Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Audrey · This post may contain affiliate links

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If you love the Italian country loaf and dipping sauce from Carrabbas then you’ll love this easy copycat recipe.

Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (1)

I used to live in walking distance of a Carrabbas. It was pretty amazing. I would walk over with friends for happy hour all the time. I LOVED their food (and still love their food, we just no longer live near one) I was always on a mission to recreate their dishes at home. Now that I’m no longer close to a Carrabbas, I love to make this copycat Carrabba’s bread with dipping sauce at home.

Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (2)

Despite the variety of ingredients for this bread, it is still best served with a flavorful olive oil dipping sauce. I usually throw this bread in my bread maker but if you don’t have one you can still make this bread at home and I will include instructions for both ways below.

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  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make this recipe
  • Copycat Carrabba’s Bread with Dipping Sauce

Ingredients needed

For the bread, you will need:

  • Dry active yeast: One packet or about 2 ¼ teaspoons if you’re measuring yeast out.
  • Water: You’ll need warm water.
  • Sugar: You’ll need a little bit of white sugar for this bread.
  • Olive oil: You’ll need high quality, extra virgin olive oil.
  • All purpose flour: The base of the bread.
  • Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder, dried basil, dried rosemary, and salt: Yes, the bread at Carrabbas is very plain but it does have a little seasoning in it.

For the dipping sauce, you will need:

  • Salt: Use sea salt, if possible
  • Fresh cracked pepper
  • Crushed red pepper
  • Italian seasoning blend
  • Garlic powder
  • Dried rosemary
  • Dried basil
  • Onion powder
  • High quality extra virgin olive oil

How to make this recipe

By hand

  • To make this bread by hand, start by adding the water and yeast then slowly adding all the ingredients together and mix well.
  • Knead the dough and then let it rise for approximately one hour in a warm place.
  • Knead the dough again and then place it into a greased loaf pan.
  • Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.

With a bread machine

If you have a bread maker then simply combine all the ingredients in order listed and let your bread maker work its magic. It should be set to a medium loaf.

For the dipping sauce

Add all of the spices to a large serving bowl and then add olive oil until the spices are distributed to your personal taste.

How to store leftovers

Wrap and store any leftover bread at room temperature. Since it doesn’t have any preservatives I recommend eating within 1-2 days of making.

For the olive oil dip, store it an airtight container (I used a small glass Pyrex container) and keep at room temperature. Be aware that the flavors will get stronger the longer it sits.

Other copycat recipes:

  • Copycat Maggiano’s Alfredo
  • Copycat Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken
  • Copycat Outback Alice Springs Chicken
  • Copycat Bob Evans Pot Roast
  • Copycat Carrabba’s Dessert Rosa

Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (3)

Copycat Carrabba’s Bread with Dipping Sauce

Audrey

Why go out when you can make this delicious bread and dipping sauce at home?

5 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Rising Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Bread machine (will also include recipes for oven)

Ingredients

Bread

  • 1 packet dry active yeast (2 ¼ teaspoon)
  • 1 ¼ cup warm water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Dipping Sauce

  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning blend
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • high quality extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

Bread Machine Instructions

  • If you have a bread maker then simply combine all the ingredients and let your bread maker work its magic. It should be set to a medium loaf.

By Hand Instructions

  • To make this bread by hand, start by adding the water and yeast then slowly adding all the ingredients together and mix well.

  • Knead the dough and then let it rise for approximately one hour in a warm place.

  • Knead the dough again and then place it into a greased loaf pan.

  • Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.

Dipping Sauce

  • Add all of the spices to a large serving bowl and then add olive oil until the spices are distributed to your personal taste.

Notes

Nutritional information is an estimate only.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 11gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 1175mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 152IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 5mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tiffany Martin

    It’s in my bread machine now but I want to take it out and shape it into a longer loaf kinda like subway. Can I do that and bake it without a long loaf pan?

    Reply

    • Audrey

      Yes, you can shape it and bake it in your oven instead.

      Reply

  2. Heather Hollingsworth

    I made about .5-1 cup of the oil for my store-bought Naan bread, soooo delicious. I used the seasoned oil as sauce and made my take on a Mediterranean steak flatbread pizza [sautéed onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli florets and your choice of cheese (feta, mozzarella, provolone, etc)]. Mouth-watering good!

    Reply

    • Audrey

      Your flatbread pizza sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing this idea for the sauce 🙂

      Reply

  3. Jane Mazzei

    For bread machine – What size loaf.. 1, 1 1/2 or 2 lb?
    Thx.

    Reply

    • Two Pink Peonies

      Set it to a medium loaf which would be 1 1/2 lb.

      Reply

  4. Angela Kelley

    Hey – i have not yet made this recipe but frequently eat at Carrabba’s and was looking for a ‘copy cat’ bread recipe and.. came across this site. But wanted to ask about the herb spices in the bread recipe, i have never noticed anything but pure white sinful bread at the restaurant. Is your Carrabba’s different?
    thanks; will still of course try this recipe (and dipping sauce)

    Reply

    • Audrey

      Hi Angela, the spices are very subtle in this bread.

      Reply

  5. Kaitlyn

    What program setting should I use on my bread maker? White?

    Reply

    • Two Pink Peonies

      Yes, the white setting.

