Focaccia bread is just so tasty! It’s the ultimate Italian flatbread, packed with oil, herbs, and spices.

Not only does it keep super well, but you can also customize the toppings to your liking — making it a very popular bread option.

Jump to:

• Main Dishes
• Dips & Spreads
• Salads
• Breakfast
• What Cheese Goes with Focaccia?
• The 10 Best Cheeses for Focaccia
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Focaccia is readily available in bakeries and supermarkets, but it’s also super easy to make yourself! Because of its versatility, focaccia works well as a main, snack, or side to other dishes.

If you’ve got your hands on a loaf, it’s time to find out what to serve with focaccia bread to make the most out of it!

I’ve compiled all the best things to pair with it in this article, such as mains, salads, breakfasts (and even cheeses).

Hungry and ready to find out what to goes with focaccia? Let’s dive right in!

Main Dishes

1. Chicken Piccata

Chicken piccata is buttery, citrusy, and all-around delicious.

Plus, it’s super fast! In fact, this dinner only takes ten minutes of prep and will be ready to go in less than 30 minutes.

Topped with capers, lemon slices, and herbs, this tangy dish looks just as good as it tastes.

A herb-heavy focaccia is ideal with this meal. If you’re making your own piccata pan, you could even incorporate lemon zest, capers, and similar herbs to really stick to the theme.

2. Pan-Seared Steak with Garlic Butter

This hearty, seared steak recipe is so simple yet oh-so-scrumptious at the same time.

The crisped exterior and tender, juicy interior of the meat make every bite a revelation — and don’t even get me started on that decadent slathering of garlic butter!

This steak goes perfectly with focaccia and offers plenty of flavorful dimensions between the notes of rosemary and the light airiness of the bread. I love using the loaf to soak up any extra garlic butter and juices!

3. Roasted Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is a classic for a reason!

This flavorful, warming soup is ideal for a chilly day and matches superbly with focaccia.

Since this recipe is for a fully homemade soup, there are a few more steps than usual — but trust me, it’s so worth it!

Begin by roasting seasoned tomatoes (the riper the better), onions, and garlic for about an hour.

Then, transfer this to a blender with water or stock until smooth. Strain the soup and simmer for about 10 minutes — voila!

You can make your own basil oil to top the soup if you’re feeling fancy, but grated parmesan also works a treat. Dunk your focaccia in this soup for a healthy and satisfying pizza-like bite!

4. Homemade Meatballs

Any spaghetti dish is bound to go nicely with focaccia, but these meatballs take the cake!

They’re so easy to whip up, use only simple, natural ingredients, and taste just incredible.

The meat and sauce complement the bread so well, and you can even use the leftovers to make an Italian-style sub!

5. Harissa & Citrus Roast Chicken

Looking to spice things up? This chicken – made with a generous portion of harissa paste – is sure to tingle the taste buds.

Although this dish is so tender and flavorful, it doesn’t take any crazy chef skills to create!

It does take a little prep, and you’ll need to let your chicken marinate to get the full experience. However, you’ll soon find out that this effort is totally worth the end result!

Focaccia works so well as a side to this dish; the buttery softness of the bread counters the spicy, complex chicken in the best way imaginable!

6. Roasted Vegetable Medley (Ratatouille)

Ratatouille might just be the perfect vegetable-packed dish. There, I’ve said it!

Not only is it straightforward, healthy, and delectable, but you can also make it using any (or all) of your favorite veggies!

The versatility of this meal means you can create it in any season, catering to any needs or preferences.

And when served with focaccia as a side, it’s a pairing that just makes sense. While it might not be strictly authentic (hey, creative freedom here!), I love topping my focaccia with this roasted vegetable medley.

7. Shakshuka

It’s essential to have some reliable bread alongside your shakshuka (sometimes called Turkish eggs), and focaccia just happens to be a trusty choice. The bread’s rectangular slices also make it ideal for dipping!

My recipe is a bit of a twist on the traditional shakshuka. As it’s Indian-style, that means we’re using chickpeas, curry paste, and coconut cream.

This gives the shakshuka a unique and incredible flavor – as well as making it dairy-free!

Dips & Spreads

1. Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

There’s no more authentic way to eat focaccia than with vinegar and olive oil! It keeps everything straightforward and allows the flavor of the bread to really shine through.

