Why You’ll Adore This Savory Olive Cheese Bread Appetizer

This isn’t just another bread recipe; it’s a culinary revelation that hits all the right notes for flavor, texture, and convenience. Here’s why this Olive Cheese Bread will quickly earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection and become your go-to dish for any occasion:

• Effortlessly Easy & Exceptionally Quick: Forget about spending hours in the kitchen for a show-stopping dish. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort. With straightforward preparation and a short baking time, you can have a gourmet-tasting appetizer on the table in under an hour. It’s the ideal solution for unexpected guests, busy weeknights, or when you simply crave something delicious without the fuss.
• A Symphony of Flavors and Textures: Each bite delivers an explosion of fantastic tastes and delightful sensations. You’ll experience the satisfying crunch of toasted French bread, the luxurious richness and creaminess from the butter and mayonnaise base, the delightful saltiness and briny tang of the green and black olives, and the gooey, subtly spicy kick of perfectly melted Pepper Jack cheese. Fresh parsley adds a bright, herbaceous counterpoint, elevating the entire flavor profile.
• Feeds a Crowd with Incredible Ease: A single loaf of French bread, when prepared as instructed, yields numerous slices, making it an incredibly economical and efficient option for entertaining. Whether you’re hosting a large holiday party, a casual backyard barbecue, a game day event, or a family gathering, this Olive Cheese Bread is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that ensures everyone gets to enjoy a generous portion. It disappears quickly, so consider making two loaves!
• Incredibly Versatile for Any Occasion: While it truly shines as a standout appetizer for cocktail parties, potlucks, or family dinners, its versatility extends far beyond. Serve it as a hearty, flavorful side bread alongside your favorite comforting soups, robust stews, or crisp, fresh salads. It even makes a fantastic addition to a sophisticated brunch spread, a gourmet snack for a wine tasting, or an elevated addition to a charcuterie board. Its adaptable nature means it always finds a perfect place at your table, no matter the event.
• Guaranteed Deliciousness and Universal Appeal: This recipe has been tried, tested, and loved by countless individuals, and this particular rendition is no exception. We promise it won’t disappoint. Its classic combination of beloved ingredients paired with a touch of modern flavor makes it universally adored by both adults and children alike. It’s comfort food at its finest, easy to love and hard to resist.

For those who appreciate simple, yet impactful and flavorful appetizers, this recipe stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other beloved crowd-pleasers like Oven Baked Cheeseburger Sliders, Cheddar Cheese and Herb Straws, Easy Mediterranean Dip, and Homemade Fire Roasted Salsa. It’s truly an essential addition to your culinary repertoire for creating memorable meals and gatherings!

How to Make Olive Cheese Bread: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Crafting this delightful olive cheese bread is remarkably straightforward and requires minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps carefully for a perfect outcome every single time, ensuring a golden, gooey, and utterly delicious result:

1. Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheet: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This crucial step ensures the bread bakes evenly and the cheese melts perfectly from the start. As the oven heats, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This simple trick prevents sticking, aids in even browning, and makes cleanup incredibly easy.
2. Prepare the Rich and Flavorful Filling Base: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter and creamy mayonnaise. It’s important that these ingredients are at room temperature so they can cream together smoothly. Add the aromatic garlic powder and a generous dash of freshly ground black pepper. Mix vigorously, using a spatula or hand mixer, until everything is smoothly combined and well-incorporated. This creamy base is crucial for carrying the robust flavors of the olives and cheese.
3. Incorporate the Star Ingredients for the Filling: Now, it’s time to add the core flavors. Gently fold in the sliced green olives and sliced black olives, along with most of the shredded Pepper Jack cheese (be sure to reserve about 1/2 cup for sprinkling on top later). Finally, stir in the fresh, vibrant chopped parsley. Mix everything just until all the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the creamy base. Avoid overmixing, as this can compress the ingredients. You want a consistent, chunky mixture that promises a burst of flavor in every bite.

4. Prepare the French Bread for Stuffing: Carefully slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise, creating two long pieces. Using a spoon or your clean fingers, gently scoop out a shallow well from the soft interior surface of each bread half. This thoughtful step creates a perfect cavity to generously hold the flavorful filling, preventing it from overflowing during the baking process and ensuring every slice is packed with goodness.
5. Generously Stuff and Top the Bread: Now, it’s time to assemble. Divide the prepared olive and cheese filling evenly between the two bread halves. Spread it generously right to the edges of the scooped-out wells, ensuring a substantial layer of deliciousness across both pieces. Then, take the reserved 1/2 cup of shredded Pepper Jack cheese and sprinkle it liberally and evenly over the top of each stuffed bread half. This extra layer of cheese will melt into a wonderfully golden and bubbly crust.

