Olive Oil Bread Dip [Video!]
Less than 20 minutes to make (and most of that time is just heating olive oil and garlic!). In this easy appetizer, olive oil and balsamic vinegar pair with herbs and garlic for the easiest and most delicious bread dipping oil combo you’ve ever had! Best enjoyed with crusty French bread and a big glass of red wine!
You Will Love This
- It’s simple and easy to throw together. If you need a last minute appetizer that you can make in just minutes – this is it! If you’re like me you’ll probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already which means you have this made in no time! Don’t forget to check out a few of my other easy appetizers including my Baked Spinach Dip (with no mayo!), Herb and Garlic Marinated Feta, and Easy Baked Feta.
- Your friends are going to devour it! If you’re having a ladies night and you want to serve something along side those bottles of Merlot, this easy appetizer needs to be on the table! Chances are good your friends will have had something similar to this at a restaurant, but they will be completely blown away by the fresh flavors of THIS dip! It puts all restaurant olive oil bread dips to shame 🙂
- It looks super fancy (but it’s not). Fake it ’til you make it, right?! This dip makes it LOOK like you probably spent a lot of time in the kitchen or ordered from your favorite Italian restaurant, but in reality you heated a bit of minced garlic with olive oil and then poured it into a serving dish with dried herbs and balsamic vinegar. Accept the compliments graciously when your friends rave about this appetizer – you “worked hard” 😉 and you deserve it! Serve it with homemade crostini for a little extra oomph!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Olive Oil – The main ingredient in this bread dip is olive oil, so make sure you pick something cold-pressed and organic. This is our family’s favorite brand of olive oil.
- Fresh Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is going to taste best in this recipe. Garlic powder has it’s place, but it’s not in this recipe!
- Dried Oregano – You could also use fresh oregano in place of the dried oregano in this recipe. I’d recommend using about half the amount the recipe calls for if you’re using fresh instead of dried.
- Dried Thyme – Again you could use fresh thyme in place of the dried thyme in this recipe. Use half the amount the recipe calls for if you’re using fresh instead of dried.
- Salt and Pepper – Because the ingredient list is short and sweet, salt and pepper are going to go a long way in boosting the flavors of this dish. Don’t skimp on the salt and pepper!
- Balsamic Vinegar – This is our favorite balsamic vinegar because of it’s delicious flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese – I recommend shredding a fresh wedge of Parmesan yourself for optimum flavor. Pre-shredded Parmesan is okay in a pinch though!
- Crispy Crostini – I love to serve with olive oil bread dip with my crispy crostini bread or a big loaf of crusty French baguette, sourdough bread, or ciabatta bread.
Instructions
Add olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium low heat.
Add fresh minced garlic. Heat for about 12 minutes.
Add dried spices, salt, and black pepper.
Stir to combine.
Pour the herbaceous olive oil into a serving dish or shallow bowl.
And add balsamic vinegar.
Finish this dish with freshly shredded Parmesan.
Serve with crispy crostini. Pair this dip alongside my favorite Creamy Vegan Tuscan Pasta for a hearty dinner your family and friends will love!
Choosing Olive Oil
- For an appetizer like this (and my Herb and Garlic Marinated Feta) where the ingredient list is short, make sure you use a good quality olive oil.
- But you don’t need to spend $50 on a bottle. I like to look for an extra virgin olive oil that is cold pressed and organic. This will narrow down the selection giving you the purest and flavorful olive oil.
- It might take a few tries to find your favorite flavor of olive oil. There is a surprisingly wide range of flavors that olive oil can have depending on where the olives were grown including: peppery, floral, nutty or even spicy! This is my personal fave!
Tips
- Use fresh garlic. Don’t use a jar of minced garlic. Grab some fresh cloves and mince them yourself. Fresh garlic is usually cheaper and honestly, you have no idea how long those jars of garlic have been sitting on the shelf before you buy them.
- Use quality olive oil. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get good olive oil. Look for something cold pressed, organic and most importantly in your price range!
- Shred your own Parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in cellulose so the shreds don’t stick together. Skip the additives and opt for a wedge of Parmesan. There is nothing more delicious than freshly grated cheese!
Variations
Feel free to switch up the ingredients in this recipe based on your taste. Some of our favorite add ins include:
- dried rosemary
- dried basil
- red pepper flakes
- lemon juice
- extra minced fresh garlic cloves
FAQ
Honestly, I try to stay away from the word healthy in regards to food. Are olive oil dip and bread something you should eat all day, every day? Well, of course not. As with all things in life, moderation is key. However, the great thing about making your own olive oil bread dip at home is that you are in control of what goes in it! Go with an organic cold-pressed olive oil and a crusty Artisan loaf of bread for this recipe!
