Description

This Copycat Olive Garden Smoked Mozzarella Fonduta is a warm, creamy, and cheesy dip featuring smoked provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses blended with a touch of sour cream and spices. Served bubbling hot with toasted baguette slices, it’s perfect as an appetizer or party snack.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Baguette Toasts

1 baguette
Olive oil, for drizzling

For the Fonduta

½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Dash of cayenne pepper
4 ounces smoked provolone cheese slices

Instructions

Preheat oven for toasting bread: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for toasting the baguette slices evenly.
Slice and oil baguette: Slice the baguette into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick slices, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and drizzle each slice lightly with olive oil for crispiness and flavor.
Toast bread slices: Bake the bread slices for 5 minutes, then flip and toast for another 3 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside.
Preheat oven for fonduta: Increase oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the cheese mixture.
Mix cheese and seasonings: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, and a dash of cayenne pepper until well blended.
Assemble fonduta: Spread the cheese mixture evenly into a small baking dish, then layer the smoked provolone slices on top for smoky flavor and an appealing presentation.
Bake until melted: Place the cheese dish in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
Broil for browning: Turn off the oven and switch to the broil setting. Move the dish to the top rack and broil for about 1 minute until the cheese develops a light golden brown crust.
Serve immediately: Remove the fonduta from the oven and serve hot alongside the toasted baguette slices for dipping.

Notes

Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a tangier, lighter option.
Baguette slices can be toasted a day ahead; warm briefly before serving.
Adjust red pepper flakes and cayenne to suit your preferred spice level.
Use a shallow baking dish for more even cheese melting and browning.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: smoked mozzarella fonduta, Olive Garden copycat recipe, cheesy dip, smoked provolone, appetizer, baked cheese dip, toasted baguette