      Reply

  6. Marissa Holtz

    Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (4)
    Honestly making bread has always been so hard for me! The taste is usually not great and the directions complicated. This is the first bread my husband and I have liked so much were adding it to our Holliday dinners!

    Reply

    • Two Pink Peonies

      I am so glad you liked this recipe!! Thank you so much for your feedback.

      Reply

  7. Carla

    Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (5)
    I have tried a million or so bread recipes for use with olive dip, and this one is by far the very best! I did not try the dip recipe, but I am sure it is lovely also. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Copycat Carrabba's Bread with Dipping Sauce {secret recipe} (2024)

FAQs

What is Carrabba's bread dip made of? ›

Carrabba's Bread Dip recipe – the real thing! Recipe straight from Carrabba's Italian Grill. Parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Can make the spice mixture in advance and store it in an airtight container until ready to serve.

What is the best olive oil for bread making? ›

This means that extra virgin olive oil is the best olive oil for dipping bread. Extra virgin olive oil is the freshest, least processed type of olive oil, which results in that grassy, peppery flavor that is a hallmark of olive oil.

Does Carrabba's use real olive oil? ›

That and sneaky doses of soybean oil in the pasta sauces make it extremely difficult to find an Italian restaurant the kids can eat at. They use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for most of their oil usage, so they can have the pasta.

Do Italians dip bread in oil? ›

It's an Italian food rule that you don't dip bread in olive oil (swirl of balsamic vinegar optional). If you ever go to Italy, you'll notice they don't put olive oil at the table when they serve you bread, typically before the appetizer comes out but also sometimes with your main meal.

What is bread dip made of? ›

Stir together olive oil, basil, parsley, garlic, thyme, oregano, black pepper, rosemary, salt, red pepper, and lemon juice in a bowl. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the surface of the oil mixture. Serve and enjoy!

What do Italians call dipping bread in sauce? ›

(Using bread to soak up sauce)

What happens when you put olive oil in bread? ›

Does olive oil make dough softer? Yes - adding olive oil to sourdough bread will result in a softer crust and crumb. The oil as a lipid coats the flour and inhibits the gluten network resulting in a softer, tighter crumb and softer crust. This can be a desirable outcome if you do not like tough, chewy sourdough crusts.

Is olive oil healthier than butter on bread? ›

For one thing, butter is made up of 63% saturated fat, whereas olive oil only has 14%. Olive oil also contains heart-healthy monounsaturated good fats and antioxidants. Butter's high saturated fat content, on the other hand, is shown in studies to lead to heart disease and other health issues.

Is it better to bake bread with olive oil or butter? ›

While butter is well-suited for baking, there is no question that olive oil contains healthier fats and polyphenols that butter does not. Olive oil is also a choice that adds a unique depth of flavor to baked goods.

Are Olive Garden and Carrabba's owned by the same company? ›

Salmon Bruschetta at Olive Garden. It's a battle for market share, one that seems squarely aimed at luring in those fickle Millennials or that subsequent group widely called Generation Z. Carrabba's, owned by Bloomin' Brands, and Olive Garden, owned by Darden Restaurants, seem in a race to reinvent themselves.

What kind of olives does Carrabba's use? ›

Romaine with carrots and shredded red cabbage topped with pepperoncini and Kalamata olives. Served with our creamy parmesan dressing on the side.

Does Carrabba's give complimentary bread? ›

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Complimentary Bread & Utensils - Order Online.

Why do Italians eat bread with every meal? ›

Bread is the centrepiece of our Mediterranean diet, a central element of lives and cultures. Christians consider it a sacred food, broken and shared at the table, a symbol of brotherhood.

What do French people dip their bread in? ›

Almost all French people have bread for breakfast. Toasted or not, it is eaten with butter and/or jam, honey or chocolate spread, and dipped into their mug of coffee. Although this can be a bit messy with crumbles of bread falling into the coffee and drops of coffee falling on the table, the French love it.

Do Italians put butter on bread? ›

Don't Expect Butter or Olive Oil With Your Bread

When you sit down at a restaurant in Italy, a basket of bread will usually appear with no accompanying butter or oil.

What is Piada bread made of? ›

Piadina or piada is an ancient Italian flatbread made with just a few ingredients: flour, water or milk, olive oil or lard, salt, and sometimes baking soda. This recipe adds sourdough starter to the mix to add the flavors of fermented flour and water, and the option to ferment the entire dough.

What is cloud bread made of? ›

It's made using just a few simple ingredients—eggs, cream cheese, and cream of tartar—but when mixed up in just the right way and baked in a low heat oven, you get pillowy, bread-like rounds that are gluten-free and keto-friendly.

Why is Carrabba's food so salty? ›

Carrabba's Italian Grill Fettuccine Weesie With Whole Grain Spaghetti. Alfredo sauces are always high in sodium because of their cheese and salted butter content. Largeman-Roth also points out that the shrimp in the dish may contribute to the overall sodium amount as well.

Does Carrabba's use fresh ingredients? ›

Give The Gift Of Carrabba's

Offering authentic Italian cuisine passed down from our founders' family recipes, Carrabba's Italian Grill® uses only the best ingredients to prepare fresh and handmade dishes cooked to order in a lively exhibition kitchen.

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