Olive Cheese Bread is going to be your new go-to for when you need a quick and easy appetizer, but with amazing flavor that will keep you coming back for more. It's full of wonderful creamy cheeses, briny olives, and a hit of fresh herbs. What could be better?!
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Olive. Cheese. Bread. The name says it all, but it's so much more. It's cheesy and melty and lovely. This warm, toasty French bread beauty is salty from the olives, but perfectly creamy and luscious with the combo of Boursin and ricotta. The mixture of cheese alone would make a dip that would knock the socks off of anyone.
My Olive Cheese Bread recipe is also so simple. It comes together in minutes and just needs a quick trip in the oven to get to that nicey-nice stage. Just be prepared, once this is perfectly baked bread comes out of the oven, people will appear. The people appear and the bread disappears. That's just how it goes. Don't say I didn't warn you.
how and what do I serve with this Olive Cheese Bread?
Because this Olive Cheese Bread is fairly decadent, I usually just serve it alongside a simple, green salad if it's part of an easy lunch or dinner. However, I love to bring this beauty out when I have friends over. It's a great snicky-snack that everyone can graze on before a meal. I also love reheating any leftovers (slowly in the oven) for breakfast with a sunny side egg. My kid's love it as an after school snack. It's absolutely divine any way you do it.
ingredients
- French Bread
- Mixed Olives
- Boursin
- Ricotta Cheese
- Monterrey Jack Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Green Onions
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper
how to make olive cheese bread
For the very best Olive Cheese Bread ever, simply:
Total Time: 35 minutes
Slice the bread.
Grab your French bread loaf and slice it in half, lengthwise. Place the halves cut side up on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Prep the olives.
I am using a mix of our favorite olives for this recipe. We like Kalamata, Castelvetrano, and a pitted black olive. You do the same and use what you love. I give the olives a rough chop - nothing perfect. Add these to a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside.
Whip the cheese.
For this next step in our Olive Cheese Bread journey, you'll need a food processor. I whip the ricotta and Boursin together until they are light and fluffy - like a happy cheese cloud. Add this back to the bowl of olives along with the parmesan and Monterrey Jack cheeses.
Mix and spread.
Mix the olive/cheese mixture well. Add a healthy pinch of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Spread the mixture over the bread halves. Add a little extra parmesan and Monterrey jack cheese to the tops of the bread halves. Measure that with your heart.
Bake.
Bake the bread in a preheated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melted. If you would like to add a little color, simply let it hang out under the broiler for just a few minutes at the end. It makes it look pretty. I like pretty food.
Slice and enjoy.
Attempt to let the bread cool down just a bit. It's hot! Slice and enjoy!
frequently asked questions
Can I turn this Olive Cheese Bread into a dip?
Yes, you can and it will be incredible. Just make the olive/cheese mixture, add it to a greased baking dish, and bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes until its nice and bubbly!
What is Boursin and what if I can't find it?
In a word, Boursin is amazing. It's basically a French-style cream cheese with herbs, garlic, and other tasty things. They have several different flavors and they are all wonderful.
If you cannot find this in your local grocery store, I would substitute it with a whipped cream cheese. Should you have access to whipped cream cheese with green onions in it, even better.
tips, tricks, and substitutions
- Use whatever olive you love and what you have one hand.
- If you don't like olives at all, you can make this recipe without them. Seriously. It's a cheesy, lovely toasted bread masterpiece even without the olives.
- Add proteins like ground beef or rotisserie chicken to turn this into a flatbread pizza situation.
- Use you favorite cheese. You can use whatever you love as long as you shred it yourself.
- Do not use pre-shredded cheese. It does not melt correctly and will turn this bread recipe into a strange, stringy mess. The anti-caking agents they use to keep it from clumping are horrible. Don't do it. Invest in a good cheese shredder and do it yourself.
- Additionally, if you don't have a loaf of French bread, you can use anything you like. I've smeared the olive cheese spread on everything from biscuits to leftover hamburger buns. It's so delicious, it doesn't matter. Just get it nice and melty.
If you guys make this Olive Cheese Bread, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Olive Cheese Bread
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread, halved lengthwise
- 1½ cups mixed olives
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 Boursin round I used the chive and shallot flavor
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated plus extra for topping
- ½ cup Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded plus extra for topping
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rough chop the olives and add to a medium-sized mixing bowl with the green onion and set aside.
- Using a food processor, whip the ricotta and Boursin together until they are light and fluffy. Add this to the bowl of olives along with the parmesan and Monterrey Jack cheeses.
- Mix the olive/cheese mixture well. Add a healthy pinch of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Spread the mixture evenly over the bread halves. Add a little extra parmesan and Monterrey jack cheese to the bread halves. Don't be shy. Measure that extra sprinkle with your heart.
- Bake the bread in a preheated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is nice and melted.
- If you would like to add a little color to the cheese, simply let the bread hang out under the broiler for just a few minutes at the end.
- Attempt to let the bread cool down just a bit. Because it's hot. Slice and enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Olive Cheese Bread recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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brenda hill says
perfect for appetizer or side.
Barbara Smith says
Super savory, tasty, crispy, crunchy! Also very good re-heated!