Olive Cheese Bread

This crowd pleasing olive cheese bread is one of my FAVORITE hot appetizer recipes to serve at parties & potlucks. It’s easy to make and always disappears with rave reviews!

Have you had olive cheese bread before? It’s kind of like cheesy garlic bread for olive lovers!

This cheesy olive bread recipe has been on rotation in my family since 2010. We LOVE it! This simple recipe combines salty olives, gooey cheese, and savory seasonings to make a delicious hot appetizer that always steals the show.

It’s not just a huge hit for parties, either! It’s just as welcome as a side dish next to a bowl of homemade tomato soup or a main dish salad at dinner.

Here’s all you need to get started…

Simple Ingredients To Start

• Gluten-Free Baguettes. For this gluten-free olive cheese bread recipe, we highly recommend Udi’s gluten-free baguettes, since they’re a great size & shape for this. If you can’t find them, you can absolutely use another brand of gluten-free baguette, but you may need to buy more to accommodate all of the olive cheese mixture.
• Black & Green Olives. A mix of classic black olives and green olives with pimentos adds a delicious balance of flavors. After giving them a rough chop, you’ll get salty, briny, delicious olive flavor in every bite of this cheesy bread! Speaking of which…
• Cheddar Cheese & Monterey Jack Cheese. For that cheesy factor, we’re combining classic cheddar cheese with monterey jack for a delicious, delightful color & flavor combo.
• Mayo. Yep. We’re doing it. Mayonnaise adds richness and creaminess, which really adds to this appetizer’s appeal.
• Butter. I use less butter than some olive cheese bread recipes, but I do think it adds a lot to the texture and flavor. Don’t skip it completely!
• Green Onion. Some green onions add color & fresh flavor. They’re a tasty addition I consider a must!
• Garlic. Always! I love fresh garlic cloves here, but garlic powder will do in a pinch.
• Black Pepper. Freshly cracked black pepper adds a subtle warmth. Lovely!

How To Make Gluten-Free Olive Cheese Bread, Step By Step

As always, you can find the complete recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

1. Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Set out a cookie sheet and line with a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil, if desired.
2. Slice Baguettes lengthwise and open them. Place cut side up on prepared baking sheet. 
3. Combine Topping. In a large mixing bowl, combine diced olives, cheeses, mayonnaise, butter, green onion, garlic, and black pepper. Stir to combine. It’ll look messy! 
4. Spread olive mixture over bread. It will look like a lot!
5. Bake. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into wedges with a sharp knife and serve warm for best results.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Olive Cheese Bread

Extras To Try. If you want to mix things up, you can finish this bread off with a bit of parmesan cheese or some fresh herbs, like chives, parsley, or cilantro. Or, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat!

Make-Ahead Tips. This simple olive cheese bread is a GREAT appetizer for parties and get-togethers, but it’s best served warm. To get ahead on party prep, you can absolutely make the olive mixture in advance & spread it on the halves of the bread. Cover in foil & refrigerate until about 30 minutes before party time. Or, you can assemble it, cover in foil, and freeze up to 2 months. (See the recipe card below for more details!)

Does It Need A Dip? Honestly, I think it’s the perfect appetizer because it stands on its own. But, if you want a little something extra, you could absolutely serve it with some marinara sauce for dipping.

More Hot Appetizer Recipes To Try

Gluten-Free Artichoke Dip

Cheesy Bean Dip

Gluten-Free Garlic Bread

Recipe Card

Gluten-Free Olive Cheese Bread

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 16 appetizer servings 1x
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This crowd pleasing olive cheese bread is one of my FAVORITE hot appetizer recipes to serve at parties & potlucks. It’s easy to make and always disappears with rave reviews! 

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 package (8.4 oz.) Udi’s gluten-free baguettes (2 baguettes)
• 1 (6 oz) can black olives, roughly chopped
• 1 (3-5 oz) jar green olives with pimentos, roughly chopped (depending on how much you like green olives)
• 1 1/2 cup grated Monterrey Jack cheese
• 1 1/2 cup gated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 5 Tablespoons butter, softened & cut into small cubes
• 2 green onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (+more for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Set out a baking sheet and line with parchment paper or foil, if desired.
2. Slice Baguettes lengthwise and open them. Place cut side up on prepared baking sheet. 
3. Combine Topping. In a large bowl, combine diced olives, cheeses, mayonnaise, butter, green onion, garlic, and black pepper. Stir to combine. It’ll look messy! 
4. Spread topping over bread. It will look like a lot!
5. Bake. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into wedges and serve.

Notes

Ingredient Notes & Recipe Tips:

• Baguette. If you can’t find Udi’s gluten-free baguettes, you may need to buy extra baguettes to accommodate all of the topping since many other brands are smaller than Udi’s. If you’re not gluten-free, you can use regular baguettes or a loaf of ciabatta bread instead. 
• Butter. Softened, cubed butter blends in best! 

To Make Ahead & Freeze:

• Assemble through step 4 above, then wrap in foil. Place in an airtight bag and freeze up to 2 months.  When ready to use, remove from freezer bag, unwrap foil and bake frozen at 350 about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. Slice into wedges and serve.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: oven
• Cuisine: American

Recipe originally shared June 2010. Fully updated with new photos, video & updated recipe & tips December 2024.