This olive oil bread dip is packed with so many tasty herbs and spices that one bite will make you feel like you are in a fancy Italian restaurant. You can also make this bread dip in under 5 minutes. It’s pretty amazing! 

close up image of bread dipping into olive oil bread dip.

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It is incredible how such an easy-to-make olive oil dip can transform your bread. A plain piece of crusty French bread or sourdough becomes something addictive and irresistible. All that salty, garlic, herby flavor is impossible to resist.

I should probably warn you that once you dunk your bread into this olive oil bread dip and taste all those intense spices and herbs, you are going to end up dunking and eating, dunking and eating…the whole loaf will be gone in minutes. But, it’s okay to fill up on the bread!

top down image of olive oil bread dip served in a white round shallow plate surrounded by slices of bread sitting on a cutting board.

Olive Oil Bread Dip Recipe 

Restaurants serve bread and olive oil as a precursor to a meal as a way to open up your taste buds and prepare you for all the food to come. But I think that the two could be a meal all on their own. All those intense, herby flavors—what more could you possibly need!?

With this easy olive oil bread dip recipe, you can have that amazing restaurant-style bread dip anytime you’d like. Serve it at your next dinner party or eat it as a simple, tasty lunch. You can make the full recipe to feed a crowd or just cut the recipe in half to have your own personal bread dip with olive oil and herbs. I have to admit that I have some leftover olive oil bread dip in my fridge right now that will make an appearance on my dinner table tonight. I am dreaming about it already…

ingredients to make olive oil bread dip.

Ingredients For Olive Oil Bread Dip

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions. 

  • Minced garlic – You can chop up fresh garlic cloves, or take a shortcut and use jarred minced garlic. I find fresh garlic to have a more powerful flavor, but jarred garlic is so super simple to use and still tastes good. 
  • Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning is made with a blend of dried herbs. It usually has basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. Italian seasoning sometimes has red pepper flakes, dried cilantro, and savory too, but each blend is a tiny bit different. Use a store-bought blend, or make your own Italian seasoning.
  • Onion powder 
  • Ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt – I like kosher salt since it has nice, large flakes that cover the bread nicely. Regular table salt will work in a pinch, but kosher salt really is best. 
  • Grated parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese is the best as far as flavor.
  • Olive oil – Be sure to use high-quality extra-virgin olive oil. It will have the best, buttery, peppery flavor that you will taste in every bite of dip. 

Variations

  • Add ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper to make a spicy olive oil bread dip.
  • Add 1 teaspoon dried rosemary to make the bread dip even more herby.
  • Cut the top off of a whole head of garlic and place it, cut side up, with the garlic paper still on, in a small ramekin. Fill the ramekin with olive oil. Then, cover it with foil. Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking tray, and put it in the oven at 350 degrees. Roast the garlic for one hour. Remove the garlic from the oven, and let it cool for another hour. Once the garlic is cooled, squeeze the roasted cloves out of the garlic paper. They should pop right out! Mash up the roasted garlic cloves, and use these to make roasted garlic olive oil bread dip. It will have a very sweet, pungent taste. 

How to Make Olive Oil Bread Dip

  1. Mix the seasonings: Add all of the dry seasonings, minced garlic, and the grated parmesan cheese to a small bowl. Stir them together well. 
  2. Add the oil: Add the olive oil to the bowl and stir again, mixing the seasonings into the oil.
  3. Marinate: Let the olive oil and herb mix sit. The longer it sits, the more the olive oil will absorb the flavors of the garlic and herbs. 
  4. Eat!: The olive oil bread dip is ready to eat! Slice up some nice, crusty bread and enjoy.
close up image of bread dipped into olive oil bread dip.

How to Store Olive Oil Bread Dip

Since this olive oil bread dip with herbs is made with fresh garlic and freshly grated parmesan cheese, it does need to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to two weeks.

Quick Tip

If you want to store the olive oil bread dip for longer, simply omit the fresh garlic. Without the garlic, the dip will keep in the fridge for up to one month. This will allow you to make bigger batches and keep the olive oil bread dip on hand. Whenever you’d like to eat, add the minced garlic to the dip, stir, and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Olive oil bread dip is delicious with so many different types of bread. Sourdough bread is great with this garlic dip, and a simple homemade French bread will come alive with all the herbs in the dip.

Olive oil bread dip should definitely be part of your next charcuterie board, and it is perfect making your garlic bread even more flavorful. You can never have too much garlic! 

It also makes for a great appetizer to meals like Italian Wedding Soup, Crock Pot Spaghetti, or even Baked Chicken Breasts!

FAQs

Is dipping bread in olive oil healthy?

Olive oil does contain lots of healthy unsaturated fats. It contains antioxidants and also anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic and herbs are also quite healthy and have many nutrients. Olive oil bread dip is fairly healthy. However, keep in mind that it is still very high in fat and calories, and bread contains lots of carbs. It is perfectly fine to enjoy in moderation but not something you want to eat at every meal.

What kind of bread do you dip in olive oil?

Crusty, thick bread is best for serving with olive oil. Choose a bread that will soak up the oil and not crumble apart. Sourdough bread, French bread, and Italian bread are all great for dipping.

What’s the difference between olive oil and virgin olive oil?

Virgin olive oils are made by cold pressing the olives. There is no heat or chemicals used to extract the oil from the olives. Virgin olive oil has a richer, more peppery taste that is delicious when used in bread dip.

More Delicious Bread Recipes

A piece of bread being dipped into olive oil bread dip.

Olive Oil Bread Dip

This olive oil bread dip is packed with so many tasty herbs and spices that one bite will make you feel like you are in a fancy Italian restaurant. You can also make this bread dip in under 5 minutes. It’s pretty amazing! 
5 from 1 vote
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 12 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups
  • measuring spoons

Ingredients  

  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • 3 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups olive oil

Instructions 

  • In a medium sized bowl, stir the fresh chopped garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, black pepper, salt and grated cheese together.
    2 Tablespoons minced garlic, 3 Tablespoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • Add the olive oil to the bowl and whisk.
    2 cups olive oil
  • Let the mix sit for about 30 minutes just to let the flavors really develop in the oil.
  • Enjoy with your favorite fresh breads!

Notes

  • You can keep the garlic oil in an airtight container for two weeks. After that, the garlic is no longer considered safe to eat. If you don’t think you will be able to enjoy all the dipping oil within two weeks, just cut the recipe in half!
  • Add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix to give the dipping oil a little bit of a kick. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

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About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

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