3 Quick and Easy Ways to Reheat Olive Garden Breadsticks

Last Updated: December 5, 2022 References

Endless and delicious, Olive Garden’s signature breadsticks may as well be a major food group. But when it comes time to reheat those leftover breadsticks, of course you’ll want them to live up to their former glory. Here are 3 ways to reheat Olive Garden breadsticks so that they’re just as tasty as the night before.

Things You Should Know

Heat your leftover breadsticks in the oven for 7-10 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C) for the best results.
You can also use a microwave or air fryer to revive leftover breadsticks.
Season your leftover breadsticks with garlic salt and butter to add some flavor back into them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Oven

1
Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Allow about 20 minutes for your oven to preheat.^{[1]
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Research source} You don’t want it to be too hot since you’re not actually baking the dough, only reheating already baked breadsticks.
2
Place the breadsticks side-by-side in an oven-safe dish. You can also use a standard pan or cookie sheet, but a dish that keeps the breadsticks together will ensure soft edges. If you want crispier edges, go ahead and place them a couple inches apart on a pan.^{[2]
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- At this point, you can also brush the breadsticks with a bit of melted butter and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt for added flavor.
- If your breadsticks are especially old and have gone a bit stale, you can pass the breadsticks briefly and directly under your faucet to add water. This water will steam in the oven and revive your stale breadsticks.^{[3]
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  Research source}
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3
Bake the breadsticks for 7-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the breadsticks as they heat in the oven, to make sure they don’t burn. If the outsides are getting a little too crispy, you can cover the breadsticks with tinfoil as they reheat.^{[4]
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4
Remove the breadsticks from the oven. Allow the breadsticks to cool for a few minutes before eating. Sprinkle them with garlic salt or your choice of seasoning, and serve them with your preferred dipping sauce–time to make use of that leftover marinara!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Microwave

1
Place breadsticks and damp paper towels on a plate. A couple of damp paper towels will add moisture back into the leftover breadsticks. Place your leftover breadsticks directly onto the paper towels, then drape another damp paper towel over the breadsticks.^{[5]
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- Be sure to use a microwave-safe plate, such as one made of ceramic or microwave-safe plastic.^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  US Food and Drug Administration
  U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health
  Go to source} Also, use sturdy paper towels that won’t break down with a little water.
2
Microwave the breadsticks for 30-45 seconds. It won’t take long to reheat breadsticks this way, so start with just 30 seconds.^{[7]
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Research source} Then, check the breadsticks, and if they’re still cold in places, microwave for another 20-30 seconds until thoroughly warmed.
3
Serve the warm breadsticks with your favorite seasoning and sauce. Salt or garlic powder pair great with leftover breadsticks, and you might have that plastic cup of marinara sauce in your fridge from the night before. Sprinkle the seasoning over the breadsticks and dip them in marinara or drizzle them with olive oil before you take that first bite.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Air Fryer

1
Preheat your air fryer to 350 °F (177 °C). Allow about 3 minutes before cooking for your air fryer to preheat.^{[8]
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Research source} This amount of time can vary depending on your make and model of air fryer, so be sure the appliance is fully heated before you proceed.
2
Wrap your breadsticks in tin foil. Tin foil is safe for use with air fryers, and can make cleanup much easier.^{[9]
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Research source} It also ensures the air fryer only heats up your breadsticks, as opposed to outright frying them.
- Sprinkle seasonings like salt or garlic powder onto the breadsticks before wrapping them in the tin foil to add extra flavor during the heating process.
3
Heat the wrapped breadsticks for about 2 minutes. This should be plenty of time for the air fryer to thoroughly heat the breadsticks.^{[10]
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Research source} Heat the breadsticks in 2 or 3 batches if they don’t all fit in the appliance at once.
4
Serve the breadsticks with seasoning and sauce. Remove the breadsticks from the air fryer using oven mitts or a dish towel. Place the heated breadsticks on a plate and sprinkle them with your preferred seasoning, or serve them with any leftover marinara sauce, or drizzle them with olive oil.