6. Bake to Golden, Bubbly Perfection: Carefully place the stuffed French bread halves on your prepared baking sheet. Transfer them to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; the bread is perfectly done when the cheese is beautifully melted, actively bubbling, and has achieved a glorious, irresistible golden-brown hue across the top. The edges of the French bread should also be perfectly crisp and slightly toasted.
7. Cool Slightly and Serve Warm: Once baked to perfection, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet. This brief cooling period is essential as it allows the melted cheese to set slightly, making it much easier to slice without the delicious filling oozing out excessively. Then, using a sharp serrated knife, slice the bread into inviting 1-inch thick pieces. Serve warm and watch it disappear!

Variations and Customizations for Your Perfect Olive Cheese Bread

One of the best things about this Olive Cheese Bread recipe is its remarkable adaptability. Feel free to experiment with these variations to suit your personal taste, dietary preferences, or simply what you have readily available in your pantry:

• Explore Different Cheeses: While Pepper Jack cheese adds a wonderful, subtle spicy kick and incredible melt, you can easily alter the flavor profile by swapping it out. Try creamy Monterey Jack for a milder, even meltier experience, or classic mozzarella for a more traditional cheesy bread pull. For a tangy and briny twist, incorporate crumbled feta cheese, or add a nutty depth with freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago. A harmonious combination of a few different cheeses can also create a more complex and rich flavor profile. Don’t be afraid to mix and match!
• Add Fresh Herbaceous Notes: Elevate the freshness and aromatic quality of the bread by adding finely diced green onions (also known as scallions) or delicate chives to the filling. These mild alliums provide a subtle oniony flavor and vibrant color that beautifully complements the other ingredients. Other fresh herbs like finely chopped dill, oregano, or even a hint of rosemary can also be wonderful, fragrant additions.
• Embrace Olive Diversity: The recipe calls for both green and black olives, offering a balanced salty and mildly fruity flavor profile. For green olives, pimento-stuffed Spanish Queen olives are a fantastic choice, providing an extra pop of color and a subtle sweet pimento flavor. However, any variety of green olive you truly enjoy will work exceptionally well. If you prefer a bolder, fruitier, and slightly more pungent olive, consider substituting the black olives with Kalamata olives. Just remember that Kalamata olives tend to be saltier due to their curing process, so you might want to adjust the overall saltiness of the dish or reduce their quantity slightly.
• Introduce More Spice: For those who truly love an extra layer of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes, a dash of your favorite hot sauce, or even a finely minced jalapeño (seeds removed for less heat) can be mixed into the filling. This will add an exciting kick that contrasts beautifully with the cheese and olives.
• Boost the Umami and Savory Depth: A tablespoon of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes (ensure they are oil-packed and well-drained) or roasted red peppers can add a lovely sweet, smoky, and intensely savory depth to the bread. These additions also contribute beautiful color and a more complex texture.
• Meat Lover’s Touch: For a heartier version, consider adding finely crumbled and cooked bacon bits or very finely diced pepperoni to the filling mixture. This adds a smoky, savory, and satisfying element, transforming it into an even more substantial snack or appetizer.

Expert Tips for Achieving the Perfect Olive Cheese Bread

While this recipe is straightforward, paying attention to a few key details can elevate your Olive Cheese Bread from good to absolutely outstanding. Follow these simple yet crucial tips for consistent, delicious results every time:

