Easy Little Caesars Crazy Bread Copycat Recipe for Home Bakers

Copycat Little Caesars Crazy Bread® (Soft, Buttery, and Cheesy!)

If you’ve ever swung by Little Caesars for a hot, fresh pizza, chances are you’ve also grabbed an order of their famous Crazy Bread®. Those warm, fluffy breadsticks covered in buttery garlic and salty Parmesan are almost impossible to resist. Today I’m sharing my homemade copycat Crazy Bread® recipe that you can bake right in your own kitchen. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for family pizza night, game day, or anytime you’re craving soft, cheesy garlic breadsticks.

A Little Background on Little Caesars and Crazy Bread®

Little Caesars is a classic American pizza chain that started in 1959 in Michigan and grew into one of the biggest takeout pizza spots in the country. Many of us remember the bright orange signs, the “Pizza! Pizza!” slogan, and of course, that scent of hot pizza and bread the moment you step in the door. Their Crazy Bread® has become iconic. It’s:

Soft and pillowy on the inside
Lightly chewy on the outside
Coated in a warm, buttery garlic glaze
Finished with a generous sprinkle of salty Parmesan cheese

As you tear one of these breadsticks apart, you get that gentle stretch, the warm steam, and the smell of garlic and butter drifting up. Dip it into marinara, and it’s pretty much comfort food perfection. Note: Crazy Bread® is a registered trademark of Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. This recipe is a homemade “copycat-style” version inspired by the flavors and experience of the original. It is not the official recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Crazy Bread® Recipe

Easy dough: Simple ingredients you probably already have: flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oil.
Beginner-friendly: Great for people new to baking bread.
Quick prep: About 20 minutes of hands-on time, the rest is rising and baking.
Family favorite: Kids and adults both go crazy (pun intended) for these.
Perfect with pizza: Serve with homemade pizza, pasta, or salad.

Have you ever wished you could get that “takeout taste” without leaving the house? This recipe gets you very close, using regular home kitchen tools.

Copycat Little Caesars Crazy Bread® Recipe

Soft, buttery copycat Little Caesars Crazy Bread finished with garlic butter, Parmesan, and herbs, perfect for dipping

Yield: About 16 breadsticks (4 servings, 4 breadsticks per person)
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 45–60 minutes rising time)
Cook time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the dough:

1 cup warm water (about 105–110°F – comfortably warm, not hot)
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (one 0.25 oz packet)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil (plus a little extra for greasing)
1 teaspoon salt
2 ½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour (start with 2 ½, add more as needed)

For the garlic butter topping:

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
1–1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder (to taste)
½ teaspoon salt (or garlic salt for extra flavor)

For finishing:

¼–⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: dried parsley or Italian seasoning for color
Optional: warm marinara sauce for dipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Activate the yeast

In a medium bowl, add the warm water (aim for 105–110°F; it should feel like warm bath water).
Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
Sprinkle the yeast over the top, stir gently, and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes, until it looks foamy and bubbly.

If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be old or the water was too hot or too cold. It’s worth starting over here—this step makes or breaks your dough.

Step 2: Make the dough

To the foamy yeast mixture, add the olive oil and salt.
Stir in 2 ½ cups of the flour, about ½ cup at a time, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
If the dough is still very sticky, add more flour 1–2 tablespoons at a time until it’s only slightly tacky.

Step 3: Knead the dough

Lightly flour your countertop.
Turn the dough out and knead by hand for about 5–7 minutes, until it’s smooth, stretchy, and soft.
The dough should feel soft like a pillow and not “wet” or gluey.

If you prefer using a stand mixer, knead with the dough hook on medium-low for about 4–5 minutes.

Step 4: Let the dough rise

Lightly oil a clean bowl.
Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to coat with oil.
Cover with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
Let it rise in a warm spot for about 45–60 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Tip: A cold kitchen can slow the rise. You can place the bowl in an (off) oven with just the oven light on to create a warm space.

Step 5: Shape the breadsticks

Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Punch down the risen dough to release the air.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a rectangle about 9x13 inches.
Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, slice the dough into strips about ¾–1 inch wide (you’ll get around 16 strips).
Gently separate the strips and lay them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.

For a look closer to Little Caesars, you can keep them fairly thin and not twist them—just simple strips.

Step 6: Second rise (optional but helpful)

Cover the shaped breadsticks loosely with a clean kitchen towel.
Let them rest for another 10–15 minutes while the oven finishes preheating. They’ll puff up slightly.

Step 7: Bake the breadsticks

Bake at 425°F for about 12–15 minutes, or until the breadsticks are lightly golden on top and cooked through.

Food safety note: While bread doesn’t have the same safety concerns as meat, underbaked dough can be gummy. The breadsticks should feel firm and spring back lightly when pressed.

Step 8: Make the garlic butter topping

While the breadsticks are baking:

Melt the butter in a small bowl (microwave in 15-second bursts).
Stir in the garlic powder and salt (or garlic salt).
Taste and adjust the seasonings—add more garlic powder if you want a stronger flavor.

