Welcome to the first official AK Appetizer Week! That’s right, all week long, I’ll be sharing a mix of brand new and reader-favorite appetizer recipes that are perfect for the holiday season. Bring these to the next game day watch party or holiday event and get ready for everyone to beg you for the recipe and DEVOUR. It’s going to be a fun, delicious week!
We’re kicking off the week with my brother-in-law, Matt’s, famous olive cheese bread that he’s been sharing with us over the holidays. The first time I had it, I was hooked. It’s based on the Pioneer Woman’s Olive Cheese bread, except this one doesn’t require as much mayo or butter and kicks it up a notch with calabrian chile paste and fun cheese. Picture your favorite garlic bread (it’s my recipe, right?) but leveled up with a kick of heat, briny olives, and melty cheese. One bite of this bread and you’ll fall in love. It’s so easy to make and truly feels like an app you’d order at an Italian restaurant.
Bake it up in under 30 minutes and watch it disappear this holiday season!
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Everything you’ll need to make this olive cheese bread
This is one of those recipes that feels a little fancy and elevated, but requires super simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Bread: I recommend using a nice big piece of ciabatta bread so that you get 6-8 slices out of each half. You could also use an Italian loaf.
- For the base: you’ll mix together softened butter, mayonnaise, calabrian chili paste (for a lovely kick of heat), freshly minced garlic, salt, and pepper, and spread it onto the bread for lots of flavor and moisture.
- Cheese: get an epic cheese pull by topping the bread with mozzarella cheese before baking, then grating on some parmesan cheese for that salty sharp flavor.
- Olives: we’re using a mix of castelvetrano olives and kalamata olives for savory, briny kick. Feel free to mix it up with any olives you like, or use more of one than the other!
- Garnish: after baking, I like to sprinkle the bread with chopped parsley to add a fresh element.
Can I make it gluten-free or dairy-free?
- To make gluten-free: use your favorite loaf of gluten-free bread.
- To make dairy-free: use vegan butter, vegan mayo, and your favorite dairy-free/vegan cheese shreds for topping.
Is this bread spicy?
The calabrian chili paste is spicy, but it’s more of a warm heat with a slightly fruity flavor (rather than a burn-your-tongue chili pepper spice). If you or your guests are sensitive to spice, you can absolutely reduce the paste or omit it completely.
Delicious olive cheese bread in 3 steps
- Mix the base. Add your softened butter, mayo, chili paste, herbs, and seasonings to a small bowl and mix until well combined.
- Top the bread. Spread the butter mixture on both halves of your ciabatta with a spatula, then evenly top with the mozzarella and olives. Grate some parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake, garnish & serve. Bake the bread until the cheese is melty and golden brown, slice each half into equal pieces, sprinkle with parsley, and devour!
Soft or extra crispy: you decide
If you like a softer bread, feel free to cover the bread halves in foil before baking and/or reduce the baking time by 1-2 minutes.
If you like crispier bread, leave it in the oven for 1-2 minutes extra! Just watch it carefully so that the cheese doesn’t burn.
Tools you’ll need
Get all of my kitchen essentials here!
Storing tips
This bread is best eaten the day of, but you can store any leftovers covered at room temp for about 1 day. After 1 day, store the bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it in your oven by wrapping it in foil and warming it for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
More appetizers you’ll love
- Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey
- Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts
- Scallion Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Mushrooms
- Apple Cheddar Galette with Crispy Herb Cheddar Crust
- Roasted Garlic Whipped Feta Dip
Get all of my appetizer recipes here!
I hope you love this olive cheese bread recipe! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Matt's Olive Cheese Bread
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) ciabatta loaf, sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 to 2 tablespoons calabrian chili paste, depending on your spice preference
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup pitted castelvetrano olives, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place ciabatta halves cut side-up.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the softened butter, mayonnaise, calabrian chili paste, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
- Spread the butter mixture between each half of the bread and use a rubber spatula to spread it out evenly to the edges of the bread. Top with the mozzarella cheese, then a mix of the chopped castelvetrano and kalamata olives. Grate on the parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to turn golden brown. Place the bread on a cutting board and cut each half-loaf crosswise into 6 pieces so you have 12 pieces total. Top with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
Wow wow wow! This is incredible. Will be on repeat for entertaining or instead of pizza takeout! The flavor was such a great balance of spicy, creamy and salty. I followed recipe exact and would big mess with bc it is 100%
Love that! Glad you enjoyed!
No notes. Amazing!!!
Glad you enjoyed!!
Any recommendations on how to make-ahead, travel and then serve this, (ideally without any heating/reheating at our Thanksgiving destination)?
Hi! This bread is best when it’s hot or warm so that the cheese is nice and melty, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re able to bake it or reheat it at your destination.
This was fabulous. The ease of assembly…5 stars. The flavor….beyond 5 stars. My husband said it was amazing! Will keep this one handy.
So happy to hear that!