It wasn’t until my adult years that I really understood all the fuss over olives, likely because my only exposure to them before that point consisted of supreme pizza and canned black olives. What a shame. But let me tell you, I’ve seriously been making up for lost time since discovering that there’s a whole wide world of olive varieties out there. And one of my new favorite ways to enjoy them is roasted! Easy and elegant, this Garlic Roasted Olives recipe is one you’ll want to make again and again.

The recipe calls for a few different types of olives, but those could easily be tailored to your personal preference. I’m a huge fan of green olives so I leaned heavier in that flavor profile. You’ll toss the olives with lemon juice, zest, oregano, capers, and (of course) plenty of garlic. Pop them in the oven for just over 20 minutes to get roasty-toasty and a little golden. The smell while they cook is just heavenly, a sure way to get everyone’s appetite going!

Set the olives on the table right after they come out of the oven! You can serve them with bread, crackers, and cheese… or just toothpicks for the true olive lovers. They’re a beautiful appetizer for Italian or Mediterranean main dishes, but they’re sure to be a hit alongside any meal. Give these Garlic Roasted Olives a try the next time you’re entertaining and we’re sure you’ll love them as much as we do!