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Focaccia Bread is an easy bread made with simple ingredients that tastes delicious! It’s perfect served next to a bowl of warm soup and makes a great sandwich bread too!

 

 

Ah. Delicious focaccia bread. It’s crispy on the outside, chewy and packed with flavor. And….it’s easy to make!

You heard that! This easy focaccia bread recipe is super simple! It’s perfect for beginner bakers and anyone intimidated by yeast bread.

I love this homemade focaccia bread because it only uses simple ingredients that I’ve already got in the pantry.

And this focaccia bread recipe requires zero skill. There are no tricks to making this work. It’s so simple and straightforward.

And as my family can attest, we’ve been making this recipe for YEARS. And I guarantee it’s the best focaccia bread recipe out there!

I hope you enjoy this family favorite just as much as we have!

 

 

What is Focaccia Bread?

Thank you to the Italians for yet another delicious Italian bread! They’re good at pasta, bread, and all things delicious don’t you think!

Focaccia bread is a leavened flat bread. That means it rises but then gets shaped down into a flat circle or rectangle.

It’s cooked in an oven and has a very characteristic dimpling on the surface of the bread.

Focaccia bread is served in restaurants as a sandwich bread, side dish, or even occasionally as a pizza crust!

You can easily make this simple recipe at home and enjoy it however you choose.

 

 

Ingredients in Focaccia Bread

Who knew such basic ingredients could make one of your new favorite recipes?!

• Yeast: This recipe calls for active dry yeast so you’ll need to let it proof.
• Lukewarm Water: You need the water temperature to be about 110 degrees. You don’t want to burn the yeast but it needs to be activated.
• Sugar: The sugar adds sweetness to the bread and helps the yeast to bubble too. Honey could be swapped in for the sugar if desired.
• Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil is essential for good focaccia bread. I haven’t tried swapping with other oils since it gives the bread so much flavor!
• Flour: All-purpose flour will do the trick!
• Sea Salt: I like to use fine sea salt for mixing in the bread dough and then coarse sea salt for sprinkling on top.

Pro Tips:

• Flaky Sea salt can be used in place of the course sea salt.
• Instant yeast can be substituted for the active dry yeast.

 

 

How to Make Focaccia Bread

This focaccia recipe is like focaccia bread art! Here’s the basic steps to make this easy recipe.

1. Proof the Yeast: The warm water and yeast will need to sit in a warm spot until bubbly and activated.
2. Mix and Knead: This step is made super simple if you use a stand mixer! Then the mixer does all of the work for you.
3. Rise: Let the bread dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size.
4. Shape: Push the dough onto a olive oil covered baking sheet until you have covered the whole sheet.
5. Bake: The bread should be golden brown when done!

Pro Tips:

• If the focaccia dough isn’t puffy and thick when you put it on the baking sheet, allow it to have a second rise in the pan.
• Get those beautiful dimples on the bread by pushing the top of the dough in with your fingers.
• Use a dough hook on your mixer to mix the yeast mixture with the dry ingredients.

 

 

How to Eat Focaccia Bread

Focaccia bread goes so well with so many things! It’s like a pizza dough-breadstick-sandwich bread-perfect for everything bread.

So here’s a few easy ideas to get you started on how to use your homemade bread. The sky’s the limit!

• Soup: Dip that bread in Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup, Cowboy Soup, or Cheeseburger Soup!
• Salad: The perfect addition to BLT Salad, Easy Fiesta Salad, or Butternut Squash Salad.
• Pizza: Use as the pizza crust for Pesto Chicken Pizza, Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Pizza, or Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.
• Sandwich: Ham Salad Sandwich, Salami and Cream Cheese Sandwich, and Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich are all super yummy sandwich ideas!

Don’t forget to take a peak at this Cheesy Garlic Focaccia Bread too! It’s delicious!

And if this easy focaccia bread recipe is a little too basic in its flavor, try one of these simple variations!

• Fresh Herbs: Fresh rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon, or Sage can all be sprinkled right on top before baking.
• Dried Herbs: Use the same herbs but mix them into the dough instead. That way they won’t burn when baked.
• Italian Focaccia Bread: Make it Italian by mixing in Italian seasoning right into the bread dough.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle a little parmesan around the dough and enjoy!
• Fresh Garlic: Minced garlic can be put right into the dough for a delicious garlic flavor.

 

 

How to Store Focaccia Bread

Focaccia Bread should be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in an airtight bag to help preserve it.

It can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

You’ll find that focaccia bread is really best eaten the day it is made. 

It dries out really quickly and then is a little too crunchy to eat on its own.

 

 

What to Do with Focaccia Bread

Have leftover focaccia bread that has dried out and now you need to know what to do with it? 

No problem! There’s no need to throw out perfectly good bread! Try using it up this way!

• Croutons for a salad! Chicken Avocado Salad would be a great one!
• Grind up into breadcrumbs. Then use those on Crispy Fried Cheese Curds!
• Use in this Easy Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe.
• Overnight French Toast Casserole since you already need dry bread!
• Strawberries and Cream Croissant Puff. Just use it in place of the croissants.

 

 

Is Focaccia Bread Healthy?

Focaccia Bread has protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and carbs. Each of them are needed for your body in order for it to function correctly.

The amounts of each vary and if you’re avoiding any of those or on a specific diet, look to see if this specific bread is okay for you.

However, this bread is pretty basic without much added sugar or other things so you can enjoy it without any guilt.

 

 

How to Refresh Focaccia Bread

Since the bread dries out pretty quickly, it may need to be refreshed before eating.

Sprinkle a few drops of water on the bread and then warm at 375 degrees F for 6-8 minutes or until warmed through.

Can I Freeze Focaccia Bread?

Absolutely! Focaccia bread freezes well if wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil well and sealed in a freezer safe bag.

It will last for up to 2 months when stored that way and tastes great when reheated.

 

 

More Bread Side Dishes You’ll Love…

• Red Lobster Biscuit Recipe
• Banana Bread without Baking Powder
• Green Tomato Bread
• Sandwich Roll Recipe
• Irish Soda Bread
• Oatmeal Molasses Bread
• Homemade Crescent Rolls
• Ham and Cheese Biscuits
• Banana Yeast Bread
• Mashed Potato Bread
• Pumpkin Bread Rolls
• Rolled Oats Bread
• Biscuit Bread
• Butternut Squash Bread

Focaccia Bread is an easy and delicious bread that is perfect for serving in so many ways. Dress it up or keep it just like it is and your whole family will be sure to enjoy it!

 

Originally  Posted: May 26, 2015

Photos & Text Updated: January 4, 2023

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