This olive cheese bread is buttery, cheesy, crispy, and packed with briny olive flavor. With just 10 minutes of prep, it’s the ultimate easy party appetizer, holiday snack, or game day favorite.
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This olive cheese bread is the kind of easy appetizer people immediately gather around. Crispy bread topped with a creamy, cheesy olive mixture and baked until hot and golden — it’s buttery, briny, savory, and wildly hard to stop eating.
Best of all, it comes together with almost no effort. Just mix the topping, spread it onto the bread, and bake until bubbly and melty.
Why This Olive Cheese Bread Works
- Easy to make: Just mix, spread, and bake.
- Creamy, cheesy topping: Melty cheese and buttery olives bake into the perfect savory appetizer.
- Perfect for parties and holidays: Easy to slice, share, and serve for a crowd.
- Uses simple ingredients: Bread, cheese, olives, butter, and herbs do all the heavy lifting.
What You'll Need & Why
Everything you need for the meltiest, briniest, most addictive olive cheese bread ever.
- French bread — sturdy enough to hold all the topping and bake up crispy on the edges.
- Mixed olives — briny, salty, and full of flavor; use green, black, Kalamata, or a blend.
- Boursin — creamy, herby richness that melts beautifully into the topping.
- Ricotta cheese — adds lightness and creaminess so the mixture stays spreadable.
- Monterey Jack cheese — melts like a dream and helps create that gooey pull.
- Parmesan cheese — salty, nutty depth and a golden baked finish.
- Green onions — mild, fresh bite that balances the richness.
- Kosher salt & fresh cracked black pepper — just enough to season the mixture and make all the flavors pop.
How To Make Olive Cheese Bread
This olive cheese bread comes together quickly with just a few simple steps.
- Make the topping: Stir together the cheese, olives, butter, and seasonings until creamy and combined.
- Prep the bread: Slice the bread in half lengthwise and place it on a baking sheet.
- Spread and bake: Spread the olive cheese mixture evenly over the bread and bake until hot, melty, and golden.
- Slice and serve: Cut into pieces and serve warm while the cheese is bubbly.
Swaps & Variations
This olive cheese bread is easy to customize with a few simple swaps.
- Use your favorite olives: Green, black, Castelvetrano, or Kalamata olives all work well here.
- Try different cheeses: Monterey Jack, mozzarella, provolone, or fontina all melt beautifully.
- Use different breads: French bread, ciabatta, baguettes, or sourdough all make great olive cheese bread.
- Add a little heat: Crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños add an easy spicy kick.
Tips For The Best Olive Cheese Bread
These simple tips help keep olive cheese bread creamy, cheesy, and perfectly golden.
- Drain the olives well: Too much brine can make the topping watery instead of creamy.
- Shred your own cheese if possible: Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly and browns beautifully.
- Spread the topping evenly: Full coverage helps the bread bake evenly from edge to edge.
- Bake until hot and golden: The top should be bubbly with lightly golden edges.
- Serve warm: Olive cheese bread is best fresh from the oven while the cheese is melty.
Olive Cheese Bread Recipe
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
Build The Ultimate Appetizer Spread
This olive cheese bread fits perfectly into an easy appetizer table or holiday snack spread.
- Add something briny: Marinated olives and feta pair beautifully with the warm cheesy bread.
- Balance it with something creamy: Whipped ricotta dip adds a fresh, creamy contrast alongside the savory olive topping.
- Round out the table: Add a simple charcuterie board, roasted nuts, fresh vegetables, or a warm dip for easy entertaining.
- Serve with drinks: Olive cheese bread is perfect for wine nights, cocktail parties, holidays, and game day gatherings.
Storage & Reheating
Olive cheese bread is best served fresh and warm, but leftovers reheat surprisingly well.
- Store in the refrigerator: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer: Warm until the cheese is melty and the edges crisp back up.
- Prep ahead if needed: The olive cheese topping can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking.
You Asked, I Answered
What kind of bread works best for olive cheese bread?
French bread, ciabatta, sourdough, baguettes, or Italian bread all work well. Choose a sturdy bread that can hold the cheesy olive topping.
Can I make olive cheese bread ahead of time?
Yes. The topping can be mixed and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking.
What olives work best for olive cheese bread?
Green olives, black olives, Castelvetrano olives, or Kalamata olives all work beautifully in this recipe.
Can I substitute for Boursin cheese?
Yes. Whipped cream cheese with garlic and herbs works well if you can’t find Boursin.
Other Easy Dip Recipes You’ll Also Love
More warm, cheesy, crowd-pleasing appetizers perfect for parties and easy entertaining:
- Jalapeño Popper Dip — Creamy, cheesy, and packed with just the right amount of heat.
- Philly Cheesesteak Dip — Rich, beefy, melty dip that’s perfect for game days and parties.
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip: Creamy, savory, and always one of the first appetizers to disappear.
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
brenda hill says
perfect for appetizer or side.
Barbara Smith says
Super savory, tasty, crispy, crunchy! Also very good re-heated!