These easy Pizza Dough Breadsticks come together in just 20 minutes using pre-made dough, so you can have a batch of perfectly baked, golden-brown breadsticks on the table in no time. They're soft inside, brushed with melted butter, and topped with Parmesan and red pepper flakes for a simple side that pairs with just about any dish.
Parmesan pizza dough breadsticks at a Glance
- 🧄 Flavor & Texture: Buttery, garlicky, cheesy, or sweet with soft centers and golden edges.
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Refrigerated pizza dough, butter, garlic, seasonings, and optional cheeses or cinnamon sugar.
- ⏱️ Total Time: About 20 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: About 10 breadsticks
- 🥗 Dietary Info: Vegetarian; contains gluten and dairy.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Pizza dipping sauce, pasta, soup, or salad.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Best served fresh, but the dipping sauce can be made ahead.
- ❤️ Why You Will Love It: Prepared pizza dough makes fresh breadsticks so easy to make!
Summarize and Save This Content On
My friend and I used to visit Olive Garden often, and the first thing we'd do was order their breadsticks. We'd devour them in minutes and could have easily skipped the meal!
I've tried making these six different ways over the years, and this is the version I always come back to. They're the same breadsticks that seem to vanish first whenever I serve them at a party.
Similar recipes to these pizza breadsticks include my braided pizza bread and this crescent pizza recipe.
Jump to:
- Parmesan pizza dough breadsticks at a Glance
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Which Pizza Dough Should You Use for Breadsticks?
- Variations
- How to Make Garlic Breadsticks with Pizza Dough
- Expert Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Pizza Dough Breadsticks Recipe FAQs
- More Easy Homemade Bread Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Pizza Dough Breadsticks
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Use any variety of pizza dough: Make breadsticks from frozen pizza dough, fresh dough, or homemade dough. Use whatever brand you like!
- Just 5 ingredients: You only need 5 simple ingredients, and you likely already have them in your kitchen.
- No cutting required: Simply pull the dough apart at the seams to make the breadsticks-there's no cutting involved.
Ingredients
Your key ingredients for this pizza dough breadstick recipe are listed below-they're mostly kitchen staples!
- Pizza dough: Use any variety of store-bought pizza dough, whether fresh or frozen, but bring it to room temperature before using. This makes the dough easier to work with and helps it stretch without springing back. I use store-bought dough for this fresh salmon pizza, too.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter so you can control the salt in the garlic butter. Store-bought garlic butter works, too, but if you use it, skip the added salt.
- Garlic: Garlic powder distributes more evenly over the dough, while fresh minced garlic gives you a stronger, fresher flavor. Just keep in mind that fresh garlic can scorch at high heat.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grate Parmesan from a block for the best results. It melts and browns more evenly and clings to the breadsticks better than the shaker-style kind.
- Red pepper flakes: These add a nice kick. If you don't enjoy spice, just leave it out.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Which Pizza Dough Should You Use for Breadsticks?
Any type of pizza dough works for this recipe, though the prep varies slightly depending on whether you're making these cheesy breadsticks with Pillsbury pizza dough or frozen dough.
| Dough type | Before you roll | What to watch for |
| Refrigerated tube (Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust or similar) | There's no need to rest your refrigerated pizza dough breadsticks. They come ready to use straight from the package. | Already a rectangle, so skip the rolling. It bakes up a little thinner and crispier than the others. |
| Bagged fresh dough (grab about 1 lb from the bakery case or pizza shop) | Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cold dough springs back and is harder to roll out. | If it still shrinks while you roll, allow it to sit on the counter for 10 minutes and come back. It'll relax. This one bakes up the softest and chewiest. |
| Frozen dough (about 1 lb) | Thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then, let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes before you roll it. | Avoid rushing the thawing process. Using tools like the microwave will only start to cook the dough. Plan at least a full day for thawing. |
| Homemade dough (about 1 lb) | Let the dough rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling. | If it keeps springing back, give it another 10-15 minutes to relax. It can vary in hydration, so avoid adding too much flour while rolling, or the homemade pizza dough breadsticks can turn out tough. |
Variations
- Cheesy: For extra cheesy breadsticks, sprinkle ½ cup shredded mozzarella over the garlic butter before baking. Keep an eye on them toward the end since the cheese can brown faster than the dough.
- Three Cheese: Top the breadsticks with a combination of Parmesan, cheddar, and mozzarella cheese just before baking.
- Everything bagel: Skip the Parmesan and sprinkle 1 ½ tablespoons everything bagel seasoning over the garlic butter instead. The seasoning adds a savory, garlicky crunch without any extra prep.
- Olive Garden style: Skip the Parmesan cheese and finish with an extra brush of melted butter and a sprinkle of ¼ teaspoon garlic salt for that familiar restaurant-style flavor.
