This Olive and Herb Focaccia comes together in about 30 minutes and is baked on a sheet pan for a easy weeknight meal that your family will love!
Ingredients Breakdown
Here’s what you need for this mouthwatering focaccia:
- 1 cup warm water (about 100°F)
- 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried rosemary, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. dried basil
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried oregano, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried thyme, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. coarse salt
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 1/4 cup kalamata and/or green olives, chopped
Tip: If you’re short on time, you can use pre-chopped herbs or a mix of dried ones!
Let’s Get Cooking!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Activate The Yeast (3 minutes): In a large bowl, mix together the warm water with active dry yeast and sugar. Watch it bubble up, this means your yeast is alive and kicking!
Mix The Dry Ingredients (5 minutes): In another bowl, whisk together the bread flour and kosher salt. Make sure it’s well combined, as this will create a uniform dough.
Combine Mixtures (2 minutes): Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl with the flour and salt, gave it a good stir until a dough starts to form. It should be a little sticky but manageable. If it’s too dry, add a splash of water!
Refrigerate (1 minute): Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Letting it sit overnight truly enhances the flavor and texture!
Prepare For Rising (10 minutes): Grease an 8-inch cake pan with 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil. Move your dough from the fridge to your pan (don’t worry if it looks a bit puffy). Stretch it gently to cover the bottom of the pan and let it rise on the counter for 1 hour.
Preheat The Oven (10 minutes): Preheating to 425°F means it will be nice and hot when your focaccia hits the oven.
Add Toppings & Herbs (5 minutes): In a small bowl, combine all the herbs and seasoning. Drizzle the remaining 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil over the dough and create dimples in it, like little bungholes of goodness! Sprinkle the mixed herbs and chopped olives across the top.
Bake It (22-25 minutes): Pop it in the oven and bake until golden brown. Your kitchen will smell heavenly!
Cool & Serve (5 minutes): Let it cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool a bit more. Slice generously and serve warm!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This focaccia comes together in under 30 minutes (without all the rising time). It’s manageable and totally doable even for the busiest weeknights.
Minimal Cleanup
All you need is a couple bowls and a pan! This leaves you more time for chatting with your loved ones instead of scrubbing pots and pans.
Customizable
The beauty of focaccia is its adaptability. You can toss in whatever herbs or cheeses you have lying around. Got some sun-dried tomatoes? Perfect! Throw those in!
Comfort Food
Nothing hits quite like freshly baked bread! This focaccia is fluffy, rich, and loaded with tons of flavor, making it the ultimate comfort food to enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
How to savor that warm, aromatic focaccia? Here are a few delicious ideas!
- Dip it: Serve it with olive oil or a balsamic reduction for dipping. Or alongside a roasted garlic spread!
- Pair it: It’s perfect with a light salad or any classic Italian dish like pasta or a hearty soup.
- Make it a Meal: Slap some deli meats and cheeses between slices for a gourmet sandwich.
Keeping Leftovers Fresh
- Storage: If there are leftovers (though I doubt it!), you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Reheating Instructions: Just pop it back in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes to refresh that delicious crust.
- Freezer Friendly: Yes! You can freeze leftover focaccia. Wrap it tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy.
My Love for This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe when I need something comforting, warm, and satisfying, especially on those busy weeknights when the kids have a million activities. I’m a real sucker for anything that makes the house smell like a little Italian bistro! And the best part is how flexible it is, you can use whatever you’ve got in the pantry. Honestly, I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve whipped this up with odds and ends from my fridge. It’s basically a happy little miracle in dough form!
If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Sourdough Bread, my Sourdough Discard Scones, or my Rye Sourdough Rolls!
What Makes This Recipe Special
Comfort Food at Its Best
The secret to a delicious focaccia is simple ingredients that work beautifully together, bread flour, water, salt, and yeast! It’s all about the texture and flavor coming through.
Adaptable Ingredients
Don’t have rosemary? Use some sage or Italian seasoning instead. This bread is so forgiving and allows you to get creative!
Family Bonding
Making this together can be a fun family activity! Let the kids help stretch the dough or add their favorite toppings. It’s a great way to get them involved in cooking.
Amazing Aroma
As soon as you take this out of the oven, the smell wafts through your home. Guests will think you’ve turned your kitchen into a bakery!
A Go-To for Any Occasion
This focaccia works for everything: a fancy dinner, a casual family meal, or even a potluck! Everyone will be asking for your secret.
So what are you waiting for? Get your ingredients ready, gather your family and let’s make this quick and easy olive and herb focaccia together or, you know, just for you and enjoy every scrumptious bite!
This recipe is not only easy and comforting, but it’s also loaded with options to suit your tastes and what you already have. Let me know how yours turns out. Happy cooking! Happy cooking! For more Recipes Follow Us in our Pinterest.
Print
Quick and Easy Olive and Herb Focaccia
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This delicious focaccia comes together in about 30 minutes and is baked on a sheet pan for a quick weeknight meal that your family will love!
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (about 100°F)
- 1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried rosemary, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. dried basil
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried oregano, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. fresh or dried thyme, chopped
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. coarse salt
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 1/4 cup kalamata and/or green olives, chopped
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, mix together the warm water with active dry yeast and sugar. Watch it bubble up!
- Mix the dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the bread flour and kosher salt until well combined.
- Combine mixtures: Pour the yeast mixture into the flour bowl, stirring until a dough forms.
- Refrigerate: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Prepare for rising: Grease an 8-inch cake pan with 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil. Move your dough to the pan and let it rise on the counter for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven: Preheat to 425°F.
- Add toppings and herbs: Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the dough, sprinkle with herbs and olives.
- Bake it: Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool & serve: Let it cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and slice generously.
Notes
If you’re short on time, use pre-chopped herbs or a mix of dried ones.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
