Garlic Herb Oil for Dipping Bread

I’ll always remember the first time I was presented with a tiny, shallow dish filled with herbs, spices, and olive oil alongside a loaf of crusty bread. We were at a nice Italian restaurant in Southern CA, in my old hood, I was in my 20s, and we were splurging on a fancy dinner.

At the time, I’d never seen anything like it. I wasn’t even sure what we were supposed to do with it! A quick glance around the restaurant and I realized people were dipping their bread into it. I followed their lead, and after just one bite, I was hooked.

garlic herb bread dipping oil in a shallow white dish on a white board surrounded by chunks of bread

Of course, this garlic herb oil for dipping bread isn’t fancy. It’s incredibly simple to make. All you need are a handful of common ingredients: garlic, dried herbs and spices, olive oil, and a loaf of bread. But this type of recipe has always been my favorite type of recipe-easy, fast, but loaded with flavor.

Ingredients

  • Dried herbs: basil, parsley, rosemary, and oregano
  • Spices: Kosher salt, coarsely ground black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes
  • Chopped garlic
  • High-quality extra-virgin olive oil

Because you’ll only need a handful of ingredients, almost all of which are dried herbs and spices, it only takes a few minutes to combine it all!
Note: Fresh herbs can be used for this recipe, in fact, I often use them! They don’t keep well, however, so only use fresh if you’re planning on not having leftovers.

How to Make Garlic Herb Oil for Bread Dipping

Choose the dish you’ll be using to serve it in. A small, shallow bowl works best.

Add the dried herbs and spices to the bowl. Chop the garlic and add it to the herbs. Pour the olive oil into the bowl and give it a gentle stir. It’s ready to serve!

Tip: Mix the dry herbs and spices together and keep them in a tightly sealed jar. When you’re hankering for garlic herb oil, chop a few cloves of garlic, add some of the herbs and olive oil, and you’re done!

garlic herb bread dipping oil in a shallow white dish surrounded by chunks of bread and fresh herbs

Variations

This recipe is great as-is, but you may want to switch it up occasionally. Here are a few ideas for how to do just that:

  • Add a little balsamic vinegar. Alternatively, serve it separately in another shallow dish alongside the garlic herb bread dipping oil.
  • Increase the crushed red pepper flakes for more heat
  • Vary the dried herbs, adding rosemary, for example
  • Try mixing in a little onion and/or garlic powder
  • Finely minced onion is fantastic!
  • Add a tablespoon of grated parmesan
  • Serve with garlic bread (best if the bread doesn’t have too much butter since it will be dipped in oil)
  • Add minced sun-dried tomatoes

Other Ways to Use It

While this garlic herb oil is the perfect companion for bread, it’s delicious to use any of these ways, too!

  • As a salad dressing
  • Spread it onto crusty bread, then bake it for a fantastic garlic bread
  • Spread it onto crusty bread for a sandwich with Italian cold cuts and cheese
  • Toss it with pasta
  • Brush it on baguette slices and toast it for a fantastic crostini – perfect for a charcuterie board!
  • Toss it with roasted vegetables
garlic herb bread dipping oil in a shallow white dish surrounded by chunks of bread with fresh herbs and a bottle of olive oil

What kind of bread works best for dipping?

We’re firmly in the camp of “any bread is good bread”. Any type you have on hand will taste great, although some are much better suited for dipping in oil. We also have a list of breads if you need more inspiration.

  • Sliced baguette
  • Foccacia
  • Ciabatta
  • Sourdough

FAQ

  • How long can you store homemade garlic herb oil? – Use it within one month if refrigerated. It’s never a good idea to store garlic in oil at room temperature! It will solidify in the refrigerator, so give it time to warm before serving.
  • Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried ones? – Yes, fresh herbs can be used, though it’s highly recommended that they be eaten the same day and not stored for safety. I often use fresh herbs if I’m only making a quick batch; the photos in this post show a mix of dried and fresh herbs.
  • Is garlic herb oil safe for people with garlic allergies? – No, it’s not suitable for those with garlic allergies. If this is a concern, simply omit the garlic from the recipe.
garlic herb bread dipping oil in a shallow white dish surrounded by chunks of bread and fresh herbs

Garlic Herb Oil for Dipping Bread

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Hungry? Got 5 minutes? That's all you need to make this fantastic bread dipping oil. It's perfect for adding to your charcuterie boards, too!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • High-quality extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

    1. Choose the dish you’ll be using to serve it in. A small, shallow bowl works best.
    2. Add the dried herbs and spices to the bowl. Chop the garlic and add it to the herbs.
    3. Pour enough olive oil into the bowl to completely submerge the herbs and spices, then give it all a gentle stir.
    4. Serve immediately with pieces of crusty bread for dipping!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 45Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 475mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

The nutrition information is HIGHLY estimated. For more accurate information, we suggest using an online nutrition calculator and entering the exact amounts you use for your particular board.

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Kristy Bernardo
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