I like to choose an olive oil that is cold-pressed and organic. I find that they have the best flavor and since this recipe is super simple, you’ll want to find an olive oil that you enjoy. There’s a wide variety of olive oils so you may have to try a few before you find your favorite.
This olive oil bread dip is best enjoyed immediately after being made! It’s such a simple recipe and takes just minutes to throw together so you can indulge whenever you’ve got a craving for it!
Super Easy Appetizers
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Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Bread Dip
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar combine with herbs and garlic for the easiest and most delicious appetizer you’ve ever had! Best enjoyed with crusty French bread and a big glass of red wine!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
- 5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- sliced French baguette for serving
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine olive oil and garlic over medium low heat. Heat for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat, stir in oregano, thyme and a moderate pinch of salt and pepper.
- Pour oil mixture into a wide shallow serving dish.
- Pour in balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with shredded Parmesan.
- Serve with crispy crostini or sliced French baguette for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
Use fresh garlic. Don’t use a jar of minced garlic. Grab some fresh cloves and mince them yourself. Fresh garlic is usually cheaper and honestly, you have no idea how long those jars of garlic have been sitting on the shelf before you buy them.
Use quality olive oil. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get good olive oil. Look for something cold pressed, organic and most importantly in your price range!
Shred your own Parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in cellulose so the shreds don’t stick together. Skip the additives and opt for a wedge of Parmesan. There is nothing more delicious than freshly grated cheese!
This post was originally published in September of 2018. It was updated in Feburary 2019 to include process shots and tips for making the perfect olive oil & balsamic bread dip!
Can I make this dip the day before I serve it?
Good question…because of the fresh garlic I would think you’d need to refrigerate the olive oil (as opposed to leaving it out on the counter) and when you refrigerate olive oil it solidifies. One option would be to make it ahead, refrigerate the olive oil mixture and then let that sit out on the counter for 1-2 hours before serving so it becomes liquid again. If you do try this – I’d love to know how it goes!
oh man !! This is easy and so tempting. I’ve got all the ingredients to make it besides the french bread. Picking it up on my way right away. Simple recipes are always a treat
Definitely a great snack to throw together with pantry staples!
What a great dip to serve as an appetizer! Def has crowd pleasing written all over it! Thanks so much for sharing :).
You’ve got that right!!
Slice up a loaf of crusty bread and this would be a great snack with some wine. Can’t wait to make this soon.
I couldn’t agree more!
This is such a simple appetizer that packs so much flavor. Everyone will love this and it steps up your dinner game.
Totally agree!
Every month or so the book club I’m in meets and this month its my turn to host. And how perfect to stumble across this recipe since I’m planning on serving a simple Italian themed dinner! I’ll definitely have to make this for one of the appetizers!
Your book club is going to LOVE this recipe!!! It’s the perfect starter for an Italian dinner 🙂
We usually just swirl the balsamic and olive oil on a plate together, but I have to try it with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan now. Thanks for sharing.
Nothing wrong with that!! Garlic and herbs will definitely bump up the flavor though 🙂
Yum! I used to work in the banquet department of a hotel in the summers between college and the hotel made something very similar that we used to lap up with warm rolls when we were on shift. I can’t wait to eat some of this!
Mmmm – this would be THE BEST with warm rolls!
That garlic flavor is AMAZING! That combined with the other flavors + crusty bread + red wine = pure food love! My husband is obsessed with this recipe. He’s had it the past two nights and I feel like he’s going to make it again tonight! ?
Best. Review. Ever. Thanks Rachel!! So glad your family is enjoying this recipe 🙂
This is one of my most favorite dips to order at restaurants. I can’t wait to serve it with a big dish of pasta next week.
A big bowl of pasta sounds SO good. What time is dinner? I’ll bring the wine!
We love the olive oil and herb dips served at restaurants so this is a great idea to make one at home! The addition of the balsamic vinegar is fantastic! Definitely a must try…especially with the big glass of red wine! 😉
And the best part is you can enjoy it in your pajamas!
Quick and easy, and so delicious. You can never go wrong with a dip like this! Perfect for a party – who can resist freshly baked bread with balsam!?
This is definitely a crowd-pleaser!
You are SO right!
One of my favorite quick and easy appetizer recipes!
Very nice
Thank you Cathy!