This is the best Olive Oil Dip for bread, made with sauteed garlic, fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese, and high quality extra virgin olive oil. It’s a restaurant-style olive oil dip that tastes delicious with a slice of crusty bread, pita, or crostini.
A simple Italian olive oil bread dip is often just what you need to complete a meal. It’s an easy way to make things a little fancier and everyone always goes crazy over it.
Best Olive Oil Dip
This insanely simple olive oil bread dip recipe tastes just like it came straight from your favorite Italian restaurant. It’s loaded with sauteed garlic, fresh herbs, simple seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and a little drizzle of balsamic glaze.
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I love serving this as an appetizer because it couldn’t be easier, is super shelf stable, and is one of those things that everyone absolutely loves. It will technically last for up to a week in the fridge, but I don’t think I have ever had olive oil dip stick around for that long.
Looking for the best bread for dipping in olive oil? These soft and chewy Olive Garden Breadsticks, Homemade French Bread, or Garlic Knots would all be great choices.
Key Ingredients
- Olive Oil – you will need a couple tablespoons to cook the garlic and the rest for the dip. For the best flavor, I recommend using a high quality cold pressed olive oil.
- Garlic – you will need freshly minced garlic for this recipe.
- Fresh Herbs – freshly chopped rosemary and basil taste amazing.
- Italian Seasoning – you can use Italian seasoning or a combination of dried herbs such as oregano, parsley, and basil.
- Parmesan Cheese – you will want to use freshly grated or shredded Parmesan cheese for this dip.
- Red Pepper Flakes – this is optional but tastes great if you like a tiny bit of spiciness.
- Balsamic Vinegar – I highly recommend finishing with a little drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It really balances out all of the flavors perfectly.
How To Make Olive Oil Dip for Bread
- Saute the garlic. In a small saute pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot (but not so hot that the oil is smoking), add the finely minced garlic and cook until the garlic is golden brown on the edges. Saute until the garlic is golden brown on the edges, watching carefully to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
- Mix together the olive oil dip. In a shallow bowl or dipping plate, add the rosemary, basil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Mix in the olive oil and sauteed garlic then top with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
- Serve. Use it to dip your favorite bread, pita, or pizza crust. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Here are a few tasty (and easy) recipe variations for Olive Oil Dip that are perfect for dipping in all kinds of bread:
- Mediterranean: Combine extra virgin olive oil with chopped Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, minced garlic, and fresh parsley. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of dried oregano and basil to finish.
- Spicy Chili Garlic: Mix extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and a dash of chili powder or cayenne pepper for a fiery kick. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
- Lemon Herb: Combine extra virgin olive oil with lemon zest, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, and a pinch of dried thyme and dill. Season with salt and black pepper, and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness.
- Roasted Red Pepper: Blend roasted red peppers with extra virgin olive oil, roasted garlic cloves, smoked paprika, and a pinch of cumin. Add a splash of red wine vinegar and a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley for extra flavor.
- Sun-Dried Tomato: Mix extra virgin olive oil with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and dried basil. Season with salt and black pepper, and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze for sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because you are going to be tasting so much of it, I recommend using a high quality cold pressed olive oil for this recipe. The better the olive oil, the better the dipping oil flavor will be.
Yes – because this has Parmesan cheese and garlic, you will need to refrigerate this dip. You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
If you hold off on adding the Parmesan cheese and fresh garlic, your dipping olive oil can last for months because all of the other ingredients are shelf stable. Once you add the cheese and garlic, if should last for about 1 week in the fridge.
Storing and Make-Ahead Instructions
- Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Make-ahead: if you want to make this ahead of time, leave out the Parmesan cheese and roasted garlic. You can store it for up to a month or more at room temperature this way. Once you are ready to serve, just add in the cheese and garlic.
Best Olive Oil Dip Recipe
Ingredients
Golden Roasted Garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons garlic, minced
Herbed Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons basil, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely shredded or grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- In a small saute pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, add the finely minced garlic and cook until the garlic is golden brown on the edges, watching carefully to make sure the garlic doesn't burn. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
- In a shallow bowl or dipping plate, add the rosemary, basil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Mix in the olive oil and sauteed garlic, then top with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
- Use it to dip your favorite bread, pita, or pizza crust. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This Garlic and Parmesan Olive Oil Dip for Bread is a simple appetizer that everyone loves. Serve with crusty bread, pita, or dinner rolls.
