Guy Fieri's Fiery Twist On Traditional Garlic Bread

Garlic bread can be the ideal accompaniment to a classic lasagna or a saucy pot of spaghetti. A combo of carbs, creamy fat, salt, and garlic, it's perfect as is. But, for those who feel no meal is complete without some added spice, you can also dial up the heat on garlic bread. In fact, it's one of Guy Fieri's specialities. 

The celebrity chef knows a thing or two about adding pizazz to just about everything (after all, he's the mayor of Flavortown), and his acclaimed, spicy take on classic garlic bread is no different. The recipe adds generous dashes of hot sauce right into the creamy garlicky butter for a baked loaf that will make your house smell glorious while also lighting up your tastebuds. 

Trying this at home couldn't be simpler. After cutting up some crusty, thick-sliced bread, prepare the blend of seasonings that will be slathered on top by mixing together traditional melted butter, garlic, and salt and pepper, plus some glugs of your favorite hot sauce. Then coat the bread and toast as you typically would under the broiler until it's crispy and spicy.

What makes the pairing of heat plus fatty butter in this spicy garlic bread so good? It's a time-honored match made in heaven — think hot wings paired with ranch, a spicy queso, or less conventional but delicious pairings like ice cream drizzled with hot sauce or chili crunch. The fat and heat equation works thanks to the contrasting flavors' ability to balance each other while adding interest and depth to an otherwise one-dimensional flavor profile. 

The magic really happens with the interplay between a protein in dairy called casein and the flavor compound capsaicin, which gives spicy food its kick. Because fat is able to cut through heat and reduce the burn, a creamy dairy source like a butter-drenched slice of bread mellows out the hot sauce, balancing the heat and giving your tastebuds some needed relief — and adventure.

Hot sauce is just the starting point for this spicy garlic bread take. You can also experiment with other ways to add heat: Try a few squirts of sriracha or some dollops of oily chili crunch for a jolt of spice plus a pop of texture. For the ultimate trifecta of sweet and fatty and spicy, a drizzle of hot honey takes garlic bread to the next level. If you're feeling lazy, simply douse ready-to-eat garlic bread in any of your favorite grocery store hot sauce brands — from Tabasco to Louisiana to Tapatio — depending on personal preference and the heat level you're chasing.