Description
If you love olives, creamy appetizers, and savory party dips, The Ultimate Olive Dip is a recipe you absolutely need to try. This rich and flavorful olive dip combines creamy cheese with chopped olives, garlic, herbs, and a touch of seasoning to create an irresistible appetizer that comes together quickly and easily.
Ingredients
For the Olive Dip:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup pitted green olives, finely chopped
- ½ cup pitted black olives, finely chopped
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive brine, optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
Optional Garnishes:
- Extra chopped olives
- Fresh parsley
- Chopped green onions
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
- A drizzle of olive oil
For Serving:
- Crackers
- Toasted baguette slices
- Crostini
- Pita chips
- Tortilla chips
- Pretzels
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Cucumber slices
- Bell pepper strips
- Toasted bread
Instructions
Drain the green and black olives thoroughly. If they contain a lot of liquid, pat them dry with paper towels.
Finely chop the olives into small pieces. Smaller pieces distribute the olive flavor throughout the creamy dip and make every bite flavorful.
Reserve a small amount of chopped olives for garnishing the finished dip.
Place the softened cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl.
It is important that the cream cheese is softened to room temperature. Soft cream cheese blends much more easily with the other ingredients and helps create a smooth, creamy texture.
If the cream cheese is too cold, the dip may become lumpy.
Add the sour cream and mayonnaise to the softened cream cheese.
Using a hand mixer, electric mixer, or sturdy spatula, beat everything together until smooth and creamy.
The mixture should be thick but easy to stir.
Stir in the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
The mozzarella adds a mild, creamy cheesiness, while Parmesan contributes a salty, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the olives.
Mix until the cheeses are evenly distributed.
Fold the chopped green olives and black olives into the creamy mixture.
Do not overmix. Stir just enough to distribute the olives evenly throughout the dip.
The combination of green and black olives creates a deeper and more interesting flavor than using only one type.
Add the minced garlic, parsley, chives, Italian seasoning, onion powder, black pepper, and lemon juice.
If you want an especially strong olive flavor, add a tablespoon of reserved olive brine.
The olive brine also adds saltiness and helps enhance the overall flavor of the dip.
Stir all the ingredients together until completely combined.
Taste the dip and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Because olives and Parmesan are naturally salty, taste before adding additional salt.
For a spicy olive dip, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a little finely chopped pickled pepper.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the dip to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
For the best flavor, refrigerate it for 1–2 hours. This gives the garlic, herbs, cheese, and olives time to blend together.
Once chilled, transfer the olive dip to a serving bowl.
Use the back of a spoon to create a decorative swirl across the surface.
Top with additional chopped olives, parsley, green onions, and a small sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Serve The Ultimate Olive Dip cold or slightly chilled with your favorite crackers, toasted bread, crostini, pita chips, vegetables, or pretzels.
For entertaining, place the bowl in the center of a large serving platter and arrange different dipping options around it.
Notes
For the best Ultimate Olive Dip, always drain the olives well before chopping them. Excessive olive liquid can make the dip watery.
Using room-temperature cream cheese also makes a major difference. It allows the ingredients to blend smoothly without lumps.
Because olives, Parmesan cheese, and olive brine can all contain significant amounts of salt, taste the dip before adding any additional salt.
The dip becomes even more flavorful after resting in the refrigerator. If possible, prepare it several hours before serving.
If the dip becomes too thick after refrigeration, stir in a tablespoon of sour cream or mayonnaise to loosen it.
For a thicker dip, reduce the sour cream slightly and add more cream cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chilling Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 165
- Sodium: 390mg
- Protein: 5g