How to Make Garlic Breadsticks with Pizza Dough
Preheat your oven to 425°F and line your baking sheet with parchment paper before you get started.
Step 1: Mix the Parmesan topping. Combine the Parmesan cheese with the other spices, including the red pepper flakes, and set it aside.
Step 2: Prep the dough. Brush the parchment with butter and add a sprinkle of the seasonings. Spread the pizza dough onto the prepared baking sheet, press it into the spices, and score it crosswise into approximately 10 breadsticks. You don't need to cut completely through, but it's ok if you do. Brush the melted butter on top of the breadsticks.
Step 3: Sprinkle the cheese mixture. Sprinkle the Parmesan and spice mix evenly over the dough.
Step 4: Bake and serve. Pop the pan into the oven and bake it for about 9-12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Dip the breadsticks into marinara or cottage cheese Alfredo sauce and enjoy every bite!
Expert Tips
- Score, don't separate: Score the dough most of the way through, but don't pull the strips apart before baking. This helps the breadsticks bake together while still making them easy to pull apart when they're ready to serve.
- Use a metal pan: Fully preheat the oven and use a metal sheet pan for the most consistent bake. Glass and dark nonstick pans can change how quickly the dough cooks and browns.
- Storing the breadsticks: Keep cooled breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate them for up to a week.
- Reheating the leftovers: Reheat breadsticks in a 350F oven or toaster oven for 5-8 minutes until warmed through. Skip the microwave-it makes the breadsticks chewy.
Cheesecake Factory bread is another one of my all-time favorite restaurant copycat recipes.
Serving Suggestions
- For a cozy lunch: Pair them with zucchini potato soup on a cool afternoon. Serve the breadsticks warm for dipping into the savory, spiced broth.
- With pasta or soup: Pair them with lazy lasagna or your favorite soup, like this easy chicken wild rice soup, for a warm, comforting dinner that feels a little more complete.
- For Entertaining: Serve warm pizza dough breadsticks as an easy appetizer for game days, parties, potlucks, or casual gatherings with marinara or garlic butter for dipping. To make a quick pizza dipping sauce, stir together a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
Pizza Dough Breadsticks Recipe FAQs
No. Store-bought pizza dough doesn't need to rise before you turn it into breadsticks, so you can shape, season, and bake them right away.
Doughy centers usually mean the breadsticks need more time in the oven. If the outside is browning before the middle is cooked through, lower the oven rack and give them a few extra minutes to bake.
Sure! You can cut and shape the breadsticks a few hours ahead, cover them, and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. You can also bake them up to 1 day ahead, let them cool completely, and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Reheat them in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
Yes, you can freeze them either baked or unbaked. For unbaked breadsticks, flash-freeze the cut strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake them straight from frozen, adding extra baking time as needed. For baked breadsticks, let them cool completely first, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Easy Homemade Bread Recipes
Do you like breadstick recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Garlic Parmesan Pizza Dough Breadsticks
Ingredients
- 1 tube (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted or garlic butter and omit salt
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- ¼ teaspoon sea or kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the oven: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Combine the Parmesan, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the mixture evenly over the parchment paper where the dough will sit.
- Unroll the pizza dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Score it crosswise into approximately 10 breadsticks without cutting completely through. Brush the bottom of the dough with half of the melted butter.
- Place the dough buttered-side down onto the Parmesan mixture and gently press so the seasoning adheres. Brush the top with the remaining melted butter and sprinkle evenly with the remaining Parmesan mixture.
- Bake at 425°F for 9-12 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Cool for 5 minutes, then separate the breadsticks along the scored lines.
Notes
- Fully preheat the oven and use a metal sheet pan for the most even bake. Glass or dark nonstick pans may cause the breadsticks to cook and brown differently.
- If the centers are still doughy, give the breadsticks a few extra minutes to bake. If they're browning too quickly on top, move the pan to a lower oven rack so the centers have time to cook through.
- Store-bought pizza dough doesn't need to rise first. Just shape, season, and bake!
Margie says
Easy, quick, and delicious! I split the Pillsbury dough in half and did the same with the ingredients for both the Pizza Hut and Cinnamon recipes, so it was lunch and dessert baked all at once. I will be making these again and have already shared the recipe. Thank you.
Karin and Ken says
As always you are most welcome! I have to admit it but I love them too and eat them way too often myself, especially the cinnamon sugar breadsticks with that dip. Luckily, I have a tube of dough inside my fridge and will be making a batch shortly. I have a feeling. Glad I'm not the only one who enjoys this easy breadstick recipe! Now I'm going to finish this post! I had no idea. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to comment. Take care and all the best. Karin