Easy Carrabbas Bread Dip Copycat Recipe

This copycat Carrabbas bread dip is as delicious as the real thing. It’s surprisingly easy to make at home with common pantry ingredients!

This 5-minute Carrabbas bread dip is the copycat recipe you need to savor the restaurant’s most raved-about dipping sauce for bread at home.

It’s just a blend of simple herbs and spices you probably already have in your pantry! 

Customize this copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil to taste and serve it with your favorite crusty bread. It’s so good that it can even be used on salads, pasta, and grilled dishes!

You’ll also learn how to select the best oil and bread for the ultimate appetizer combo because who needs a main dish, right? ?

What is a Bread Dip?

A bread dip is a blend of herbs mixed with olive oil to form a delicious sauce begging to be dipped in.

Now, we can always use crusty bread to mop up a bowl of creamy harvest pumpkin soup or cut it into slices and make prosciutto mascarpone honeyed arugula bruschetta for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Personally, I’ll be happy even with just some butter on top!

But if you’ve been to Carrabbas, you know they really nailed the name “appetizer” with their bread dip.

Aromatic herbs, garlic, and good-quality extra virgin olive oil combine into a tantalizing dipping oil.

Raise your hand if you agree that bread dipping sauce is the best thing since sliced bread!

Carrabas bread dip is so loved by many, proven by its long list of copycat recipes. Who wouldn’t want to recreate the irresistible Carrabba’s bread dipping sauce in the comfort of their own home?

Well, you’ll be very pleased that this copycat Carrabba’s bread dip recipe only needs basic herbs and is ready to be enjoyed in 5 minutes.

It’s the perfect quick appetizer full of irresistible flavors but with room for customization!

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Carrabbas Bread Dip Recipe

• Easy Copycat Recipe: This copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil tastes just like the real thing! Make it anytime the cravings hit, and you can also make a big batch so you have it ready whenever. 
• Great For Hosting: Save this Carrabba’s dipping herbs recipe for an instant appetizer that won’t let you down! It’s ready in 5 minutes, and everyone can mix their own herb blend and oil to adjust the flavor intensity of their dipping sauce.
• Versatile Condiment: Don’t be fooled by its name. Carrabas bread dip mix is not just a bread dip. You can also use it as a condiment for salads, meats, and pasta! Scroll down to know more.

What Does Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Sauce Taste Like?

So, what does Carrabas bread dip taste like?

It’s a delicious aromatic medley of savory and earthy! You’ll get the exquisite combination of fragrant, earthy herbs, fiery red peppers, and savory garlic enveloped in velvety olive oil. 

I personally like my copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil to be on the bolder side, so I prefer a whole teaspoon of the spice blend for 3 tablespoons of QUALITY (I hope I’m emphasizing this enough!) extra virgin olive oil. 

Quality olive oil is key to this Copycat Carrabba’s dipping herbs recipe.

This particular extra virgin olive oil is buttery with a little zing to it, perfect for showcasing the blend of herbs and garlic. ?

All this bread dipping oil needs is good bread for the tastiest way to start a meal.

Just be prepared to bend the rules about appetizers because you might eat your bread and dip like a meal. 

What Is in the Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil?

• Black pepper – Get the best out of black pepper by using freshly cracked ones for this Carrabbas bread dip recipe. 
• Crushed red pepper – Gives just the right amount of heat to our addictive bread dip. Feel free to adjust the amount to your preference!
• Dried basil – You can also use fresh herbs, but the dried ones are easier to store and more practical, in my opinion, in the long run.
• Dried oregano – If substituting dried herbs with fresh herbs, you’ll need a tablespoon for every teaspoon of dried herbs. 
• Dried parsley – This herb’s clean, grassy taste is among the many layers of flavor in this Carrabba’s bread dip recipe.
• Onion powder – Some say they used to work at Carrabbas, and they didn’t use onion powder, but this extra seasoning really elevates the taste of this copycat Carrabas bread dip mix. Try this recipe with and without it, and let me know in the comments which version you prefer!
• Garlic powder – Lifts the flavor of this exquisite accompaniment to bread. And yes, this recipe uses both fresh and powdered garlic for the best flavor profile. 
• Dried rosemary – Another, dare I say, controversial ingredient in this copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping sauce recipe. Some say that having it in the spice blend really makes the dip taste closer to the real thing, while others claim they used to work in Carrabas and the dip didn’t include rosemary. 
• Coarse sea salt – You can use less if you find the dip too salty to your liking. 
• Garlic – Here’s a tip to take your homemade Carraba’s bread dipping oil to the next level: When combining the ingredients, mash the spices into the crushed garlic to get a yummy “stickiness” in your dip similar to the original. 
• Extra virgin olive oil – Please use quality extra virgin olive oil. 

Tools Needed To Prepare This Carrabba’s Bread Dip Recipe

• Bowl for combining the ingredients 
• Pepper mill for crushing the black pepper
• Garlic press for crushing the garlic

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Copycat Carrabba’s Bread Dipping Oil

Grated parmesan cheese

Make your Carrabbas bread dip with grated parmesan! It’s the perfect addition to the garlicky and herby bread dipping sauce. ?

Lemon zest

Another “secret” ingredient I discovered when making a copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil is you need something to give it an extra tang, like a citrusy flavor.

Consider this Carrabba’s dipping herbs recipe with lemon zest; you’ll be delighted with the complexity of flavors in your dip. 

Balsamic vinegar

Upgrade your Copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil with a dash of balsamic vinegar!

This addition gives the dip a tangy, sweet flavor that might tempt you to have this bread dip and bread for dinner—no need for main dishes.