Use this simple vinaigrette recipe to make sure all the components are kept from separating!

The result?

A perfect bite every time!

2. Olive Tapenade

Olives are one of those foods that are extremely divisive, so if you’re not a fan, you might want to skip to the next recipe.

However, if you’re an olive lover, this tapenade is sure to become your favorite very quickly!

It’s so briny and tangy, and fits amazingly with the herby butteriness of focaccia. This recipe blends olives with capers, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, and other seasonings so it really packs a punch!

3. Hummus

Focaccia also pairs well with the well-loved hummus. What’s even better is that this dip is so easy to make! It literally takes five minutes in a blender before it’s ready, popping with so much flavor.

It’s also a safe option to have as an appetizer or party snack as it’s both vegan and gluten-free.

Beyond that, nothing really beats having some focaccia smeared with a thick layer of hummus. It’s just a bonus that it’s super healthy as well!

4. Baba Ganoush

Another classic Mediterranean spread, baba ganoush is packed full of creamy flavor.

This eggplant dish takes a little bit longer as you have to cook your veggies first, but the soft and smoky notes are well worth the wait.

While traditionally served with pita bread, it also goes incredibly with focaccia!

I personally love that you can load your bread up with more dip without it flopping down and becoming messy.

5. Creamy Whipped Feta Dip

This salty, cheesy, fluffy spread is amazing pretty much no matter what you serve it with – but it works especially great with focaccia!

Feta complements the bread because – let’s be honest – what’s better than a carbs-and-cheese duo?

As a plus, this dip takes no time or effort to put together at all. Just dump your ingredients into a food processor, blend, and you’re good to go! Yep — it’s that simple.

6. Toum (Lebanese Garlic Sauce)

This sauce is super rich, creamy, and garlicky. It does taste a bit similar to mayo, but since it doesn’t use egg and instead relies on vegetable oil, it’s also vegan by coincidence!

Dip your focaccia bread straight in or spread the toum across each slice; it’s up to you, and it’s a masterpiece either way.

7. Pesto

No list of best spreads could ever be complete without pesto! This basil- and spinach-based pesto is a classic: green, herby, and salty.

I love making large batches at a time because of how versatile pesto is; I can make pasta with it one night, and serve it with focaccia the next!

Salads

1. Caprese Salad

This super simple Italian salad could have been invented just to be served alongside focaccia.

In fact, with the two of them together, you’ve pretty much got a deconstructed pizza!

All you need for caprese are tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella, plus balsamic and olive oil to drizzle on top.

It’s all the best of pure Mediterranean flavor, so I won’t be surprised if you think of the Italian coast while eating this salad!

2. Fresh Green Salad

Fresh green salad is excellent alongside any dish or even as a light main (especially when served with warm focaccia).

It also excels as a standard salad base, so you can add any favorite toppings or food items you may have on hand!

3. Cranberry Quinoa Salad

If you want a salad with a little more complexity but that’s still super easy to put together, make a bowl of cranberry quinoa salad!

It’s a healthy combination of superfoods that also incorporates almonds and feta, making it so satiating (and scrumptious!).

Did you know cranberries can also go straight into your focaccia (if you’re making your own)?

The tangy sweetness of these little berries make them a very welcome addition, so it’s no wonder this salad pairs so well with the bread.

4. Caesar Salad

When pondering what is best served with focaccia, you can’t go wrong with Caesar salad. Actually – any salad with bread and cheese works, for that matter!

The dressing is the secret that makes this dish pop; it’s an undeniable flavor explosion courtesy of garlic, dijon, Worcestershire, lemon juice, oil, and red wine vinegar. The result is a complex blend of tang and citrus.

Serve focaccia alongside this salad, or go the extra mile and make focaccia croutons as well!

5. Teriyaki Salmon Salad

Okay, I admit: sometimes, I want something a little different than what I usually go for!

It just helps to have some variety, which is why I felt so lucky to have stumbled upon this tasty teriyaki salmon salad.

This dish is a mind-blowing combination of Japanese flavors and crunchy, fresh greens. It’s incredibly easy to make and leaves little mess once you’re done.

Pair your focaccia with this salad and enjoy the novel experience of contrasting savory and subtly sweet notes! It’s a wonderful combination every time.

