Garlic Cheese Dip (Olive Garden Five Cheese Fonduta) Recipe
This Garlic Cheese Dip, inspired by Olive Garden’s Five Cheese Fonduta, is a rich, creamy, and garlicky cheese blend perfect for dipping crusty baguette slices. Combining five luscious cheeses with fresh garlic and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, this dish makes a flavorful appetizer or party snack sure to please cheese lovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Cheese Dip
- 8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella, grated or chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan, freshly grated
- 4 oz provolone, freshly grated
- 4 oz fontina, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your heat preference)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (no added salt)
- 1 Roma tomato, diced with excess moisture removed on paper towel
Baguette
- 1 loaf French baguette
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic butter: In a small bowl, mix the salted butter with the minced garlic until well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare the baguette slices: Slice the French baguette into 1/2-inch thick slices. Spread a generous amount of the garlic butter mixture on each slice. Set aside.
- Mix cheeses and garlic: In a medium heatproof skillet or saucepan, combine the softened cream cheese, minced garlic, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, and fontina cheeses. Stir to combine all cheeses evenly.
- Melt the cheese mixture: Place the skillet over low to medium heat and gently melt the cheeses, stirring frequently to prevent sticking or burning. Continue until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add seasoning and tomato: Stir in the red pepper flakes and freshly ground black pepper. Then fold in the diced Roma tomato that has been dried to remove moisture. Stir gently to incorporate.
- Heat the baguette slices: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the buttered baguette slices on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 8–10 minutes or until they are golden and crispy.
- Serve: Transfer the warm cheese dip to a serving dish and serve immediately with the toasted garlic baguette slices for dipping.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your spice preference.
- Removing excess moisture from the diced tomato prevents the cheese dip from becoming watery.
- Use freshly grated cheeses for the best melting and flavor.
- For a smoother dip, you may gently warm the cream cheese before mixing.
- The garlic butter on the baguette enhances flavor and creates a crisp, aromatic toast.
