasoning without overwhelming your palate.

Another thing I love about this particular recipe is that it is fast to assemble and bake. There’s not much waiting around, other than setting the butter out to soften so that it mixes easily with the other ingredients before you schmear it all over the bread and toast it to perfection.

Seriously. The mixing and baking piece of this takes less time than waiting for the butter. But please know that you should not be tempted to melt the butter because the texture of the final bread will suffer.

So whether you want to pair this with an easy weeknight dinner or if you want it to accompany your Sunday night gathering or a dinner party, this is a great recipe for any occasion.

More easy appetizer recipes to try: Cucumber Bruschetta | Pesto Pinwheels | Baked Brie Bites

Ingredients in bowls to make Cajun garlic bread on a light stone surface with a blue striped linen

What you need to make this recipe:

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Rimmed baking sheet and parchment paper or foil
Serrated knife and sharp knife
Garlic press
Large mixing bowl
Rubber spatula

Let’s talk ingredients!

In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

Here is what you need to get at the store to make this recipe:

Bread — I used a regular 9 oz. loaf from my local grocery’s bakery. You can use whatever type of bread you like (think: baguette, french bread, etc.), so long as you can slice it down the middle to fill it with the garlic butter situation.
Unsalted butter — I prefer to use unsalted butter in recipes like this because I can control the amount of salt that goes in. That being said, if you only have salted butter, you can use that instead. A stick of salted butter has about ¼ teaspoon salt in it. Please use softened, not melted butter.
Cajun seasoning — this is the only seasoning we need, and it brings alllll the flavor. You can make your own or purchase a store-bought favorite. My family likes to use a lower-sodium option since these seasoning blends tend to have a lot of salt.
Fresh garlic cloves — purchase a head of garlic and mince it yourself, please. The flavor will be a little bit more potent than garlic powder, which is what makes a great loaf of garlic bread in my opinion.
Fresh parsley — freshly minced parsley adds color and a little brightness to the Cajun butter. To me, it is worth seeking out the fresh parsley for this because the dried parsley just is not as vibrant.
Parmesan — I prefer to use grated Parmesan in recipes like this because it tends to mix in a little bit better, but you can use whatever type of Parmesan you have on hand or shred your own. This melts into the compound butter, adds a little saltiness and gets nice, crusty and delicious as the bread bakes.

Butter in a bowl with minced garlic, parsley and Cajun seasoning

Grated Parmesan cheese on top of compound butter in a bowl before mixing

How to make Cajun Garlic Bread

Before you begin, set the butter out 30 to 45 minutes beforehand. It needs to be soft enough so you can easily mix it with other ingredients. Do not melt it.

Preheat the oven before you mix everything together and assemble. It needs to be at 400°F. After you do this, line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil and set it aside.

Prepare the bread. Take your loaf of bread and slice it in half with a serrated knife. Place it cut side up on the prepared sheet pan.

Make the Cajun garlic butter. Place the softened butter in a bowl. Add the Cajun seasoning, minced garlic, chopped parsley and grated parmesan. Give the ingredients a good mix until they are combined.

Cajun garlic butter smeared on a halved loaf of bread

Cajun garlic bread on a sheet pan lined with foil

Slather the bread. Use an offset spatula or a butter knife to smear the garlic butter mixture onto the cut sides of the bread.

Place the pieces of bread butter side up and sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, toasty and crisp on the top.

Cajun Garlic Bread after baking on a sheet pan lined with foil

Enjoy! Let it cool off slightly before serving warm with your favorite meal.

how to store:

While this recipe is best enjoyed right after it comes out of the oven, you can store leftovers wrapped in foil or place in an airtight container. They will keep for for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

Reheat in the toaster oven to crisp the bread back up.

A hand with polished nails holds up a slice of homemade garlic bread in front of a platter of more bread

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

Cajun garlic bread is wonderful to serve at a dinner party, a gumbo party or even a tailgate party where you’re serving dinner. Why? Garlic bread pairs with most anything, is delicious and simple to make.

If I were to make this for a crowd, I would test it out on my family and then…

Double or triple the recipe. This recipe serves six, but it disappears fast. If you’re feeding more than a handful of people, make two loaves. It’s the same amount of effort, and no one will complain about bonus bread.
Make it early. Mix the garlic butter a day in advance, spread it on the bread and wrap tightly in aluminum foil. You may also cover it with plastic wrap. Keep it chilled in the refrigerator. When guests arrive, unwrap, pop it in the oven and voila!
Pair it with something saucy. This bread was made for soaking up sauce. Think etouffee, gumbo, a pasta with a rich red sauce (like Alice’s spaghetti and meatballs or homemade lasagna) or any Cajun-style dish that has plenty of juices.
Serve it straight from the oven. Garlic bread is always enjoyed fresh and warm. Time it so it comes out of the oven just before you are sitting down to eat.

A platter of Cajun garlic bread on a surface for serving

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the butter need to be softened before mixing?

Yes. This is an absolute must because otherwise, you will have to melt the butter and then the texture of the final dish will not be as good.

Can I melt the butter instead of softening it?

While this would certainly make things faster, unfortunately, the answer is no. Not only does the softened butter evenly distribute the rest of the ingredients, but it melts into the bread to create a crispy exterior and a soft interior. If the butter is melted, the other ingredients won’t be spread evenly and the butter can pool and create soggy or greasy garlic bread as a result.

What kind of bread works best for this?

Whatever loaf of bread you’ve got, so long as it is not sliced like sandwich bread.

Can I make this less spicy?

Sure. Just use less Cajun seasoning and possibly less garlic.

Can I use store-bought garlic butter instead of homemade?

No. To me, it is worth making the extra effort to make your own Cajun garlic butter. If you want to use store-bought garlic butter, your end result will not look like the photos shown here.

Can I broil this instead of baking it?

No. I do not recommend broiling because every time I broiled bread, I burn it. The texture is not the same, and you will not get the nice crackly top because the cheese will melt too quickly.

Can I make the garlic butter ahead of time?

You sure can. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. Be sure to let it come to room temperature again before smearing it onto the bread.

Can I make this dairy free?

While you probably can, I do not recommend it at this time. I have not tried this with a dairy-free or vegan butter and dairy-free or vegan parmesan.

Overhead of sliced cheesy garlic bread on a wooden cutting board

Quick tips and tricks to make cheesy garlic bread:

Softened butter is your friend. The texture of the butter really matters. If it’s soft, the rest of the ingredients are evenly incorporated and will spread evenly onto the bread. The result is a crispy exterior with a soft, garlic-flavored interior.
Use fresh bread from your bakery or grocery store. A fresh loaf from the bakery section is going to yield a much better result than a pre-packaged, shelf-stable loaf.
Go light on the seasoning at first. I learned this lesson the hard way by using too much Cajun seasoning and garlic on our first go-round. No one in my family would eat it after their first bite. If you are concerned that it is going to be too potent for you, go light on both while mixing the butter, then taste and confirm before adding more or leaving it as is.
Don’t be tempted to broil! Yes, broiling is a lot faster than baking, but you run the risk of burning your bread. Also, you will get a more even bake if you bake the bread.
Keep an eye on it. Every oven runs slightly differently. Keep your eye on your bread near the end of the baking time to ensure it does not bread.

Here’s how to make this deliciousness in your kitchen…

Cajun Garlic Bread

Servings: servings

Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

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Total Time 20

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