This olive dip with cream cheese is the best appetizer to serve at your next barbecue!

In this recipe, salty olives are combined with velvety smooth cream cheese to create an incredible combination of flavors that is totally addicting. The dip also comes together in about four minutes, so it is the perfect appetizer or snack for any busy moms looking to make an amazing appetizer without all of the fuss!

The first time one particular friend of mine tried this dip, she went from an olive hater to an olive lover.

I made this creamy dip with olives for friends last weekend and it was a total hit. Everyone loved the olive flavor in this dip, since it was not too strong or overpowering. No one could get enough of this easy appetizer... I think I am going to have to make twice as much of it for my next gathering!

What Do I Need to Make This Creamy Olive Dip?

While the full ingredients list is available below, here are some tips on what you will need to make this easy recipe!

• Cream cheese: to achieve that rich and velvety texture in your dip, I recommend that you use full fat cream cheese. Let it come to room temperature before incorporating into your olive spread. If I am making a bigger batch, I will use half light cream cheese and half full fat cream cheese.
• Sliced olives: I generally prefer to use sliced black olives for this recipe. However, if you prefer you can use green olives in this dip as well. Either work great in this recipe. Just make sure you drain them of most of the olive juice in the jar.
• Cheddar cheese: make sure you use a sharp cheddar cheese, and that it is shredded before you add it to your cream cheese mixture. The sharpness of the cheddar adds so much depth to the flavors in this recipe, and shredding the cheese before adding it to your feed processor helps to make sure it gets mixed into the dip evenly.
• Mayonnaise: I usually use half fat mayonnaise in this recipe. I can never tell the difference, and it makes me feel a bit better knowing I have saved at least some calories when preparing this!
• Pimentos: pimentos are a type of pepper that have a sweet flavor with little heat. They usually come diced in a jar. They are the perfect addition to this dip and it adds some fun color to the dip too!
• Garlic powder: who doesn't love garlic in almost any savory recipe? Using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic helps to speed preparation for this dip up, since raw garlic would have a bit of a harsh flavor for this dish.

How to Prepare the Best Olive Dip

I love this easy dip recipe for how quickly it comes together and the simple ingredients it uses. Here are some tips when preparing this dip.

Add all of your ingredients except the grated cheddar cheese to a food processor. Mix on high speed until it is combined. Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the cream cheese mixture and continue to mix on high until well combined and the dip has a creamy texture. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Additions and Substitutions

If you are looking to make some substitutions to this recipe, here are some suggestions!

• Sour cream: if you do not have mayonnaise on hand, or you just don't want to use it, you could always use sour cream instead. I have not tried this dip with sour cream, but I expect if you substitute for the same quantity as the mayonnaise it should work just fine.
• Olives: if you do not like black olives, you can always use a different type like Manzanilla olives! Use the same quantity as the quantity of black olives on the recipe card. If the olives you use are stuffed with pimentos, do not add more pimentos to your dip. With any type that you use, make sure to drain the jar of olives of most of the olive brine before adding them to your dip.

If you are looking to add more spice to this dip, red pepper flakes would be awesome in this! You could also add sliced green onions to the top of the dip to make it look fancier.

What to Serve with Olive Dip

One thing that makes this dip such good stuff is that it makes anything you serve with it taste amazing! Some suggestions on what to serve with this dip include:

• Potato chips
• Tortilla chips
• Pita chips
• Sliced fresh veggies
• Ritz crackers

Can You Serve Olive Dip Hot?

You sure can! While I usually prefer to serve this dip cold, you can definitely serve it hot too. Simply prepare the olive dip recipe as outlined above. Once mixed in the food processor, transfer into a small baking dish. Bake at 350F for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, until it is bubbly at the edges. If you want to add some extra decadence, add a little bit of cheese to the top off the dip before baking.

Can I Substitute Black Olives?

Of course! You can use either black or green olives in this recipe. Both options give delicious results.

How Long will Olive Dip Last?

If you store your olive dip in an airtight container in the fridge, it should last approximately 3 to 5 days. This makes this dip a great one to make ahead when you have a party coming up and you want to prepare whatever you can in advance. If you've prepared this dip in advance, simply take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature before sharing with your guests. Enjoy!

More Appetizers You Will Love

If you loved this delicious and easy appetizer, check out more options at the quick links below!

• Bocconcini Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Spicy Buffalo White Bean Dip
• The Best Dip Ever
• Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Creamy Greek Tzatziki