How to Serve Focaccia Bread — Easy Tips & Recipe Ideas
Learn how to serve focaccia bread in ways that are easy, delicious, and sure to impress. Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a weekend get-together, the right serving ideas make all the difference.
Whether you’re baking sourdough focaccia from scratch or picking up a loaf from your favorite bakery, delicious, warm focaccia deserves more than just a side role. This rustic Italian bread has incredible flavor and can have different toppings to suit your taste preferences.
There are so many different ways to serve focaccia—from a simple snack or side dish to the centerpiece of your dinner. It’s a great bread for entertaining or for a Tuesday night at home!
This bread is perfect for any time of day. From morning toast with smashed avocado to dipping in hearty soups or layering into gourmet sandwiches, focaccia is as flexible as it is delicious. It also makes a beautiful addition to holiday boards or charcuterie platters, offering both texture and flavor contrast.
Focaccia can easily be a staple bread in your home. Learn how to bake focaccia using active dry yeast, with whole wheat flour, how to store it for best results, and how to reheat it after baking! For a good sourdough focaccia recipe, we love this garlic cheddar version.
Why You’ll Love This Guide
It’s versatile: Whether you’re hosting brunch or need a side for pasta night, focaccia can rise to the occasion (literally and figuratively). It is such a versatile bread that pairs well with many main dishes or can be the start of the show.
Packed with flavor ideas: Focaccia can go well beyond butter and olive oil. There is no shortage of focaccia bread recipes, some even with fresh fruit!
Great for beginners and pros: Even if you’ve never baked a loaf, this guide will help you understand how to serve focaccia like a pro, no matter where you got it.
What Is Focaccia Bread?
Focaccia is a flat Italian bread known for its golden crust, soft crumb, and generous drizzle of olive oil. It’s often compared to pizza dough, but focaccia is usually fluffier, with more oil, and doesn’t always come topped with sauce or cheese.
Unlike crusty sourdough or chewy baguettes, focaccia has a pillowy interior and crisp bottom that make it ideal for soaking up soups, pairing with spreads, or using as a sandwich base. If you’re baking sourdough focaccia, the added tang of sourdough starter and longer fermentation deepen the flavor and improve shelf life.
How To Serve Focaccia Bread — Recipe Pairings
There is no wrong way to serve focaccia, but we think it's the best thing to pair with savory soups and dishes! Your taste buds will love these pairings and main courses!
Autumn Minestrone Soup
Enjoy this hearty autumn vegetable minestrone soup with seasonal vegetables like butternut squash, kale, and sweet potatoes. It is warm and filling - perfect for cozy fall evenings.
One Pot Tuscan Chicken
This creamy One Pot Tuscan Chicken is packed with rich flavors, tender chicken, and a luscious garlic parmesan sauce—all ready in under 30 minutes!
Trader Joe's Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
This Trader Joe’s Lemon Basil Pasta Salad recipe is an easy-to-make pasta salad, perfect for warm weather gatherings!
Hearty Beef and Kale Tortellini Soup
This hearty beef and kale tortellini soup is a comforting, creamy, and flavor-packed meal that uses seasonal vegetables and pantry staples.
Butternut Squash Carrot Soup
This creamy butternut squash carrot soup is a comforting, nutrient-rich bowl of flavor, perfect for cozy evenings and packed with fall favorites.
Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes
These family-friendly hidden veggie sloppy joes combine ground beef and sneaky vegetables in a sweet-tangy sauce for a nutritious twist on classic comfort food.
Instant Pot Venison Stew
Instant Pot Venison Stew is the perfect meal for a chilly day, packed with rich flavors and tender meat.
Tomato Bisque + Herbed Grilled Cheese
This tomato bisque and herbed grilled cheese brings so much flavor with roasted tomatoes, creamy coconut milk (but no coconut taste!), and herbed goat cheese.
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup
Make this creamy, protein-rich version of Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup in your slow cooker!
Chicken Noodle Soup from Scratch
This from-scratch chicken noodle soup features rich homemade broth and tangy sourdough noodles for the ultimate comfort food experience. Need a gluten-free option? This gluten-free chicken noodle is our favorite!
How to Serve Focaccia Bread — Quick Tips
- Serve warm: A few minutes in the oven (350°F for 5–7 min) revives the texture and aroma of focaccia. Who wouldn’t love warm, golden brown Italian flatbread?!
- Pair with dips: Focaccia is delicious with dips like hummus, whipped feta, olive tapenade, or pesto for a Mediterranean vibe.
- Make an olive oil bread dipping sauce: You can also keep it simple with a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. I do equal parts oil and vinegar, then sprinkle the top with Italian seasoning. I love serving homemade focaccia with bread oil on an antipasto platter when entertaining!
- Make sandwiches: Slice your focaccia bread horizontally and use it for sandwich bread! Stuff with grilled veggies (we love bell peppers), fresh mozzarella, and/or roasted meats.
- Cube for croutons: This is one of my favorite ways to reduce waste. A day or two old focaccia is perfect for croutons. Cut into small pieces, then place into a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Brush the top with olive oil for a crispy crust, then bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until crisp. Then use to top soups or salads.
- Make bread crumbs: Think croutons, but then put them in a food processor! Another way to not waste your delicious focaccia. Follow the same steps, then grind in a food processor.
- Storage tips: Store leftover focaccia in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate for longer storage. Toast lightly to refresh. To freeze, slice and flash freeze, then wrap in plastic wrap. Place in airtight bags in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven directly from frozen.
Focaccia Variations
There are really countless variations for the focaccia toppings. Basically, anything you like can be added to the focaccia dough.
- Garlic and herb focaccia: Mix minced garlic and fresh herbs into the dough or press into the top of the dough before baking.
- Olive focaccia: Halved Kalamata olives are an excellent choice for adding into the dough and on top.
- Tomato and basil focaccia: Press cherry tomatoes (or your favorite type of fresh tomatoes) into the surface before baking. Top with torn basil leaves after baking for a delicious, flavorful bread.
- Cheesy garlic focaccia: Sprinkle grated parmesan or mozzarella on top in the last few minutes of baking for a creamy cheese finish. Go further and make a garlic cheddar focaccia!
- Focaccia pizza crusts: My basic no-knead focaccia is the perfect base for a pizza! Top with tomato sauce, juicy meat, red peppers — whatever you like. You can use instant yeast or sourdough for the homemade focaccia, so this recipe is incredibly versatile.
- Whole wheat focaccia: The next time you make focaccia, give this whole wheat focaccia a try! This is a delicious one with a little bit of butter and flaky sea salt on top.
FAQs
I hope you love this helpful guide!
Other Recipes You May Enjoy…
- Easy & Delicious Oat Bread
- Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart Bread
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- One Bowl Pumpkin Chai Bread
- Artisan Sourdough Without A Dutch Oven
- Flavored Sourdough Bread
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