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Serve this spicy Garlic & Herb Olive Oil Bread Dip with a crusty french baguette or crostini. It takes minutes to make using fresh herbs or dried and lasts for up to a week.
Olive Oil Bread Dip Recipe
Have this Olive Oil Bread Dip on hand for a quick pre-dinner snack or appetizer whether you’re hosting 20 of your closest friends or simply your family of 4. It will be an elegant way to start any meal, and a great way to tide your guests over until the main course is served.
This olive oil bread dip is a great option, served alongside other favorites like Fresh Homemade Salsa or a simple Roasted Garlic spread.Olive Oil Bread Dip Recipe
One of my kids’ favorite places to eat is California Pizza Kitchen. Not because of their fabulous pizza and salads, but because of their amazingly delicious bread dip. Yes, my kids love the olive oil bread dip at CPK so much that they each ask for their own bowls of the stuff.
Now you can same the same restaurant-style bread dip at home with this easy recipe!
Ingredients for Olive Oil Bread Dip
- Olive Oil – Since this is the base and main ingredient, you want to use high quality oil. I’ve got tips for choosing your oil further down in the post.
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated is best, but you can use pre-grated in a can if that’s what you have. You do want to use the grated powder-like rather than shreds.
- Herbs – I use dried herbs because they are always on hand. You could use fresh herbs if you like. The herbs I use are basil, parsley, oregano, thyme and rosemary.
- Garlic – Minced garlic, either fresh or jarred. Fresh garlic cloves will of course give the best and most intense flavor.
- Red pepper flakes – The little bot of heat is a great addition.
- Lemon juice – Add freshness and a nice contrasting tang.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper – I included amounts in the recipe card, but you can adjust as needed, or wait to taste before adding.
How to Make Olive Oil Dip
- Measure the olive oil, herbs and spices, garlic and Parmesan cheese into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Screw on the lid and make sure it’s nice and tight. Shake well to combine.
- Dip a chunk a bread into the mixture to taste, then add salt and pepper as desired.
Serving Suggestions
Pour the dip into a small dipping bowl or shallow dish, using a spoon to get some of the herbs and other goodness with the oil.
Grab a some crusty bread or french baguette and cut into half-inch thick slices to serve alongside the dip. Or toast some Crostini for a crispy crunch.
What Olive Oil is Best for Dipping Bread?
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the purest and most delicate olive oil, making it great for dipping and drizzling. Not all olive oils are created equal, so be sure to read the back of the bottle.
- Check for the harvest date (this is different from the “sell by” or “best by” date). The more recent the date, the fresher the oil and the longer it will last. Olive oil has a shelf life of 2 years.
- Check for a seal of approval from an olive oil organization. This guarantees quality.
- Look for low amounts of free fatty acids and a high polyphenol content. If an oil doesn’t list fatty acids on its ingredients label, put it back on the shelf. The level of fatty acids is an indication of the quality of the fruit used (the lower the better). A high polyphenol content contributes to the amount of heart-healthy antioxidants in olive oil.
- There are a lot of herbs and spices in this bread dip, but don’t let that deter you because it really is super simple to make.
- Add some balsamic vinegar and get the same flavor you’d get at your favorite Italian restaurant.
- Storage: I like to use a mason jar because I can combine everything in the jar, shake it up, and store it in the jar.
- How long with olive oil dip last? Because of the cheese and liquid in this olive oil bread dip, it needs to be stored in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the fridge. Let the oil come to room temperature and shake it up before serving.
- Infuse the olive oil with garlic! This is definitely a great option if you want a more garlicky flavor. Peel and mince 5-6 cloves of garlic, and place the garlic and the olive oil in a small sauce pan over low heat for about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature before continuing to add ingredients.
More Bread Dips to Try
- Goat Cheese & Marinara Dip
- Garlic Bread Cheese Dip
- Slow Cooker Meat Lovers Pizza Dip
- BLT Dip with Crostini
Olive Oil Bread Dip
Ingredients
- 2 cups olive oil
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon basil dried
- 1 tablespoon parsley dried
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper crushed
- ½ teaspoon rosemary crushed
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- french baguette, sliced, for serving
Instructions
- Place ingredients together in an airtight jar or plastic container (like a mason jar) and shake until well combined.
- Pour into a small dipping bowl, using a spoon to get some of the herbs and other goodness with the oil.
- Serve with slices of crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Dying to make this recipe! Sounds yummy!!! One question…in the instructions it says store for several weeks in the fridge. However in your blog it says a week due to the cheese and lemon juice. I’m hoping to make several jars to gift to friends and neighbors. Can you clarify this for me please? Thanks so much!!!
Just updated to post with current information. It will last up to a week in the fridge.
I tried this dip a few times, excellent!! I even eat on pasta with kielbasa sausage and a sprinkle of parmasean. It’s a family favorite!
Love it!!!!!
I can’t wait to make this! Are you using spices from the container or fresh from the produce department?
The recipe calls for dried spices. You can use fresh if you like, but use a little bit less since fresh is quite a bit more potent.
Can this recipe be halved?
Absolutely! Just use the same ratios and it will be delicious!
Good Day Kristin!!
Pleasure to meet you; My name is Sgt. Salvador Monteverde, but you may call me ‘Gunny.’ I am a Disabled War Vet. Retired U.S. Marine. My comrades call me ‘The GRUMPY OLD SALT,’ when they think I am not listening.
I was initially captivated by your olive oil dip because of the photo. The Rich, Deep Dark color is what immediately caught my eye. I do like the mason jar idea. I do have two questions for you. Do you prefer any particular brand of ‘EVOO,’ and what does the lemon do for the dip? Look forward to hearing for you
Hi Gunny! Thanks so much for your comment! To answer your questions, I don’t have a particular brand of EVOO that I use, but I always buy a glass bottle, never plastic. Those are generally higher quality. The lemon is the acid in the olive oil dip, and gives a nice tart bite. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Just made this with avacado oil in place of olive oil, and it was still just as amazing! So yummy, and so easy!!!
Great idea!
Thanks for sharing