Carrabba’s Bread Recipe

Hey there,Today, we are going to make some yummy bread just like the Carrabba’s Bread Recipe. Have you ever tried that bread before? Oh, it is so warm and soft, and it tastes so good with a little olive oil dip. It is one of my favorite breads ever, and I think you will love it, too. So let’s make it right in our own kitchen, okay?

This bread is a kind of focaccia. That is a funny word, right? But don’t worry, it is not too hard to say or to make. We will mix the dough, let it rise, and then bake it in the oven. The bread comes out soft on the inside and just a little crunchy on the top. Mmm, so good!

You can dip it in olive oil with herbs, just like in a restaurant, or you can eat it plain. It is really easy to make, so don’t be scared. I will help you do every step, nice and slow. Are you ready? Let’s make Carrabba’s Bread together and have some fun in the kitchen!

What Does Carrabba’s Bread Taste Like?

Okay, let’s talk about what Carrabba’s Bread really tastes like. Oh my goodness, it is so yummy! The bread is soft and fluffy, kind of like a warm pillow. When you take a bite, it feels warm and cozy, just like a big hug for your mouth. It is not too sweet, but it has a tiny bit of salt and yummy olive oil flavor.

And guess what? There are little crispy spots on the top. Those are the best! When you bite into them, they crunch just a little, and it makes you want to eat more and more. The olive oil on top makes the bread taste extra good, so you can dip it in more oil or even eat it all by itself.

So, if you love bread that is soft inside but a little crispy outside, you will love Carrabba’s Bread. It tastes perfect with soup or with pasta or even with just a yummy dip. It feels like a special treat, and it is so simple and so, so good. You might even eat the whole loaf by yourself!

Ingredients Required for Carrabba’s Bread Recipe

Here’s the list of Ingredients you’ll need to make this Carrabba’s Bread

• 1 cup warm water (warm to the touch, not hot)
• 1 packet active dry yeast (or about 1½ to 2 teaspoons)
• ½ to 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3–4 tablespoons high-quality olive oil (plus extra for greasing and drizzling)
• Kosher salt (for topping)
• Garlic powder (optional, for topping)

For serving:

• High-quality olive oil
• Optional herbs: basil, thyme, garlic

Kitchen Utensil You’ll Need

1. Stand mixer with dough hook (or a large mixing bowl and wooden spoon if mixing by hand)
2. Measuring cups and spoons
3. Clean kitchen towel
4. Medium mixing bowl
5. Baking sheet with a rim (jelly roll pan style)
6. Spatula or dough scraper
7. Pizza cutter or sharp knife

Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour 30 minutes rising time)
Cook Time: 15 minutes

How to Make Carrabba’s Bread

Simply follow the steps given below to make your Carrabba’s Bread at home

1️⃣ Proof the Yeast
In a medium bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar. Stir gently and let it sit for about 5–6 minutes, until foamy. This shows the yeast is alive and ready to work its magic.

2️⃣ Mix the Dough
Add the yeast mixture to the bowl of your stand mixer. Add 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix on low speed to combine, then increase speed to medium and knead the dough for about 5–6 minutes. If the dough looks too stiff, add another tablespoon of olive oil and a splash of water to keep it slightly wet and sticky -focaccia dough should be soft and hydrated.

3️⃣ First Rise
Grease a clean bowl with olive oil, place the dough in it, and turn it once to coat it in oil. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until doubled in size.

4️⃣ Prepare the Pan
While the dough rises, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread evenly.

5️⃣ Shape the Dough
Gently transfer the risen dough onto the prepared pan, spreading it out with your fingertips. If it resists, let it rest for 5 minutes and try again. Press your fingers into the dough to make dimples all over the surface, then drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle generously with coarse kosher salt and a dusting of garlic powder if desired.

6️⃣ Second Rise
Let the dough rise again, uncovered, for another 30–45 minutes until puffy.

7️⃣ Bake
Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

8️⃣ Serve
Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, and slice with a pizza cutter. Serve warm with a dipping sauce made of olive oil, fresh or dried herbs, salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic -just like they do at Carrabba’s or your favorite Italian restaurant.

Some Tasty Ways To Customize and Serve This Carrabba’s Bread

1️⃣ Dunked in Herbed Olive Oil
Honestly, this is the classic. We swirl together extra-virgin olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, cracked black pepper, crushed red pepper, minced garlic, and chopped fresh basil or oregano. You can’t beat it.

2️⃣ With a Charcuterie Board
We love slicing this bread into strips and serving it alongside prosciutto, salami, cheese, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes for an Italian-style grazing board. It’s always a hit at parties.

3️⃣ Topped with Fresh Mozzarella & Tomatoes
Sometimes we’ll make an easy caprese twist by topping slices with fresh mozzarella, juicy tomato, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, and a sprinkle of basil. So good, especially in summer!

4️⃣ As a Base for Sandwiches
Leftover focaccia makes incredible sandwiches. We pile on grilled chicken, arugula, roasted red peppers, and a swipe of pesto mayo. Trust us -you’ll be hooked.

5️⃣ Alongside Soup
This bread is perfect for dipping into cozy bowls of soup. Our personal favorites are tomato basil soup and creamy roasted red pepper bisque. That crispy-yet-fluffy bread soaks up every drop.