• Slice Your Own Olives for Superior Texture: This is a game-changer! While pre-sliced olives are undoubtedly convenient, they often sit in brine for extended periods and can become mushy, losing their firm texture and distinct, fresh taste. For the best flavor and a satisfying bite, purchase whole olives and slice them yourself. This ensures they remain crisp, vibrant, and flavorful within the creamy filling. If you’re really short on time, a rough chop is perfectly acceptable and still yields significantly better results than overly processed pre-sliced options.
• Shred Your Own Cheese for Optimal Melt: Store-bought pre-shredded cheese typically contains anti-caking agents like cellulose or cornstarch. These additives, while preventing clumping in the bag, can also prevent the cheese from melting smoothly and evenly, sometimes resulting in a slightly grainy or less gooey texture. For the ultimate gooey, bubbly, and beautifully golden-brown top, take the extra minute to shred your own block of Pepper Jack (or any other chosen cheese) just before mixing. It truly makes a noticeable difference in the final texture and melt of the cheese.
• Mind the Saltiness Levels: Olives, especially green varieties and Kalamata olives, are naturally quite salty due to their brining process. If you are particularly sensitive to salt or simply prefer a milder flavor profile, consider reducing the amount of green olives by half. You can always add a little more salt to the filling if needed after tasting, but it’s much harder to remove it once it’s incorporated. Tasting a small bit of the filling before adding to the bread can also help you adjust.
• Ensure Room Temperature Ingredients: This tip applies especially to the butter and mayonnaise. Ensuring these ingredients are at room temperature is vital. This allows them to cream together smoothly and evenly, creating a perfectly consistent, lump-free base for the filling. Cold ingredients will be harder to mix and may result in a clumpy texture.
• Avoid Overstuffing the Bread: While it’s tempting to load up the bread with as much delicious filling as possible, exercise some restraint. Too much filling can make the bread soggy in the center and, more importantly, cause the mixture to spill out over the sides during baking, creating a messy situation and potentially burning. A generous but manageable layer is ideal for even cooking and presentation.
• Use a Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper: Always bake your olive cheese bread on a sturdy baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This simple step serves multiple purposes: it prevents the bread from sticking to the pan, ensures even browning on the bottom crust, and makes cleanup an absolute breeze. Nobody wants burnt cheese stuck to their baking sheet!
• Allow a Brief Cooling Period Before Slicing: Resist the urge to immediately slice and serve the bread straight out of the oven. Letting it cool for about 5 minutes is crucial. This short cooling period allows the intensely hot, melted cheese to set slightly, firming up just enough to prevent the filling from oozing out excessively when sliced and allowing for much cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing cuts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Olive Cheese Bread

Olive Cheese Bread Recipe: Full Details

This olive cheese bread is crunchy, salty, briny, and irresistibly cheesy! It’s a perfect appetizer or a delightful side dish for a variety of meals, especially comforting soups and fresh salads.

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 29 minutes

Servings: 14 slices

Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (approximately 14-inches long)
• 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 6 oz Pimento-stuffed green olives, drained and sliced (or less to taste for salt sensitivity)
• 6 oz Black olives, drained and sliced
• 1/2 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
• 8 oz Pepper Jack cheese, shredded (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, creamy mayonnaise, garlic powder, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
3. Add the sliced green olives, sliced black olives, 7.5 oz of the shredded Pepper Jack cheese (ensuring you reserve the remaining 1/2 cup for sprinkling on top), and the fresh, chopped parsley to the butter mixture. Mix gently until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated throughout the filling.
4. Carefully slice the French bread loaf in half lengthwise, creating two equal pieces. Using a spoon, gently scoop out a shallow well from the soft interior surface of each bread half. This creates a perfect cavity to hold the generous filling.
5. Divide the prepared olive and cheese filling evenly between the two bread halves. Spread the mixture generously over the scooped-out areas, extending it almost to the edges. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of shredded Pepper Jack cheese evenly over the top of each stuffed bread half.
6. Place the assembled bread halves on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted, actively bubbling, and has achieved a glorious golden-brown color. The edges of the bread should also be crisp and lightly toasted.
7. Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes. This brief cooling period helps the melted cheese to set slightly, making it much easier to slice without excessive oozing. Then, using a sharp serrated knife, slice the bread into inviting 1-inch thick pieces. Serve warm and enjoy immediately!

Notes

• For the best texture and flavor, we recommend slicing whole olives yourself rather than using pre-sliced ones, which can often be mushy.
• If you are sensitive to salt or prefer a milder flavor, consider reducing the amount of green olives by half due to their natural brininess.
• To store any leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For reheating, warm the slices in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes until they are thoroughly warmed through and the cheese is bubbly again.

Nutrition Information

Approximate nutritional values per serving (calculated based on 14 servings):

• Calories: 287 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Protein: 8g
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0.3g
• Cholesterol: 35mg
• Sodium: 701mg
• Potassium: 74mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 2g
• Vitamin A: 609 IU
• Vitamin C: 3mg
• Calcium: 154mg
• Iron: 2mg

This recipe has been slightly adapted from a beloved version by The Pioneer Woman.

More Irresistible Stuffed French Bread Recipes to Try

If you’ve enjoyed the incredible flavors and ease of this Olive Cheese Bread, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic and creative stuffed French bread creations. They are perfect for any meal, snack, or gathering, offering versatility and deliciousness in every bite:

Discover even more culinary inspiration and quick, easy recipes designed to make your time in the kitchen enjoyable and stress-free on our site!

Before you go, make sure to save this incredible recipe! Are you on Pinterest? Click here to add this Olive Cheese Bread recipe to one of your favorite boards!