Made with a dried blend of spices and rich, aromatic olive oil, this restaurant-style bread dipping oil is incredibly easy to make. Whether served as an appetizer or given as a gift, it doesn't get much better (or easier) than this olive oil bread dip!

Toasted baguette being dipped into olive oil bread dip with fresh garlic in background.

I have never been one to turn down bread at a restaurant. Whether rolls, breadsticks, or simply sliced Italian bread with butter, give me all the carbs! But if you happen to put crusty bread and an Italian-infused olive oil bread dip in front of me, I can skip the rest of the meal. Even if one of my all-time favorites, such as Chicken Marsala or Baked Ravioli, is on the menu.

There is just something magical about combining rich olive oil, fresh garlic, and dried herbs. Even my southern-born and raised daughter is willing to trade in her biscuits and jam for bread and olive oil bread dip. Trust me, that speaks volumes!

Reasons to Love this Olive Oil Bread Dip

Incredibly Flavorful. The combination of dried Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes, and pungent olive oil is perfection. Throw in fresh garlic and grated parmesan cheese and we are talking next level! This bread dipping oil is just as good, if not BETTER, than your favorite Italian restaurant.
Insanely Easy Recipe. It is as easy as mixing the dried herbs with the salt together. When ready to serve, add the spice blend to some good-quality olive oil and crushed garlic and you are on your way to tastebud heaven.
Perfect for Gifting. Pair the spice blend for olive oil bread dip along with a bottle of good quality olive oil and a fresh head of garlic and you have the perfect hostess or neighbor gift.
Adaptable. While the ratio of spices in this recipe is in my opinion perfection, you can adapt it to suit your needs. You can also opt to add or omit fresh garlic and/or parmesan cheese depending on your taste or dietary restrictions.
Multiple Uses. This bread dipping oil is for more than just bread! You can add the Italian spice blend to pasta like Fettuccine Alfredo, Baked Rotini, or homemade spaghetti sauce to amp up the flavor. When whisked with olive oil this olive oil bread dip is perfect for marinating cheese as well.
Better than Butter. Instead of smearing butter on your bread, try out this olive oil dip instead! Olive oil is known to have several benefits to impact your health.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for olive oil bread dip labeled on counter.

Dried Spices: This olive oil bread dip starts with a base of dried Italian herbs, made up of dried oregano, parsley, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. It is the perfect ratio to replicate an Italian restaurant.
Kosher Salt: Use kosher salt, rather than table salt. Kosher salt will help to enhance the flavor of the olive oil and herbs, rather than make the dipping oil taste salty.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: It is crucial to select a good-quality extra virgin olive oil and to stay away from olive oil blends or refined olive oil. Look for extra virgin olive oil labeled cold press and/or first press, like Colavita, California Olive Ranch, Pompepian, or La Tourangelle.

Substitutions/Modifications

Add Fresh Garlic: Adding fresh garlic to the dipping oil right before serving makes this dip so flavorful. I recommend using a garlic press or very finely mincing fresh cloves of garlic for the best flavor.
Add Parmesan Cheese: Grate fresh parmesan cheese over the bread dipping oil before serving.
Put a Greek Spin on It: In place of the 1 tablespoon of dried parsley, use 1 tablespoon of Homemade Greek Seasoning. When ready to serve, combine ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of the spice blend, along with 1 tablespoon of chopped Kalamative olives.
Add Lemon Zest or Fresh Minced Parsley: Add the zest of 1 lemon and/or 1-2 tablespoons of minced parsley for a fresh, bright addition to your olive oil dip.
Add Balsamic Vinegar: For a slightly sweet and tangy addition to the bread dipping oil, combine ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of the spice blend. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of good-quality balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.
Control the Heat: Decrease, increase, or omit the crushed red pepper flakes as desired.
Keep it Dairy-Free: Simply omit the addition of parmesan cheese.
Use Italian Seasoning: The spices used for this Italian bread dipping oil are similar to those found in my Italian Seasoning blend, with the omission of thyme, marjoram, and rosemary. Feel free to use ¼ cup of Italian seasoning in place of the oregano, parsley, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. The flavor won't be as good but will work in a pinch.

How to Make Olive Oil Bread Dip

Step One: Combine the Italian Spice Blend. In a small jar or airtight container, combine the oregano, parsley, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Shake or mix until well combined.

Dried Spices for Italian olive oil bread dip in small glass jar with wooden spoon.

Step Two: Make the Dipping Oil. When ready to serve the olive oil bread dip, combine ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of the spice blend in a shallow dish. If desired, crush 1 clove of garlic into the mixture and grate parmesan cheese over the oil.

Dried Spices and olive oil in shallow serving bowl next to sliced toasted bread.

How to Serve

The obvious choice is serving this Italian olive oil bread dip with bread. As for what type of bread, any crusty bread, such as a baguette, focaccia, Dutch oven bread, French bread, Italian bread, ciabatta, sourdough, etc, works well.

Beyond bread, there are many ways to use both the Italian spice blend and the olive oil dip.

Use the spice blend in place of any recipe calling for Italian Seasoning.
Combine 6-8 ounces of cooked pasta with 1 recipe of the olive oil dip for a simple, yet flavorful pasta dinner.
Add cubed cheese or fresh mozzarella balls to 1 recipe of the olive oil dip and refrigerate for at least 24 hours or up to 7 days to create a fabulous marinated cheese.
Add up to 1 tablespoon of the spice blend to add seasoning to Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce, Crockpot Minestrone, or Kale Pasta for a kick of intense flavor.
Use 1 recipe of the bread dipping oil for an insanely delicious salad dressing. (It is fabulous on a Greek Salad or in place of Caesar dressing.)
Instead of using garlic butter to make Garlic Toast, brush this olive oil mixture over sliced bread and bake as directed.
Spoon the olive oil mixture over pan-seared ribeye or baked fish right before serving.

Dried Spices and olive oil in shallow serving bowl after mixing together next to sliced toasted bread.

Storage Instructions

Italian Spice Blend: Any leftover spice blend for the Olive Oil Bread Dip can be stored for up to 6 months in an airtight container in a cool dark place, like the pantry or spice cabinet.
Leftover Bread Dipping Oil: If you happen to have any leftover olive oil bread dip, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Use the leftover dipping oil to toss with vegetables or potatoes before roasting.

This Bread Dipping Oil Pairs Well With:

If you tried this recipe for olive oil bread dip, I would appreciate it if you left a comment and review below.