Today, we’re ranking the best breadsticks you can buy in stores. But what kind of breadstick? Breadsticks that are long bread (baked from frozen), or crunchy sticks (otherwise known as “grissini,” aka cracker breadsticks)? The answer, of course, is both. Because we’re overachievers, we’ve decided to rank the best frozen breadsticks and the best grissini, all in one go. There are no rules here. It’s a breadstick’s world, and we’re just living in it.
Thanks to brilliant marketing, most Americans associate the word “breadstick” with the unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden. I haven’t had the breadsticks at Olive Garden in a hot minute, so I can’t even tell you if they’re as incredible as I remember them tasting. But when I say I’m looking for the best frozen breadsticks, at the very least I want them to evoke the feeling you get when you picture Olive Garden breadsticks. They should come out of the oven with a golden, buttery shine and fill the kitchen with the comforting aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread. They should be warm and soft on the inside, with just the right amount of chewiness.
But like I said, our ranking of the best breadsticks doesn’t simply mean the best frozen breadsticks. We’ve also included the best grissini (“breadsticks” in Italian)—those crisp, thin, dry baked breadsticks you typically see at an Italian restaurant. They should have a satisfying crunch and a subtle toasted flavor that pairs perfectly with dips, cheeses, or an elegant antipasto platter. I want to bite into a grissini and be transported to a rustic Italian trattoria, okay? Is that too much to ask? (Spoiler: Nope! It’s not.) Here are the best frozen breadsticks, the best crunchy breadsticks, and the best cheesy breadsticks, all in one ranking.
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
- Di Bruno Bros. Artisanal Olive Oil Grissini
-
Di Bruno Bros breadsticks are a paradox. They are the thickest store-bought grissini we tasted and yet, somehow, they’re also the lightest, softest, and airiest of the bunch. Eating these is like munching on a breadstick cloud. The olive oil flavor is beautifully subtle, never overpowering. And listen, I’m not very cultured, okay? But I can’t help but feel like I’m experiencing breadsticks exactly as Italy intended—a delightfully airy and elegant cracker that dissolves on your tongue. These won’t hold up to hot soup (or even lukewarm soup, for that matter), but who cares? I feel fancy eating them, and that’s enough to earn them a spot on our list of the best breadsticks.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Kroger Twisted Breadsticks
-
Kroger Twisted Breadsticks (we’re talking baked from frozen, bready breadsticks now) might not give you the Olive Garden experience, but they’re still soft, buttery, and smothered in garlic, so what’s not to like? Theoretically, it should be hard to mess up baked breadsticks…and yet, a lot of the other brands we tried definitely miss the mark. Thank you, Kroger, for setting the bar for the best frozen breadsticks. And for making the bar into a cute twisted shape for both my eyes and taste buds to enjoy.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Signature Select Toasted Breadsticks
-
Two versions of Signature Select breadstick crackers (sold at Albertsons-owned grocery stores) made it onto this list of the best breadsticks, and it’s deserved. These are long, snappy, and extra toasty, but somehow soft and smooth as you bite down. The mouthfeel (my least favorite word in the English dictionary) is highly satisfying. If you’re looking for the best store bought breadsticks to dip in hot soups, these are definitely sturdy enough to dunk.
Credit: Merc / Albertsons
- Signature Select Sea Salt Breadsticks
-
Take every compliment I just gave Signature Select’s toasted breadstick grissini and add a beautiful finishing touch of granular sea salt over the top. These breadsticks don’t have the same toastiness as the original version, but you can’t fault that salt. I consider these the best breadsticks for salt lovers, which means I would happily snack on them all day. (I might even prefer them to oyster crackers for clam chowder, thanks to the sea salt.)
Credit: Merc / Albertsons
- Signature Select Parmesan Breadsticks
-
Soft baked breadsticks covered in cheesy, greasy, buttery parmesan? I’ll take seven hundred thousand. When it comes to the best breadsticks, Signature Select really knocks it out of the park. We might not be on Olive Garden’s level yet, but if you like the garlic parmesan breadsticks from Papa Johns, you’ll like these. They’re easily the best cheesy breadsticks we tried—and our runner-up for the overall best frozen breadsticks, too.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Alessi Sesame Breadsticks
-
Alessi sesame cracker breadsticks have a great distribution of nutty, flaky sesame seeds. The cracker itself has a crisp, crunchy coating on the outside and an airy inside that isn’t too light and flimsy. These are highly dippable, and the toasty sesame flavor keeps every bite interesting. They would be a stand out accompaniment for an antipasto spread. (And c’mon, the name even rhymes! Alessi sesame. Cute. It’s the little things, right?)
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- New York Bakery Breadsticks
-
We found it, you guys. The Olive Garden experience in frozen breadsticks. New York Bakery, which makes some of the best frozen garlic bread, makes the best frozen breadsticks you can find in stores. These are packed with flavor, slathered with a garlic butter spread on top that’s deliciously greasy, and smothered in Italian herbs. The sheer amount of salty butter here is key; it drips off of them like they were hand tossed in a big bowl of garlic butter. New York Bakery, you’re on a roll with these sticks. They are the best breadsticks you can find in the frozen aisle, hands down.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Artisanal
Best Twisted
Best for Soup
Best for Snacking
Best Cheesy Breadsticks
Best Crunchy Breadsticks
Best Frozen Breadsticks
Other products we tried: Great Value Garlic Bread Sticks, Furlani Mozzarella Stuffed Breadsticks, First Street Garlic Breadsticks, Jennifer’s Homemade Breadsticks Rosemary, Sprouts Organic Classic Breadsticks, Sprouts Organic Thin Breadsticks, Kroger Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!