Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread Recipe

Introduction

This Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread is a wonderfully fragrant and flavorful loaf, perfect for sharing at any meal. With roasted garlic and fresh rosemary infused into a tender, golden crust, it offers a cozy homemade touch that’s both impressive and easy to make.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, roasted and mashed
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (for brushing)
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (for topping)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the top off a whole garlic bulb to expose the cloves, drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30–35 minutes until soft. Once cooled, squeeze out the cloves and mash into a paste.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, combine warm water and sugar, sprinkle yeast on top, and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt, then add the yeast mixture, olive oil, mashed garlic, and chopped rosemary. Stir until dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled.
3. Step 3: Punch down the dough to release air. Lightly grease a cast-iron skillet with olive oil, transfer the dough, and shape into a rough circle. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C).
4. Step 4: Brush the top of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Tips & Variations

• Roast garlic a day ahead and refrigerate the mashed paste to deepen flavor.
• Use a cast-iron skillet for an evenly crisp crust, or substitute an oven-safe baking dish if needed.
• Try half whole wheat flour for a nuttier taste and added fiber.
• Avoid overmixing the dough to keep it light and airy.

Storage

Store the bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days to retain freshness. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, warm slices in a toaster oven or regular oven until crisp and heated through.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular garlic instead of roasted garlic?

Yes, but roasted garlic provides a sweeter, milder flavor. Using raw garlic will result in a sharper, more pungent taste.

What if I don’t have a cast-iron skillet?

You can use any oven-safe dish or a pizza stone to bake the bread. The cast iron helps create a crisp crust, but alternatives work well too.

Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 52 reviews

This Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread is a flavorful homemade bread featuring roasted garlic and fresh rosemary, baked to perfection in a cast-iron skillet. The bread boasts a crispy golden crust with a soft, airy interior, bursting with aromatic herb and sweet garlic notes. Perfectly suited for sharing or accompanying meals, this no-knead recipe offers an easy way to create bakery-quality bread at home using simple ingredients and traditional techniques.

• Author: Isla
• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 1 rustic skillet bread, serves 6-8 1x
• Category: Bread
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Bread Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Flavoring:

• 4 cloves garlic, roasted and mashed
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (for brushing)
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (for topping)

Instructions

1. Roast the Garlic: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the top off a whole garlic bulb to expose the cloves, drizzle with a teaspoon of olive oil, wrap it in foil, and roast for 30–35 minutes until the cloves are soft and caramelized. Allow to cool, then squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and mash into a smooth paste. Set aside.
2. Prepare the Dough: In a small bowl, stir warm water and sugar, sprinkle yeast on top, and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and olive oil, then add the mashed roasted garlic and chopped rosemary. Mix just until the dough comes together. Cover with a towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
3. Shape and Second Rise: Punch down the risen dough gently to release air bubbles. Lightly grease a cast-iron skillet with olive oil and transfer the dough into it, shaping into a rough circle. Cover again and let rise for another 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C).
4. Bake the Bread: Before baking, brush the dough top with olive oil and sprinkle flaky sea salt. Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove and let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Roast the garlic a day before baking to deepen flavors further and store mashed garlic in an airtight container in the fridge.
• A cast-iron skillet is ideal for achieving a crisp, evenly baked crust; alternatively, use an oven-safe baking dish or pizza stone.
• Mix dough just enough to combine ingredients; avoid overworking to keep the texture light and airy.
• To add a wholesome touch, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
• Allow bread to cool before slicing to ensure clean cuts and maintain texture.

Keywords: rustic bread, garlic bread, rosemary bread, skillet bread, no-knead bread, homemade bread, roasted garlic bread, easy bread recipe