The Best 6-Ingredient Dominos Copycat Garlic Knots
If you have ever ordered pizza delivery just to get your hands on the side dishes, you already know that the bread sides are the true stars of the show. There is something completely addictive about that salty, buttery, herb-infused coating they use. Today, I am showing you how to make the ultimate Dominos copycat garlic knots right in your own kitchen.
This dominos copycat garlic knots recipe captures that exact nostalgic flavor profile but drastically upgrades the overall quality by using fresh ingredients and applying a few basic food science principles to ensure the perfect texture. Plus, by utilizing store-bought pizza dough, you can have these hot and ready on the table in under 30 minutes.
It is the ultimate “better than delivery” hack. These Dominos copycat garlic knots rely on simple pantry staples you likely already have sitting in your kitchen, making them the perfect last-minute appetizer for game day or a cozy pizza night.
The Food Science Behind the Flavor
To achieve that signature fast-food taste at home, we have to focus on the interaction between our fats and our aromatics. While many standard recipes use only melted butter, this specific Dominos copycat garlic knots recipe uses a precise blend of unsalted butter and extra virgin olive oil.
From a scientific standpoint, this does a lot more than just improve the flavor. Butter contains milk solids that burn quickly over direct heat. By introducing olive oil, we dilute those milk solids, reducing the risk of the butter burning while the garlic cooks. The extra virgin olive oil also acts as a powerful carrier for the fat-soluble compounds found in the fresh garlic (specifically the compound allicin)
When the minced garlic is gently heated in this specific fat emulsion, the savory flavors infuse much more deeply into the oil. That infused oil then penetrates the porous crust of the baked dough. Additionally, using unsalted butter allows you to control the sodium levels, ensuring that the grated parmesan cheese provides the perfect amount of saltiness without making the final product overwhelming.
The “6-ingredient” simplicity comes from making the oregano entirely optional. While dried oregano adds a nice earthy note, the core flavor profile of the original version is heavily dominated by garlic, fresh parsley, and parmesan.
The 6 Ingredients You Need
To make the best Dominos copycat garlic knots, you only need a handful of high-quality ingredients:
- Pizza Dough (32 oz):Â You can make your own from scratch, but grabbing a ball of fresh dough from your local grocery store makes this incredibly fast.
- Unsalted Butter (1 cup / 2 sticks):Â The rich, dairy base of our sauce.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1/4 cup):Â Helps carry the garlic flavor.
- Minced Garlic (1/4 cup jarred, or 2 tbsp fresh):Â Fresh garlic is much more pungent, so scale back if you are pressing your own cloves!
- Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley (1/4 cup):Â Finely chopped for that fresh, bright, herbaceous pop of color and flavor.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (1 cup):Â Adds the necessary salt and umami to the coating.
Optional: 2 tbsp dried oregano if you want an extra layer of flavor.
How to Make Dominos Copycat Garlic Knots
This dominos copycat garlic knots recipe moves incredibly fast once the dough hits the oven, so having your ingredients prepped and ready to go is highly recommended!
1. Gluten Relaxation Take your 32oz pizza dough out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan to bake. This allows the gluten network to relax. If you try to stretch cold dough, it will snap back. Room temperature dough is pliable, making it easy to cut into 32 equal, 1-ounce pieces and gently tie into knots without tearing. Place your tied dough onto a prepared baking sheet with some olive oil to prevent sticking and drying out.
2. The Initial Bake Brush the raw dough lightly with olive oil. This step helps in triggering the Maillard reaction—the chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor and color. Bake at 450°F (230°C) for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.
3. Build the Garlic Emulsion While the dough bakes, melt your 2 sticks of butter and 1/4 cup of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook just until it becomes fragrant. Remove the pan from the heat immediately. Burnt garlic is bitter and will ruin the whole dish! Once off the heat, and slightly cooled, stir in the freshly chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese.
4. The Hot Toss The second your Dominos copycat garlic knots come out of the oven, transfer them into a large mixing bowl. Pour your garlic butter emulsion right over the top and mix.
Pro-Tips for Success
- Don’t tie them too tight:Â Leave a little bit of slack when tying your dominos copycat garlic knots. The yeast will cause the dough to rapidly expand in the oven (oven spring), and if tied too tightly, the centers will end up dense and undercooked.
- Add the cheese off the heat:Â If you add grated parmesan to actively boiling butter, the proteins in the cheese will seize and coagulate, leaving you with a greasy, clumpy mess instead of a smooth coating.
The Food Science of Reheating (Avoid the Microwave!)
If you actually manage to have leftovers of these Dominos copycat garlic knots, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When it comes time to reheat them, do not use the microwave! Microwaving bread causes rapid starch retrogradation. The intense, uneven heat causes the starch molecules to temporarily gelatinize and then aggressively recrystallize as soon as they cool down, turning your beautiful, pillowy soft bread into a tough, chewy, rubbery mess.
Instead, wrap the leftovers loosely in aluminum foil to trap the moisture and warm them in a 350°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Your dominos copycat garlic knots will taste like they just came right out of the pizza shop!
Complete Your Fast-Food Feast
Why stop at the side dish? If you are building the ultimate fast-food copycat night at home, you have to pair these Dominos copycat garlic knots with my insanely popular Wingstop copycat ranch recipe. Dipping these garlicky bites into that perfectly seasoned ranch is an absolute game-changer!
6-Ingredient Dominos Copycat Garlic Knots
Ingredients
Method
- Prep the Dough: Remove the 32oz pizza dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour to allow the gluten to relax.
- Shape the Knots: Cut the room-temperature dough in half, and then continue dividing until you have 32 equal, 1-ounce pieces. Gently stretch each piece and tie it into a small, loose knot. Place the knots onto a lightly oiled baking sheet.
- Bake: Brush the raw dough knots with a very light coating of olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 450°F (230°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the knots are deeply golden brown.
- Make the Garlic Emulsion: While the knots are baking, melt the 2 sticks of unsalted butter and 1/4 cup of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic.
- Add the Herbs and Cheese: Cook just until the garlic becomes fragrant, then immediately remove the pan from the heat to prevent burning. Off the heat, stir in the fresh chopped parsley, grated parmesan cheese, and optional dried oregano.
- Toss and Serve: As soon as the knots come out of the oven, transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Pour the garlic butter emulsion over the hot bread and toss vigorously to coat. Serve immediately!
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Gluten Relaxation: If your dough keeps snapping back when you try to tie it, let it sit on the counter for another 15-20 minutes. The warmer it gets, the easier it is to stretch!
- Reheating: Do not microwave leftovers! Wrap them loosely in foil and bake at 350°F for 5-8 minutes to restore their soft, pillowy texture.
