Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil
Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil is one of the best parts of eating at Carrabba’s! That little plate of herbs and spices swimming in olive oil turns warm bread into an appetizer you can’t stop eating. I got the seasoning combination straight from Carrabba’s, and this easy copycat takes just minutes to make at home!
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Recipe at a Glance
Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil
A copycat of Carrabba’s famous bread dip made with dried Italian herbs, garlic, red pepper and olive oil. Mix up the seasoning once and you’ll have enough on hand for plenty of bread-dipping emergencies!
Total time: 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Appetizers, Italian dinners & entertaining
Best Tip: Make a batch of the dry seasoning blend, then mix just 1/2 teaspoon seasoning with 2 tablespoons olive oil whenever you’re ready to serve.
🔍 COPYCAT SECRETS UNCOVERED!
I went straight to the source for this one! Carrabba’s told me the 9 seasonings they use in their famous bread dipping oil, so there’s no guessing what gives that little plate of olive oil bread dip its signature flavor.
- It’s more than “Italian seasoning” – Oregano, parsley, basil and rosemary are all in the mix, but Carrabba’s layered herb mixture has garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper too.
- Two kinds of garlic – Garlic is doing double duty here with both dried minced garlic and garlic powder. The minced garlic gives you those little bits of garlic you scoop up with the bread, while garlic powder distributes the flavor throughout the seasoning blend.
- Don’t skip the red pepper flakes – You’re not making spicy bread dip, but a little crushed red pepper adds warmth that balances the herbs and garlic.
- Mix the seasoning first – Rather than measuring ten tiny amounts every time you want bread and oil, make the entire seasoning blend and store it. When you’re ready to serve, spoon some onto a plate and add olive oil.
- Use an olive oil you actually like – There’s nowhere for it to hide in this recipe! A good extra virgin olive oil gives you a richer, fruitier flavor than a neutral cooking oil.
Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil Ingredients
The ingredient list might look long, but it’s entirely made up of dry herbs and spices you probably already have in your pantry. Once you’ve made the Carrabba’s bread seasoning blend, actually making the dipping oil takes about 30 seconds!
- Dried oregano – One of the classic Italian herbs that forms the base of the seasoning.
- Dried parsley – Adds mild herby flavor and plenty of those green flecks you see in the Carrabba’s bread dip.
- Dried basil – Brings a slightly sweet, aromatic flavor to the blend.
- Dried minced garlic – Adds little bits of garlic throughout the dipping oil for extra flavor and texture.
- Garlic powder – The second layer of garlic flavor! It mixes throughout the herbs and spices so you get garlic in every bite.
- Dried rosemary – Rosemary is potent, so a little goes a long way.
- Coarse sea salt – The larger crystals add little pops of salty flavor as you drag the bread through the oil.
- Onion powder – Adds savory flavor without overpowering the herbs.
- Coarse ground black pepper – Gives the dipping oil a little bite.
- Crushed red pepper flakes – Just enough for a touch of spice.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Use a flavorful olive oil because it’s every bit as important as the seasonings here.
How to Make Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil
This might be the easiest Carrabba’s copycat you’ll ever make. There’s no cooking involved and once you’ve made the seasoning blend, you can have fresh bread dipping oil on the table in seconds.
- MIX the oregano, parsley, basil, minced garlic, garlic powder, rosemary, sea salt, onion powder, black pepper and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl.
- STORE the extra seasoning mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
- SPOON 1/2 teaspoon of the Carrabba’s bread dipping seasoning onto a small plate or shallow bowl.
- POUR 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over the seasoning.
- STIR lightly and serve immediately with warm bread for dipping.
Should You Let Bread Dipping Oil Sit Before Serving?
No need to let it rest before serving. When you’re at Carrabba’s – they make it tableside – and it’s meant for you to eat right away.
What Bread Is Best for Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil?
A crusty bread with a soft center is perfect because it soaks up plenty of seasoned olive oil without immediately falling apart. Warm the bread just before serving for that restaurant-style experience.
A few great choices are:
- Italian bread – The obvious choice and closest to the Carrabba’s experience.
- Ciabatta – Lots of holes and a chewy texture make it excellent for soaking up olive oil.
- Focaccia – Especially good if you want even more Italian herb flavor.
- French bread or baguette – Crusty outside, soft inside and easy to find at any grocery store.
- Sourdough – Not traditional to Carrabba’s, but that little bit of tang is fantastic with garlic and herbs.
I’d serve the bread warm and torn or sliced into substantial pieces, not tiny cubes. Half the fun is swiping a big piece across the plate and collecting all those herbs and garlic at the bottom.
What to Serve with Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil
This bread dip is an easy appetizer for pasta night, but it also pairs beautifully with Carrabba’s Spicy Chicken Soup, Chicken Parmesan, or even a Caprese salad.
Other Ways to Use Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Seasoning
Don’t save this seasoning blend just for bread! The combination of garlic, herbs, sea salt and a little red pepper makes a great all-purpose Italian seasoning. Toss it with olive oil and vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers or asparagus before grilling, or sprinkle it over steak, chicken or pork chops before they hit the grill. You can even mix a little into roasted potatoes for an easy Italian-style side dish.
Basically, once you have a jar of this stuff in the pantry, bread is just the beginning!
Supplies Used
You really don’t need much equipment for this recipe, which makes this section a nice place for a few natural affiliate links:
- Small glass spice jar – Make the full Carrabba’s seasoning blend once and keep the extra ready for your next Italian dinner.
- Shallow dipping bowls – A shallow plate or bowl is better than a deep bowl because you can drag the bread through the herbs and spices that settle into the oil.
- Measuring spoon set – You’ll need 1/2 and 1/4 teaspoon measurements for the seasoning blend.
- Extra virgin olive oil – If you have an EVOO you genuinely use and can link to, this is probably your strongest product opportunity.
How to Store Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Seasoning
The best part about making a full batch of Carrabba’s bread dipping seasoning is having extra ready for next time! Store the dry seasoning mixture in an airtight container or spice jar in a cool, dry pantry.
When you’re ready to serve, simply mix 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. I recommend only adding olive oil to the amount you’re serving rather than storing the seasoning already mixed with oil.
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Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp coarse ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- MIX the oregano, parsley, basil, minced garlic, garlic powder, rosemary, sea salt, onion powder, black pepper and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl.1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp dried parsley, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried rosemary, 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp coarse ground black pepper, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- STORE the extra seasoning mixture in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
- SPOON 1/2 teaspoon of the Carrabba’s bread dipping seasoning onto a small plate or shallow bowl.
- POUR 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over the seasoning.
- STIR lightly and serve immediately with warm bread for dipping.
