Beautiful and oh-so-delicious, this flavorful olive oil bread dip spice blend makes a beautiful gift. Nobody will blame you if you keep it all to yourself though – it’s just that good!

This dry herb mix is perfect to serve with warm crusty bread for a delicious and elegant appetizer. Quick and easy to make, it’s also perfect for a thoughtful holiday gift.

A white ramekin full of olive oil bread dip, loaf of bread to the side.
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One of my greatest weaknesses is bread and truly, there’s not much better to me than bread dipped in oil, with dipping spices. It’s my favorite accompaniment to any American or Italian meal and makes the easiest last minute appetizer for those gatherings with wine surrounded around the kitchen island.

We’ll occasionally even enjoy it as a little snack or in lieu of dinner paired with wine for a casual evening at home. 

I keep a jar of this blend of bread dipping spices in our spice cabinet and sometimes add it to spaghetti for an effortless last minute meal as well. This year I decided it would make a great holiday gift idea for family and friends. A joy shared is a joy doubled.

A hand dipping a piece of bread into a white ramekin full of olive oil bread dip.

Olive Oil Bread Dip and Dipping Spices

This dip is made with a combination of dried herbs and seasonings that come to life when mixed with a little olive oil.

Why You’ll Love It

  • So Easy – This is such a fragrant seasoning blend, and it’s long-lasting too.
  • Easy to Customize – Learn how to customize this spice blend to your own tastes.
  • Great for Neighbor Gifts – Feels homemade, but no oven required!
A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning and olive oil, sliced bread in the background.

The whole family loved this dipping spice. It was so good. Now I’m gifting friends with it.

zoya

This dry herb spice just needs to be added to a little olive oil for a fragrant and delicious bite. It’s perfect to serve with my homemade bread.

A hand dipping a piece of bread into a white ramekin full of olive oil bread dip.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Garlic Powder
  • Oregano
  • Rosemary
  • Parsley
  • Basil
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Olive Oil – Use a high quality extra virgin olive oil rather than olive oil. It is much richer in flavor and intended for dipping!
A row of bottles with different types of spices and seasonings, including olive oil for bread dip.

Variations

  • Minced Garlic – I sometimes like to add a teaspoon of minced garlic when I serve for an extra hit of flavor.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Finely grated parmesan is a delicious addition.
A hand dipping a piece of bread onto a plate of olive oil bread dip.
A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning and olive oil, sliced bread in the background.

How to Make this Bread Dip Mix

  1. Combine – Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. Store – Store the spice mix in an airtight container in a cupboard.
  3. Use – Spoon the mix over olive oil, stir to combine and dip!
A bowl of bread dipping seasoning.

Tips

  • To make this a gift basket: Simply add a small jar of the dry herb mix in a basket with a plate and a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Add a bottle of balsamic vinegar if you’d like, too. Perfect, elegant and effortless!
  • Want to add something extra special? Provide this homemade artisan bread in the basket, or even some fresh homemade crostini.
  • The Perfect Ratio: When it comes to the ratio of oil to spices, it’s entirely up to you! We like 2 tablespoons of olive oil to about 1 teaspoon of this spice blend.
  • Make Sure Your Herbs Aren’t Stale: Herbs don’t ‘go stale’ as such, but they can lose their aromas and potency as time goes on. Rub a little of the herbs between your fingers, if the aroma is weak or not obvious then they should be discarded.
  • Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning and olive oil, sliced bread in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dipping bread in olive oil healthy?

Olive oil has unsaturated fats (which are healthier than butter’s saturated fats). So while you should enjoy everything in moderation, olive oil is the healthier way to dip your bread, when compared to butter!

How do Italians eat bread with olive oil?

Italians don’t dip their olive oil like we do in the states, and they don’t use butter either. They drizzle their bread with olive oil, or enjoy it just as it is.

A hand dipping a piece of bread into a white ramekin full of olive oil bread dip.

Serving Suggestions

This Italian inspired seasoning mix is perfect for dipping with olive oil, but it’s also great to use in lots of main dishes too.

