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These easy garlic knots with a buttery parmesan topping are a quick and delicious side dish for any meal. With a quick hack of using premade pizza dough, they are ready in just 20 minutes!

garlic knots on white plate
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20-Minute Garlic Rolls

These rolls come together in about 20 minutes and are perfect for when you need to add a side dish when serving Italian food like my favorite lasagna. The best part is, your guest will never know they weren’t made from scratch! They taste just as delicious as homemade breadsticks, but don’t require any yeast or rising time.

I love the garlic, buttery and parmesan combination…it really takes these rolls over the top! Add your favorite seasoning for a yummy twist! I could seriously eat the whole pan. They are that good!

garlic knot on baking sheet

Pizza Dough Garlic Knots

The best part about these garlic knots is that there’s no mixing or kneading the dough. We use a premade pizza dough as the base and then add a buttery garlic parmesan topping to give them a bold boost of flavor.

My favorite store-bought pizza dough is from Trader Joe’s. It’s so delicious and tastes super authentic. If you have the time you can always make my easy homemade pizza dough. It makes enough dough for two 12-inch pizzas, so you’ll even have some leftover to freeze or to make your favorite pizza or stromboli.

Biscuit or Crescent Variation

This recipe will also work with biscuit or crescent dough. You will need to cut the biscuits in half, then tie into knots (the full biscuit will be too thick to shape). If using crescents, just cut the dough into 12 pieces and then tie.

cutting dough on cutting board

How to Tie Garlic Knots

There is an art to tying garlic knots, but don’t worry, it’s easy to learn! It’s similar to making soft homemade pretzels or even pigs in a blanket…just cut the dough into pieces, roll and then shape.

  • Cut the dough. First you’ll start by dividing the pizza dough into 12 pieces. Make sure each piece is evenly sized, so that all of the garlic knots cook at the same speed.
  • Roll it out. Next you’ll use your hands to roll each piece of dough into a rope that’s about 8 inches long.
  • Tie into knots. Then you’ll take the rope and tie it into a knot shape. Make sure to place them on the baking sheet with the ends tucked under, so that they don’t come undone. Then brush them with the butter mixture (below) and bake!
garlic knots on baking sheet

Garlic Parmesan Butter

This is what takes these garlic knots over the top. It’s an easy mixture of melted butter, garlic, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and parsley that’s brushed on top of the dough before going into the oven. It adds the perfect boost of flavor and helps the tops get perfectly golden and crispy.

Then once the garlic knots are out of the oven, give the tops a second brush with the butter mixture before serving. Trust me, you don’t want to skip this step! It’s the perfect finishing touch. And as always, feel free to add your own seasonings to make the recipe your own. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes or using a garlic herb butter are just a few ideas.

Favorite Dipping Sauces

Marinara is the classic option to serve with homemade garlic knots, but feel free to get creative with it! A white sauce or even a homemade pesto would be just as delicious.

dipping garlic knot in marinara

More Rolls and Bread to Try:

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dipping garlic knot in marinara

Easy Garlic Knots

5 from 3 votes
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Author: Jamielyn Nye
These easy garlic knots with a buttery parmesan topping are a quick and delicious side dish for any meal. With a quick hack of using premade pizza dough, they are ready in just 20 minutes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup salted butter , melted
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 2 to 3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley , finely chopped (or 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 12 ounces refrigerated pizza dough , or biscuits (see notes)

For serving: Marinara sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a baking mat or parchment paper onto a large baking sheet and set aside. Stir together the melted butter, minced garlic, parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic powder, garlic salt and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside.
      mixing butter and parmesan in bowl
    • Cut the dough into 12 pieces. Then roll each piece into an 8-inch rope. Tie into a knot and then place onto the pan with the ends tucked under. Brush knots with half the butter mixture and then sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
      garlic knots on pan ready to bake
    • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush on remaining butter.
      garlic knots on baking sheet
    • Enjoy while warm with marinara if desired.
      garlic knots on white plate

    Notes

    Dough: There are quite a few options you can use for the dough in these garlic knots. Some are easier options than others. 
    • Refrigerated pizza dough or homemade pizza dough.
    • You can also use a 16 ounce can of biscuits. Make sure to cut the biscuits in half, or else they will be too thick. Then roll into 12-16 pieces.
    • Another option is to use a 12 ounce can of crescent dough. Simply cut the dough into 12 pieces and then tie into a knot. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 240IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

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