Name: What To Serve With Focaccia
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 portion focaccia

If you’re wondering what to serve with your focaccia, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 17 of the most popular side dishes for focaccia.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve with focaccia are tomato bisque, pasta puttanesca, an antipasto platter, shakshuka, or a Caprese salad. You can also make a sandwich with roasted chicken or meatballs. Or serve a dip such as olive tapenade, baked feta, or Italian hummus.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Tomato bisque

Tomato bisque is a richer version of tomato soup. It uses cream and milk to bring extra body.

It’s flavorful, buttery, and silky smooth, perfect for dipping a light and airy focaccia into.

Warning: don’t let its simplicity fool you – this dish is easy enough for a midweek lunch, but will also work well for a fancy dinner party.

Try this classic, perfected tomato bisque recipe. Believe me. It’s worth it.

Olive tapenade

Salty, garlicky, tangy – that’s how I’d describe olive tapenade.

It’s a great addition to a charcuterie board where you have a few other dips (and of course some focaccia).

But I will say I think this spread works best with plainer focaccia bread, so you don’t get too many clashing flavors.

Grab your blender and make this olive tapenade recipe in just 10 minutes!

Baked feta

Baked feta is a deliciously creamy dish that you can eat as an appetizer, for a snack, or even as a main meal.

Although it is baked, it’s not sticky or gooey like mozzarella.

The feta turns into a warm, rich, velvety spread that you’ll want to slather on everything you eat. Including all over your focaccia.

I don’t know about you, but this baked feta makes my mouth water.

Pasta puttanesca

Craving a simple, filling dish to serve with your focaccia bread?

This classic pasta puttanesca is what you are looking for.

It’s carbs on carbs, but no one ever complains about pasta and garlic bread!

Pasta puttanesca is made with garlic, anchovies, olives, capers, pepper flakes, and chopped whole tomatoes.

All pretty strong flavors that will taste scrumptious with your focaccia bread.

It should only take 20 minutes to get this pasta puttanesca from your stovetop to the dining table.

Italian hummus

Who says hummus is only for pita bread?

It tastes just as good with focaccia.

And there are so many different variations of hummus, you’ll always be able to find one that matches whatever focaccia bread you’ve baked.

This creamy, lemony Italian-style hummus uses white beans instead of garbanzo beans so has a slightly lighter texture.

Pan-seared steak

Focaccia is a fancy bread so needs a fancy accompaniment. And it doesn’t get much fancier than a pan-seared steak (with a glass of your favorite wine of course).

This pan-seared steak recipe is my favorite.

It’s slathered in a tasty garlic butter sauce which also works really well with the focaccia.

Make sure to save a bite of focaccia for wiping the plate clean at the end of the meal. YUM!

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar

This isn’t a side with much substance, but it is a traditional pairing for focaccia bread.

A mixture of good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar can’t be beaten when it comes to bread dips.

If you’ve ever had this paring at a restaurant before, you’ll know that it’s hard to stop going back for more.

Make your own restaurant-style bread dip at home following this guide from the food charlatan.

Caprese salad

Made with juicy red tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, peppery basil, and an exquisite balsamic glaze – this salad, hailing from Italy, is a must-try.

You can serve it alongside your focaccia, or you can make an open-faced sandwich and use it as a topping for the bread.

Head to Natasha’s kitchen for a super easy, classic Caprese salad recipe.

Psst… for a more indulgent version of this salad use burrata instead of mozzarella.

Cioppino

Here’s something to try for date night, or when you want to really impress your guests.

Let me introduce you to one of the tastiest and easiest seafood stews you’ll ever try – cioppino.

Cioppino features fresh clams, shrimp, mussels, and more simmered in a slightly spicy tomato broth.

It is warm, comforting, and packed full of flavor.

Serve it with a slice of warm focaccia to soak up all the broth. You won’t want to waste a drop.

Shakshuka

Preparing a brunch?

Skip the usual avocado on toast in favor of shakshuka with focaccia.

Shaskuha is runny eggs baked in a luscious tomato sauce with a sprinkling of feta.

The focaccia bread will quickly soak up the spiced juices, making each bite incredibly tasty.

The best part?

You can make it in just one pan using this recipe.

Roasted chicken

One of the best things about Monday is my leftover roast chicken sandwiches.

Focaccia bread makes great sandwiches because of its soft and pillowy texture. The lightness of the bread keeps the sandwich from getting too heavy.

Stuff the focaccia with some chicken, pesto, and tomatoes for a perfect on-the-go lunch.

Have this roast chicken recipe on hand at your next family dinner, and make sure there’s enough for leftovers!

Fresh green salad

Focaccia is lovely with a big bowl of fresh greens.

It’s summery and light, and a simple salad ensures the focaccia remains the star of the show.

Salads are so easy to make too. They prove that you don’t have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to make something tasty.

Follow this simple salad recipe for a 6-ingredient homemade dressing that will make your salad sing.

Antipasto platter

Throwing a party?

Wow your guests by serving focaccia with an antipasto platter.

Smokey, salty meats. Creamy, indulgent cheeses. And then some tangy pickled vegetables.

What’s not to love?

Is it your first time arranging an antipasto platter? Don’t worry.

Joanne’s recipe will help you to layer your platter with all the right flavors.

Tandoori meatballs

Meatballs are a versatile option because you can serve them as a dinner with a bowl of focaccia on the table.

Or you can make a meatball sub with the focaccia and have it for lunch.

Tomato meatballs are the classic option, but I recently came across these tandoori meatballs and fell in love.

Italian-Indian fusion brings my two favorite cuisines together!

They work with naan bread or focaccia.

Cranberry quinoa salad

One way to whip up a salad without greens is by making a quinoa salad.

This salad has a nutty flavor and a crispy texture that will contrast nicely with your soft-textured focaccia bread.

Also, you can alter it to suit your preferences. It never gets boring!

This recipe uses cranberries and apples for a festive feel, but you can use any fruits and veggies you want.

Don’t forget the vinegarette though. This is what ties everything together.

Broccoli cheddar soup

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3096293486056713/

Broccoli cheddar soup is loaded with dreamy creamy deliciousness from cheese, butter, and mustard.

The result?

A cozy, filling soup that will be loved by adults and kids alike.

Swirl your focaccia slices into this creamy broccoli cheddar soup and fall in love!

Short rib ragu

Focaccia is the perfect pairing for a heavy main meal such as a ragu.

It’s flavorsome enough on its own not to get totally lost, but it also won’t overwhelm the ragu.

This short rib ragu features melt-in-your-mouth beef and a thick sauce that will coat your focaccia.

And for the non-meat eaters, I recommend this mushroom and lentil ragu.

The best side dishes for focaccia

Tomato bisque
Olive tapenade
Baked feta
Pasta puttanesca
Italian hummus
Pan-seared steak
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Caprese salad
Cioppino
Shakshuka
Roasted chicken
Fresh green salad
Antipasto platter
Tandoori meatballs
Cranberry quinoa Salad
Broccoli cheddar soup
Short rib ragu