  • stir into pasta sauce
  • stir into soup or stew
  • use as a rub onto chicken
  • coat fish before grilling or baking
  • toss with warm olive oil and pasta
  • toss veggies in olive oil and seasoning before grilling, sautéing or roasting
A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning.

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – Dried herbs can keep well for up to a year, so this is the ultimate make ahead food gift! Once you have made your mix, prolong it’s life by storing in a cool dark cupboard and out of direct sunlight in an airtight container.
A bowl of bread dipping seasoning.
A gift basket with homemade bread dipping spices, a white plate and a bottle of olive oil.

Sources to Make this a Gift Basket

2.5 Ounce Jars

These are cute glass jars with fitted bamboo lids.

1.7 Ounce Weck Jars

These make gifting and storage so easy!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Choose your favorite, but a pretty bottle and label will present beautifully!

Balsamic Vinegar

Another fabulous and flavorful addition to this gift basket!

Small Wicker Baskets for Gifts

Grab two of these for $25.

A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning and olive oil.
You can find all of my homemade holiday gift ideas here and my Thoughtful Hostess Gifts here.

There is so much flavor in every bite. Just add a teaspoon or two to a small plate of olive oil and enjoy! It’s hard not to!

A white plate topped with bread dipping seasoning and olive oil.

More Spices

A person is dipping a bread in olive oil for a delicious dip.
4.90 from 29 votes
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Bread Dipping Spices

Beautiful, giftable, and flavorful olive oil bread dip spices to be gifted alone, paired with olive oil or kept all to yourself.
Prep: 3 minutes
Total: 3 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 1 tablespoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Combine ingredients in a glass jar or small dish.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Julie’s Tips

Tips: 

  • Use dried whole or cracked herbs, vs ground herbs. Ground herbs are more potent and won’t package as beautifully.
  • The Perfect Ratio: When it comes to the ratio of oil to spices, it’s entirely up to you! We like 2 tablespoons of olive oil to about 1 teaspoon of this spice blend. 

Optional Add Ins

  • Minced Garlic – I sometimes like to add a teaspoon of minced garlic when I serve for an extra hit of flavor.
  • Parmesan Cheese – Finely grated parmesan is a delicious addition.

How to Store

  • Room Temperature – Dried herbs can keep well for up to a year, so this is the ultimate make ahead food gift! Once you have made your mix, prolong it’s life by storing in a cool dark cupboard and out of direct sunlight in an airtight container.

Serving Suggestions

  • spoon over olive oil and serve with bread
  • add balsamic vinegar if you’d like
  • stir into pasta sauce
  • stir into soup or stew
  • use as a rub onto chicken
  • coat fish before grilling or baking
  • toss with warm olive oil and pasta
  • toss veggies with olive oil and seasoning before grilling, sautéing or baking
Calories: 5kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 17mg | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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4.90 from 29 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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30 Comments

    1. Hi Karen,
      This recipe is intended for the traditional versions of those spices, so the amounts will be a little off if you choose ground versions instead! It’s prettier when you use crushed herbs, too.
      I hope you enjoy- have a wonderful weekend,
      Julie

        1. Hi Carole,
          I meant traditional, as in the flakes of dried herbs used in traditional Italian restaurants. Ground herbs will always be much more potent, so I would recommend whole or cracked dried herbs for this spice blend! Plus, they are prettier in a package.
          I hope that helps- enjoy!
          Julie

    1. Hello,
      This recipe makes about 5 tablespoons in total, so it just depends how much you’d like to gift. You can easily make more by using the yield button on the printable recipe card.
      I hope that helps – enjoy!
      Julie

  1. 5 stars
    This is totally alsome ! We thank you so much. I’ll send you my brisket rube. Got from an elderly man. My kids don’t cook in crock pot meat without it. They are going to want this one too! I recently had a stroke and cooking is part of my therapy

      1. Hi Brooke!
        That’s a totally personal preference, you’ll want to just play with it a little until you get a great ratio.
        I would start with 1-2 tablespoons of oil and 1-2 teaspoons of herbs.
        Enjoy,
        Julie

    1. Hello, you mentioned a brisket rube recipe that you might share in this comment; Would you share it with me? TIA.