Marinated Olives with Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary (Easy Olive Appetizer!)

This easy recipe for Garlic, Thyme, and Rosemary Marinated Olives is perfect for simple entertaining! They make a great easy appetizer idea for any party.

Click to save this recipe for Marinated Olives with Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary to Pinterest. 

Easy Marinated Olives

When you are hosting a dinner party, it’s tempting to overextend yourself making a variety of appetizers. Usually a few little nibbles before dinner are all you need. One of my favorite things to serve when having cocktails before dinner is marinated olives.

It doesn’t take much to transform good olives into great ones. With just a little olive oil, some crushed garlic, aromatic herbs, and lemon peel, you have an easy make-ahead appetizer for entertaining.

What I Love About These Marinated Olives

These Marinated Olives make a great appetizer for any occasion, whether it is a holiday party or a simple summer backyard BBQ get together!

This recipe for Marinated Olives can be adapted to your tastes – try different varieties of olives, different herbs, etc.

They are super simple to make and can be made ahead of time, too!

Marinated Olives also make a fun and easy homemade gift if you like gifting homemade goods.

Marinated Olives Ingredients

The great thing about this recipe for marinated olives is that it only requires a few ingredients!

• extra virgin olive oil
• whole fresh garlic cloves
• fresh thyme
• fresh rosemary
• fresh lemon
• olives
• Patis or dried fennel seeds

You need few ingredients to make these marinated olives, but they’re all the right ones. In addition to the olives, you’ll need good quality olive oil and garlic.

Fragrant thyme and rosemary lend a complex flavor and aroma to the salty olives that is intensified by the pure bright flavor of lemon zest. For a little Provencal twist, I add a shot of Pastis (anise-flavored liqueur) to mine for a delicate and subtle anise flavor.

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

What are the Best Olive Varieties for this Recipe?

You should choose a variety of good quality olives, favoring high quality un-pitted olives over lower quality pitted ones. An assortment of olives is what you are after: large and small, green and black.

The exact varieties of olives you buy are up to you. Choose whichever you like best, and if you’re unsure which to buy I suggest asking for help (most grocery stores have a deli counter with olives, pre-made salads, and more. Try asking for help there).

What Types of Olives Should I Buy?

Here are some of our favorite olives to use in this recipe:

• kalamata olives
• castelvetrano
• cerignola
• niçoise

I can usually find these olive bar at my grocery store. I find that they have the best olives to choose from.

How to Make Marinated Olives

Making these marinated olives only requires a few simple steps:

1. First, the olive oil is gently heated with the garlic and herbs until the garlic turns golden and the rosemary and thyme release their fragrant oils.
2. Next, you add the mixed olives to a bowl or container and add the herb and oil mixture.
3. Store the olive and olive oil mixture in the refrigerator and marinated until the olives and flavors are combined well – at least a couple of hours, becoming more flavorful with time.
4. Store the olive in the refrigerator until use and as well as after serving if there are leftovers.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Click to save this recipe for Marinated Olives with Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary to Pinterest. 

How Do You Store Marinated Olives?

Marinated olives should stored in an airtight container and refrigerated.

This marinated olives recipe can easily be doubled and the olives stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Make a few batches to serve, to gift, or eat straight from the jar.

Definitely plan to save the leftover infused olive oil for dipping bread.

Is it Normal for Olive Oil to Solidify in the Fridge?

Yes, that’s completely normal. If the olive marinade hardens in the fridge, simply set the marinated olives on the counter to come to room temperature before serving them.

Tips for Making Marinated Olives

If you don’t purchase already pitted olives, remember to put out a small dish so guests have a place to put the pits when they are eating these marinated olives.

Once you’ve made these marinated olives a few times, feel free to play around with the ingredients. You could try making these olives with infused olive oil or different herbs, for example.

Also note that you’ll want to buy an organic lemon since you’ll be using the peel in these marinated olives. You don’t want any chemicals sneaking into your appetizer!

What Should I Serve with Marinated Olives

Looking for some more easy appetizer ideas to serve along side this recipe for Marinated Olives with Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary? Check out some of these favorites. Then,  browse the recipe index for even more tasty ideas!

Serve this Marinated Feta Appetizer alongside these marinated olives. In this recipe, feta cheese is marinated in olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and sun dried tomatoes for a delicious and simple appetizer.

Take advantage of summer’s colorful and delicious produce and make this Roasted Tomato Crostini with Walnut Almond Pesto and Goat Cheese. Tomato, cucumber, onion, garlic, lemon, and oregano make up this Greek take on the classic Pico de Gallo.

Greek Pico de Gallo is a great fresh appetizer!

Classic hummus is transformed into this Roasted Salsa Verde Hummus with the addition of roasted poblano, jalapeño, tomatillo, onion, cilantro, and lime.

These Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms have a wonderful depth of flavor from all of the delicious ingredients: portobello mushrooms, shrimp, fresh basil and rosemary, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese.

This simple White Bean Bruschetta is a quick make-ahead appetizer to help simplify holiday entertaining and potlucks. This would pair nicely with the marinated olives, too.

Make these tasty Rosemary Cheese Bites to serve along side cheese at your next party.

Learn How to Plan a Cheese Tasting Party — it is so simple and one of the easiest appetizer party ideas! Guest will love bringing their favorite wines to pair with cheese. Wines + cheese + marinated olives = the easiest and best appetizer night!

Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry Pizzas might sound fancy but they are super simple to prepare and packed with the flavors of fresh asparagus, prosciutto, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta, and parmesan.

If you plan on making Hard Boiled Eggs for Deviled Eggs, make sure you buy your eggs ahead of time. Older eggs are easier to peel!

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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Click to save this recipe for Marinated Olives with Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary to Pinterest. 

About the Author:

Sylvie Shirazi is a freelance food photographer and food writer. On her blog, Gourmande in the Kitchen, she celebrates the joy that food brings to our lives every day.