6️⃣ Served with Roasted Garlic Butter
When we feel extra indulgent, we mash roasted garlic into softened butter and spread it all over warm focaccia. Heavenly doesn’t even cover it.

7️⃣ With a Mediterranean Mezze Spread
Hummus, baba ganoush, marinated feta, olives -tear off a piece of focaccia and dip away. It fits beautifully with bold Mediterranean flavors.

8️⃣ As a Side for Grilled Steak or Chicken
We love serving this bread alongside a grilled ribeye or marinated chicken thighs. It’s the perfect bread to soak up any leftover juices on the plate.

9️⃣ Toasted for Breakfast
A day or two old? No problem -we toast it in a skillet with a bit of olive oil and top with scrambled eggs or a fried egg. Breakfast bliss!

🔟 As a Pizza Crust Shortcut
If we ever have leftovers, we sometimes add pizza sauce, mozzarella, and a few toppings, then broil for a few minutes. Boom -instant mini pizza night.

Some Tips on This Carrabba’s Bread Recipe

1. Warm water is best.
Make sure the water feels warm like bath water. Not too hot!

2. Wake up the yeast.
The yeast likes a tiny bit of sugar to get bubbly and happy.

3. Mix gently first.
Go slow when you mix the flour so it doesn’t splash everywhere.

4. Oil the bowl.
Rub olive oil in the bowl so the dough won’t stick.

5. Let it nap.
The dough likes to rest and get big. Give it one whole hour.

6. Make finger pokes.
Press your fingers in the dough to make fun dimples before baking.

7. Lots of olive oil.
Use yummy olive oil on top so the bread tastes good.

8. Sprinkle salt.
Put a little salt on the top so it has a tasty crunch.

9. Be patient.
Let it rise again before baking so it gets puffy and soft.

10. Dip and smile!
Cut the bread and dip in oil with herbs. It is so yummy!

How to Store and Reheat Carrabba’s Bread

Store Carrabba’s Bread in an airtight container or wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze slices in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months. To reheat, warm in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes or briefly microwave for 10–15 seconds to restore its soft, fresh-baked texture.

Common Queries on This Carrabba’s Bread Recipe

Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Carrabba’s Bread that people often ask.

1️⃣ Is Carrabba’s bread healthy?

From our experience, Carrabba’s bread -like most focaccia -is made with simple, wholesome ingredients: flour, yeast, olive oil, and salt. It’s definitely not “unhealthy,” but because it’s a bread made with refined flour and a generous amount of olive oil, we’d suggest enjoying it in moderation if you’re watching calories or carbs. That said, olive oil provides heart-healthy fats, which is a plus!

2️⃣ What are the ingredients in Carrabba’s bread dip?

We’ve recreated it many times at home, and a classic Carrabba’s bread dip usually includes high-quality olive oil, salt, black pepper, dried or fresh herbs (like basil, oregano, thyme), and sometimes a bit of crushed garlic. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra kick.

3️⃣ What’s in Carrabba’s herb mix?

From our tests, the Carrabba’s-style herb mix typically has dried basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, crushed red pepper, and a bit of garlic powder. Some restaurants even sprinkle in parmesan. We recommend adjusting the mix to your taste, but these herbs are the backbone.

4️⃣ Does Carrabba’s use fresh ingredients?

Yes -in our experience dining there and recreating their dishes, Carrabba’s is known for highlighting fresh, quality ingredients, especially their olive oil, herbs, and fresh-baked bread. That’s one reason their flavors stand out so much.

5️⃣ Can I make this bread ahead of time?

Definitely. We’ve made this dough the night before, covered it, and let it rise slowly in the fridge. When ready to bake, bring it to room temperature and proceed with shaping and baking. It turns out beautifully with even more flavor.

6️⃣ Why does my focaccia come out too dense?

Based on our kitchen trials, dense focaccia usually means the yeast wasn’t fully activated or the dough didn’t have enough rise time. Always check that your yeast is fresh and bubbly, and don’t rush the rise.

7️⃣ Can I freeze Carrabba’s-style bread?

Yes, absolutely. Once baked and cooled, slice it and wrap tightly. It freezes really well for up to 2 months. We usually warm ours back up in a 350°F oven for a few minutes, and it’s almost as good as fresh.

8️⃣ Can I use whole wheat flour instead?

We’ve tried it! You can swap up to 50% of the all-purpose flour for whole wheat. Just note that whole wheat absorbs more water, so you may need to add a bit more liquid and expect a slightly denser texture.

9️⃣ Do I need a stand mixer?

While a stand mixer is helpful for kneading, we’ve done it by hand many times. Just mix with a sturdy spoon, then knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

🔟 What’s the best way to serve this bread?

In our kitchen, we love it warm out of the oven with Carrabba’s-style herb olive oil dip. It’s also perfect alongside pasta, soups, or even as sandwich bread. Because of the olive oil and seasoning, it tastes fantastic on its own, too!

This Carrabba’s Bread is everything you crave from an Italian restaurant starter: fragrant, chewy, with a hint of salt and garlic, perfect for dipping or enjoying on its own. Once you see how easy it is to recreate, it might just become your new go-to bread recipe -no reservations required!

Feel free to share your experience with this recipe by trying it out. Don’t forget to drop a comment and provide your feedback on the blog for us to read.