Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Looking for a delicious bread to serve with lunch or dinner? This Garlic Rosemary Focaccia Bread is a salty, savory, soft bread perfect for accompanying any meal!

While everyone was trying their hand at sourdough starters this year, I was baking pretty much everything else.

At the top of my list: focaccia bread.

I LOVE focaccia bread! But I don't make it at home nearly as much as I want to. My waistline is probably okay with that decision.

After a few tries, I'm ready to share my recipe with all of you.

🍞 What is focaccia?

Focaccia is an Italian flatbread that is baked. Some people say it has the texture of pizza dough, but I disagree.

I find the best focaccia to be soft, almost squishy when you pick up a piece, like a delicate light sponge. To me, focaccia should not be too thick or crusty like pizza dough; it should be light and soft enough to soak up the delicious olive oil and flavorings.

✅ How to make focaccia

This beautiful bread has a few steps and some wait time, but trust me: it is well worth the wait!

You start by sauteeing the garlic and herbs. This allows the flavors to really infuse into the olive oil. Let this mixture cool until it is about room temperature. You'll be using parts of it in three different steps of this recipe.

Then you create the yeast mixture by combining the water, honey, and yeast. This mixture also needs to sit and rest for about 5 minutes.

Next, you're going to add some of the flour and some of the garlic rosemary olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until it's combined and the flour is incorporated. Then let this rest.

I know: there's a lot of resting. But trust me: each of these components needs to rest in order for the focaccia to come out the way it should.

Next, you'll stir in the remaining flour and the salt. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead about 10-15 times. Form a ball and place it into a greased bowl to rise for about an hour.

Once the dough has risen for about an hour, press it evenly into a greased 9" x 13" pan. This is what's known as a quarter sheet pan.

Bake the bread in a pre-heated 425°F oven for 10-20 minutes. You want the bread to be *just* golden brown, so as not to be too dense on the inside and too crispy on the bottom.

Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this recipe.

✨ Important baking tips

While this is an easy recipe, but it does require some patience. It's not a recipe that you can easily cut corners and have turn out the same.

Like all baking, your results may also vary depending on the temperature and humidity in your kitchen. If you are baking this on a cold day in January versus a warm day in July, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid in your dough. Try reducing the amount of liquid by about 10%.

You can read all about the specifics of winter versus summer baking in this great baking tips article.

"Thank you for this recipe!!! I feel like a bread RockStar!!! I couldn't make bread until I finally tried this recipe. So easy & so delicious!! Family ate almost the whole thing & it's not dinner time yet!"

- Reader michelle

How to serve focaccia bread

My favorite way to enjoy this bread is to simply dip it into a bowl of olive oil mixed with balsamic vinegar.

It is also delicious with romesco sauce or spinach pesto.

Some people enjoy using focaccia bread as sandwich bread. Here are three delicious-looking sandwiches using focaccia bread:

• Italian Focaccia Sandwiches
• Chicken Pesto Focaccia Sandwiches
• Breakfast Focaccia Sandwiches

You can also toast or char this bread and use it in steak salad.

🍽 What to serve with focaccia

If you're making this bread to go with dinner, here are some dishes that would go well with this bread:

• Rigatoni with Italian Sausage
• Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
• Easy Instant Pot Short Ribs
• Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta
• Butternut Squash Ravioli with Crispy Sage

How long will focaccia stay fresh?

Focaccia will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

You can freeze focaccia bread. To freeze, simply slice the bread, wrap each piece in plastic, then store in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to one month. Before serving, allow to thaw at room temperature and then reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

More bread recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!