Whole pink peppercorns

If you want a spicy-sweet flavor for your bread dipping oil, add pink peppercorns before serving! The resulting complex flavor will be perfect if you use this bread dip on marinades!

How to Make Carrabba’s Bread Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp black pepper, freshly cracked
• 1 tbsp crushed red pepper
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Tools you need:

• Bowl
• Pepper mill
• Garlic press

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your copycat Carrabas bread dip.

STEP 2: Add everything in a bowl and combine well.

STEP 3: Pour the mixture on a plate and drizzle with olive oil. Mix the oil and spices right before serving. Enjoy!

What To Serve With Carrabbas Bread Dip

Of course, nothing beats having this Carrabbas bread dip with warm, crusty bread. You can’t beat this seemingly simple combination because it just tastes so good. 

You can use your favorite fresh bread from classic white bread, Italian bread, French bread, focaccia, or sourdough. 

You can even toast some dinner rolls, or if you have some flatbread lying around, they’ll be as amazing with this Carrabba’s bread dipping oil. 

But before you visit your favorite bakery, have you ever considered baking baguettes and bread rolls at home?

Here are our recipes for perfectly crusty French baguettes and pumpkin-shaped bread.

You don’t need to be an expert to make them! Once you’ve tried freshly baked, hot bread, you’ll appreciate baking the loaves and rolls yourself.

What can I dip besides bread?

This copycat Carrabba’s bread dipping oil is the ultimate appetizer because you can also serve it with other finger foods.

Try the dip with vegetable sticks and marinated diced cheese!

And if you plan to host a holiday party, our Christmas wreath charcuterie board is like an antipasto board.

The foods in this feast will be amazing with Carraba’s bread dipping sauce. ?

Tips About Making Carrabbas Bread Dip Mix

• You can use a tablespoon of the Carrabba’s dipping herbs with half a cup of olive oil to start, but the amount of oil is up to you. Adjust the oil and spice blend according to how strongly spiced you want your bread dip to be. 
• Since this Carrabbas bread dip recipe uses fresh crushed garlic, it’s best to refrigerate the leftovers and use them within a week or two.
• Only use olive oil for your Carrabba’s bread dipping oil! Vegetable and canola oil are flavorless and won’t do justice to the amazing flavor of the spice mix.

How To Store Carrabba’s Dipping Herbs

• Just the dry mix: You can make a big batch of the spice blend and store the mix in an airtight container at room temperature for several weeks. 
• With fresh garlic: What if you’ve added fresh garlic? You can refrigerate the mix for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
• With oil:  For leftover bread dipping oil (the spice blend is already mixed with olive oil), refrigerate the dip for up to 2 days.

Dry spices can be stored for up to 3 months in a cool, dry place! However, I recommend not letting your dry bread mix sit out too long to maintain the best flavors.

What Olive Oil Does Carrabba’s Use?

Some swear that the restaurant uses Colavita extra virgin olive oil, but there is no official recipe to confirm if it’s indeed the olive oil used by Carrabba’s. 

Don’t overthink it.

You can make this copycat Carrabbas bread dip with any quality extra virgin olive oil, and you won’t be disappointed.

What Herbs Are in Carrabba’s Bread Dip?

People who claimed they’ve worked at Carrabba’s for years swear that the herbs used in the restaurant’s bread dip are basil, parsley, oregano, and the controversial rosemary. 

I said controversial as some also mentioned there’s no rosemary in Carrabba’s olive oil bread dip. Confusing, I know!

Where Else Can I Use Carrabas Bread Dip On?

This copycat Carrabbas bread dip is not just for bread. The delicious mixture of herbs is also perfect in pasta sauces like those in white pasta dishes. 

Maybe I’ll try the dry spice blend next time with our copycat Olive Garden steak gorgonzola. ?

You can also use this dipping sauce as a salad dressing. If you remember, I mentioned earlier that balsamic vinegar makes a tasty addition to this dip. 

Besides being an appetizer, this bread dip can be a part of your main!

This sauce will be delicious as a marinade on grilled vegetables and steaks!

Or, for a quick sandwich spread, try it with cream cheese!

FAQ About Carrabbas Bread Dip

Is Carrabba’s bread sourdough?

Not really. Carrabba’s pairs crusty Italian bread with their bread dip. It’s soft inside and crunchy outside, perfect for dipping in the herby oil. 

What kind of bread is good for dipping?

Any crusty bread without add-ins is great for dipping. Think baguette, ciabatta, sourdough, or focaccia! The best bread for oil dipping isn’t overly seasoned to complement the delicious Carrabba’s bread dip. 

What type of olive oil works best for this recipe?

Quality extra virgin olive oil is the best olive oil to use in this copycat Carrabbas bread dip recipe. First-pressed or extra virgin olive oil has a finer, more complex flavor than regular olive oil. 

Can you make this Carrabas bread dip recipe ahead of time?

Of course! You can make the dry mix and store it in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks. 

Does bread dip go bad?

Yes, especially if you’ve made the bread dip with fresh garlic cloves. It’s best to store the spice blend (with fresh garlic) in the fridge. 

Conclusion

Forget about spreads!

What your bread needs is this Carrabbas bread dip. 

This olive oil bread dip features a blend of fragrant herbs and irresistible garlic flavor that will make it hard to share the appetizers. ?

Our homemade version only needs common spices that are probably already in your pantry. And whether you like it bold or mellow, you can easily adapt this recipe to what your taste buds need. 

Just adjust the amount of oil or spice blend!

Love the aromatic flavors in flavored olive oils for your bread? We have the best-tasting but excitingly unique spreads that will help you steer clear of boring bread:

• Smoky Carrot Dip
• Pumpkin Spice Butter
• Stovetop Apple Butter
• Peach Jalapeno Jam
• No-Pectin Blackberry Jam