Take your garlic bread to the next level with this easy homemade anchovy garlic spread for bread made with roasted garlic and anchovies! It's salty, savory and full of flavor!

Overhead shot of garlic butter spread with anchovies.

Let's Talk Anchovies

Ahh anchovies. Such an underrated fish. Don't hit back, I promise, it will be worth it.

Anchovies have gotten a bad rep. I am not quite sure why but I am here to sign their praise!

The NY Times seems to agree that anchovies make dishes better.

Anchovies are tiny, salty fish with a strong flavor. People use them to add a salty kick to foods like salads, pasta, and pizza. They might seem intense, but when used in the right amount, they can make dishes taste really good with their unique salty and savory taste.

I created these Puff Pastry Garlic n' Herb Pinwheels which are a twist on garlic bread, because I love garlic bread SO much! And this bagna cauda which also uses anchovies!

Why anchovies are a great option:

Anchovies come in three forms: canned, salted and as a paste.

For this recipe I used Cento's Canned Anchovies. They are from Italy, which are the best ones, and packed in olive oil

The flavor packed into just one of those tiny fish is insane. It is the perfect umami bomb to place on top of something like bread. And combined with garlic, it is delicious!

With that said, if you're tired of using the same garlic bread recipe, it's time to change it up and grab yourself a can or two next time you're in the store!

Anchovies are easy to use since they are so delicate. If using a food processor to blend your butter, just toss them in whole.

If you want small chunks of anchovies, lightly chop them and and mix them directly into your butter for an immediate flavor bomb

Overhead shot of garlic bread on a baking sheet.

Garlic Anchovy Butter

Anchovy garlic butter is a tasty mix of anchovies, garlic, and butter. It's a versatile flavor booster you can use in lots of ways. Whether you're spreading it on bread, cooking veggies, or drizzling it on grilled food, this butter adds a savory and slightly salty kick to make your dishes taste great.

For this anchovy spread recipe, I used Cento's Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Anchovies.

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Their products are a pantry staple in my home especially when I need a quick and flavorful snack or appetizer for guests!!

Tips for your spread

A garlic bread "SPREAD" can be made SO many ways. The base would of, course, start with butter. I like to use unsalted butter so that I can control the salt.

the possibilities are endless! Your strategy should be to include at least one FRESH herb, garlic and something extra if you like.

Fresh herbs that would be great in ANY garlic bread spread would be:

parsley (my favorite)
chives (my second favorite)
basic
thyme
rosemary
tarragon
dill

Now, you can add your garlic one of THREE ways:

Sprinkle it on using garlic powder. This is the quickest and easiest way to add garlic flavor. It is delicious and the way I do it on those busy weeknights.
Use pre-minced garlic in the jar. This is the second best way to get that real garlic taste without doing all the peeling and chopping! It lasts for months and is actually, ALMOST as quick as sprinkling it on your bread!
Use REAL garlic and roast it in the oven. Although this option takes the longest, it is the BEST of the three! If you have never roasted garlic, you have been missing out. The flavor becomes more mild and slightly sweet and the garlic becomes soft so you can SPREAD it! Ideal for a garlic bread spread!!

Other butter add-ins:

Anchovies*
Honey
Hot Sauce
Soy Sauce
Lemon Zest
Parmesan Cheese
Mustard
Mayo
Tomato Paste

Garlic bread on a baking sheet with parsley.

How To Roast Your Garlic

Roasting garlic is a great way to amp up the flavor of ANY dish! Besides putting roasted garlic in a bread spread, you can add it to your mashed potatoes or even in some pasta dishes.

There are two ways to roast your garlic.

Take the whole bulb and slice off the top portion. Then drizzle some olive oil and wrap it in some foil. Then bake. Here is a recipe.
You could also add the individual cloves to foil with some oil and roast it that way. That is what I did for this recipe.

Check out these tips for how to store garlic!

Here are some other garlicky appetizers you can serve:

Garlic Oil Cannelini Dip

The BEST Bread Dipping Oil

Greek Potato and Garlic Dip (Skordalia)

📖 Recipe