Breakfast

1. Truffle Deviled Eggs

If you’re having focaccia with your breakfast, you’re already being decadent. So why not take it up a notch?

These deviled eggs are the height of luxury – especially because they have two different types of truffle in them!

And if you’re feeling fancy as can be, top each with a smidge of caviar. What more could you ask for?

2. Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

This breakfast recipe relies on focaccia as its foundation!

Take your bread and slather on tomato, red onion, cucumber, chives, dill, and smoked salmon atop of a cream cheese base.

Once you’ve tried this, you’ll probably never go back to basic bagels ever again!

3. Ricotta and Honey

When I’m looking for something a little simpler and sweeter, I usually reach straight for some ricotta and honey.

Spread your fresh ricotta onto the focaccia and give it a generous honey drizzle on top. This creamy, fragrant breakfast is sure to start your day off right!

What Cheese Goes with Focaccia?

How to Pick the Right Cheese for Focaccia

When it comes to cheese, what is served with focaccia?

While almost any cheese will go well with focaccia, there are a few specific varieties to look out for if you want that “match made in heaven” pairing.

Italian cheeses are a no-brainer place to start. Once you’ve tasted an authentic combo, it’s hard to be led astray!

Focaccia is an unbeatable choice because it’s a versatile base, so you don’t need to be too picky when it comes to texture or taste. Just make sure that you slice hard cheeses thinly so you can still get a good bite.

With stronger cheeses, you may want to opt for simpler focaccia (like the classic sea salt and rosemary) so all the flavors can really shine together. If your focaccia is more intricate, a milder cheese may be a better option!

The 10 Best Cheeses for Focaccia

1. Mozzarella

It’s near impossible to go wrong with good mozzarella, and a fresh cheese is especially welcoming on warm focaccia.

While the softness and mildness of this cheese brings out the beautiful flavors of bread, it’s also just as amazing on its own.

Consider munching on mozzarella with tomato, basil, and balsamic vinegar to highlight the creamy cheese and fresh bread.

2. Parmigiano-Reggiano

Parmesan will complement focaccia wonderfully! Slice it thinly or grate to avoid an unpleasantly hard or overpowering bite.

The cheese’s nutty taste and crumbly texture works well against a soft, fluffy focaccia – giving you plenty of character to work with.

3. Ricotta

Ricotta is so soft and spreadable that it works seamlessly with more flavorful bread like focaccia. And what’s more, there’s no slicing or grating required!

Ricotta and focaccia are ideal with sweet notes such as honey, jams, or fresh fruit, so they’re particularly wonderful for breakfast!

4. Feta

Salty, crumbly, and all-around mouth-watering, you can’t go wrong with feta on most occasions.

Focaccia is no exception; crumble feta on top alongside some veggies, or bake the cheese straight into your focaccia for creamy pockets in every bite!

5. Gorgonzola

This Italian blue cheese is so strong in flavor, but focaccia still complements it marvelously!

Whether you’ve enjoyed gorgonzola in the past or not, having it with focaccia might be a real game-changer. Crumble the cheese on top of your focaccia and try eating it with figs or sweet jelly.

6. Provolone

Provolone is amazing with focaccia! Its complex buttery, nutty flavor makes it both mild and tasty enough to be a versatile pairing option for any style of bread.

Try it alongside olive tapenade or in combination with bruschetta!

7. Goat Cheese

Goat cheese comes in many different styles, so shop around until you find your favorite!

Crumbly, creamy goat cheese is a particularly great partner to focaccia as it’s easily spreadable and oh-so-flavorful. It also has fewer calories and is lower in lactose – so if you want something light, this is your best bet!

8. Burrata

This Italian cheese ball is trendy for a reason: it’s insanely good!

Prepare your burrata with black pepper and a little oil or honey to spread on your focaccia. Or, simply take a slice and burst it yourself!

9. Fontina

This semi-soft cheese is the ultimate choice for easy slicing, and it’s right at home on top of a piece of focaccia!

You can also bake it as a dip and dunk your bread into the melty, gooey, cheese delight that results.

10. Pecorino Romano

This hard sheep's cheese is so salty and flavorful that it perfectly complements focaccia’s milder and more subdued taste.

It’s traditionally grated, so try sprinkling some onto your focaccia. You can even bake it in for an extra dollop of seasoning!

📖 Recipe