Step 9: Brush and finish

As soon as the breadsticks come out of the oven, brush them generously with the warm garlic butter.
Sprinkle immediately with grated Parmesan cheese so it sticks to the buttery surface.
Top with a pinch of dried parsley or Italian seasoning if you’d like a little color.

Let them cool just a few minutes—they’re best served warm, but not so hot that they burn your mouth.

How to Serve Your Copycat Crazy Bread®

These garlic Parmesan breadsticks are perfect with:

Pizza night: Pair with your favorite homemade or frozen pizza.
Pasta dishes: Spaghetti, lasagna, baked ziti, or Alfredo.
Salad: A big green salad or Caesar salad for a lighter meal.
Game day snacks: Serve with a few dips—marinara, ranch, or cheese sauce.

Warm a small bowl of marinara sauce on the side and dunk away.

Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)

This is an estimate for one serving (about 4 breadsticks), and will vary based on exact ingredients and sizes.

Calories: ~320
Carbohydrates: ~40 g
Protein: ~8 g
Fat: ~13 g
Saturated fat: ~6 g
Sodium: ~480 mg
Fiber: ~2 g
Sugar: ~3 g

These are intended as rough guidelines, not medical or dietary advice.

Shortcuts and Time-Saving Tips

Want that Crazy Bread® experience with even less effort? Here are some easy shortcuts.

Use store-bought pizza dough

Buy 1 pound of fresh pizza dough from the grocery store or local pizzeria.
Let it rest at room temperature for 20–30 minutes so it’s easier to stretch.
Then follow the shaping, baking, and topping steps from above.

You’ll skip mixing and kneading and still get soft, delicious breadsticks.

Air fryer “Crazy” breadsticks (from canned dough)

If you have an air fryer and a can of refrigerated pizza dough or breadstick dough, you can whip up a super fast version:

Cut the canned dough into strips.
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil or line with parchment that is safe for air fryers.
Air fry at 350°F for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
Brush with garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan just like the main recipe.

Check often so they don’t burn—air fryers can cook quickly.

Allergy-Friendly and Special Diet Options

Gluten-Free Crazy Bread®-Style Breadsticks

Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend made for yeast baking, or a gluten-free pizza dough mix.
Add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t already include it.
Expect the dough to be a bit stickier; you may want to shape it with oiled hands on parchment.

Always double-check that your yeast, flour, and other ingredients are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.

Dairy-Free Version

Replace the butter with vegan butter or a neutral oil (like light olive oil).
Use a dairy-free Parmesan-style cheese or skip the cheese and just use garlic salt and herbs.

Vegan Version

This recipe is easy to make vegan:

Use sugar that is labeled vegan (if this is a concern in your area).
Swap in vegan butter for the topping.
Use vegan Parmesan or nutritional yeast for that “cheesy” flavor.

Paleo / Grain-Free Ideas

Traditional Crazy Bread® is very much a wheat-based treat, so a true paleo copycat is tricky. However, you can:

Use a grain-free flatbread or almond flour-based bread recipe.
Brush generously with garlic ghee or clarified butter.
Sprinkle with nutritional yeast and herbs for a cheesy, garlicky flavor.

The texture won’t match perfectly, but you can get a similar savory, garlicky experience.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Storing

Let breadsticks cool completely.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, freeze for up to 2 months (wrap tightly in foil, then place in a freezer bag).

Reheating

Oven: Wrap in foil and warm at 350°F for 5–8 minutes.
Air fryer: 320–330°F for 3–4 minutes.
Microwave: 10–15 seconds (this is fastest, but can make them softer and slightly chewy).

Brush with a little extra melted butter and a pinch of garlic salt after reheating to refresh the flavor.

Final Thoughts (And I’d Love to Hear Yours!)

There’s something special about pulling a pan of warm, buttery breadsticks out of your own oven. The smell fills the kitchen, and suddenly everyone wanders in asking, “Are those ready yet?” If you’ve been craving Little Caesars Crazy Bread®, this copycat recipe is an easy, fun way to bring that flavor home. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but good enough for guests.

Do you like yours extra garlicky?
More cheese on top?
A little red pepper for heat?

Play around and make it your own.

Share Your Crazy Bread® Creations!

If you try this Copycat Little Caesars Crazy Bread® recipe:

Leave a comment below and tell me how it turned out.
Share your tweaks—did you add extra cheese, herbs, or a fun dipping sauce?
If you post a photo on social media, tag it so others can find this recipe too.

Your feedback helps other home cooks and keeps our little community of copycat recipe fans growing.

Save a Pinterest pin with a link to this recipe.

Important Disclaimers

Copycat recipe disclaimer: This recipe is a homemade copycat-style version inspired by Little Caesars Crazy Bread®. Crazy Bread® is a registered trademark of Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. This blog post and recipe are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with Little Caesars or Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. No knowledge of the actual proprietary recipe is implied or claimed. All flavors and methods are based on personal tasting and home kitchen testing.

Affiliate disclosure: Simply Copycat Recipes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

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