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Crispy and flavorful, these easy garlic crostini are quick to make and taste amazing. They’re perfect with various toppings, cheese, dips, salads, soups, and more.

Published in July 2023/Updated in Sept 2025

Top view of some golden brown garlic crostini on a white plate.

The garlic crostini recipe I’m sharing again today is a no-brainer, seriously. It’s a classic Italian appetizer that is economical and sure to please everybody.

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Their crunchy texture and garlic flavor pair beautifully with scrumptious toppings, making them a must for any Italian antipasti platter or charcuterie. However, they’re also highly versatile and delicious with savory dishes, including soups and salads.

These crispy, small babies are essentially little toasts made with thin slices of crusty bread brushed with olive oil, baked until golden, and rubbed with garlic to add delicious garlic goodness – that’s how we make garlic crostini for bruschetta in Italy! And they are AMAZING!

You need only 4 simple ingredients and minimal prep time to make this terrific, crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Everything tastes so much better when you have garlic crostini on the side!

List of the ingredients

  • Ciabatta or baguette
  • Fresh garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt

The ingredients to make garlic crostini are arranged over a white background.

How to make garlic crostini

(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

  • Bread: Using a serrated knife, slice your crusty bread diagonally into 1/3-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices in one layer on a large baking sheet.

Top view of ciabatta bread cut into slices over a white cutting board.

  • Brush or spray each slice of bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Brush one side only = same flavor with less oil!
  • Sprinkle with salt and bake until golden brown and crispy.
  • Gently rub the ciabatta or baguette slices (again, one side is enough) with a fresh garlic clove. That’s a popular Italian trick that works like magic!

    • Slices of bread on a baking sheet before baking.

    Recipe notes

    Ingredients

    Bread: The best bread for crostini is Italian bread, such as ciabatta, and the French baguette. However, any artisanal long loaf of bread or sourdough bread works fine. You can also use bread that is a bit stale (such as a one- or two-day-old baguette, if it’s not moldy).

    Garlic: Use only fresh garlic cloves.

    Extra-virgin olive oil: Olive oil or extra-virgin olive oil is a must. It adds flavor and makes the bread slices crunchier, golden, and delicious. Alternatively, you can use butter if you wish.

    Salt: A pinch of salt is added for extra flavor.

    Herbs, chili flakes & sea salt flakes are optional, but they add extra flavor and make these grilled crostini look pretty, too!

    Top view of some garlic crostini and garlic cloves.

    Storage tips

    You can store garlic crostini in an airtight container in the fridge or cupboard for up to 3 days. When it’s time to serve, pop them into a preheated oven (300°F/150°C) just until warm and crispy again.

    How to serve garlic crostini

    Serve your crostini at room temperature. They will be great for an easy appetizer, dips, soups, and salads. Below are a few ideas.

    • Turn them into canapes: Garlic crostini make the perfect base for different toppings. We love to top them with fresh , but they are also great with parmesan cheese or creamy cheese like goat cheese, topped with honey and walnuts.
    • Add them to platters: They are delicious with Italian prosciutto or your favorite ham, a perfect addition to a charcuterie board or cheese board. Delicious with Parmesan cheese or
    • Dips: They are excellent with dips such as a simple, or a spinach artichoke dip. The sky is the limit!
    • They elevate soups and salads: Who doesn’t love dipping crusty, garlic bread into cozy soups? Try them with a bowl of comfort like this or this

    Top view of some golden brown garlic crostini on a white background.

    Love more appetizer recipes?

    I’ve got you covered with these excellent appetizers and finger food:

    Lastly, check out this terrific roundup of. It’s perfect for creating an Italian-style get-together with colorful Caprese ,,, and more!

    If you make this easy crostini recipe or have a question, please let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you! x

    Garlic Crostini

    Crispy, flavorful and easy to make, these garlic crostini are great on their own and even better with cheese, veggies, charcuterie and so forth! Recipe yields 12 small servings, but it can be easily doubled for a crowd.

    Prep Time5
    Cook Time10
    Total Time15
    CourseAppetizers
    CuisineItalian
    Keywordgarlic crostini
    Servings12
    Calories39 kcal
    AuthorKatia

    Ingredients

    • 12 baguette or ciabatta, slices (about ½ or ¼ inch thick)
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 fresh large garlic clove
    • ¼ teaspoon fine salt, or to taste

    Instructions

    • Using a serrated knife, slice a long loaf of bread (ciabatta or baguette) into ½ or ¼ inch thick slices, ideally on the diagonal.
    • Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F.
    • Arrange the slices of bread in a single layer on a baking sheet, brush or spray them with extra virgin olive oil (one side only), sprinke with salt, and bake for about 8-10 minutes. You'll want your crostini slightly golden and crispy. No need to turn them over as they toast on both sides.
    • Remove crostini from the oven, let them cool slighty, then rub each slices with a fresh garlic clove (just one side). A quick rub is enough to add the garlic flavor, don't overdo it as the garlic flavor can be quite pungent.
    • You can sprinkle them with fresh herbs, sea salt flakes, chili flakes. Serve them with everything you like.