Homemade Italian Bread

Homemade Italian bread recipe is simply the best. Crispy and golden brown on the outside and airy and soft on the inside, this bread is delicious dunking into pasta sauce or soup or on its own. No matter what you serve with it, it will be a hit with your family.

What is Italian Bread?

Italian bread comes from Italy. It is a crusty, white bread that is often elongated but slightly wider than French baguettes.

Italians love to enjoy bread with just about every meal. It is the perfect side dish to scoop up extra sauce, dip into soups, or eat with your favorite spreads.

When you compare Italian bread to regular sandwich bread, you’ll notice a few differences. First, sandwich bread tends to have a soft texture throughout while Italian often has a slightly chewy to crispy crust.

Also, you typically bake sandwich bread in a loaf pan to help give it shape. When you make Italian bread, you shape it and bake it on a flat surface.

Finally, while you can use both for making sandwiches or toast, you really want to use Italian bread as a side for pasta, soups, and other dinner entrees.