Cheesy Onion Focaccia Bread Recipe Easiest Ever Made

Crafting a delectable cheesy onion focaccia bread can transport you to an Italian bakery with just one bite.

Rustic and golden, this bread promises a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Caramelized onions bring a sweet depth, while melted cheese creates irresistible pockets of richness.

Soft yet crispy edges make each slice a textural adventure waiting to unfold.

Home bakers find unexpected joy in kneading and shaping this simple yet stunning bread.

Salt-sprinkled and herb-kissed, the focaccia emerges from the oven as a testament to culinary creativity.

You’ll want to slice into this warm, fragrant masterpiece and savor every delicious moment.

Why Cheesy Onion Focaccia Bread Tastes Amazing

• Easily create restaurant-quality focaccia bread with simple ingredients and minimal baking skills needed.
• Prepare this delicious bread in just two hours, perfect for lazy weekend cooking and impressing family or guests with minimal effort.
• Serve as a delectable side dish, appetizer, or snack that appeals to all ages, making it ideal for family gatherings, potlucks, or casual dinner parties.
• Experiment with different toppings like caramelized onions, cheese, herbs, or roasted vegetables to personalize your focaccia and keep the recipe exciting every time you make it.

Ingredients Needed for Onion Focaccia with Cheese

• Flour: The foundation of the focaccia, providing structure and texture.
• Yeast: Crucial for bread rising and developing a light, airy texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast fermentation.

• Warm Water: Activates the yeast and helps combine ingredients.
• Olive Oil: Adds rich flavor and helps create a soft, tender bread.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast and helps with browning.

• Onions: Provides a sweet and savory flavor profile.
• Cheese: Adds creamy richness and a golden, melted topping.

Easy Instructions for Cheesy Focaccia Bread

Step 1: Awaken The Yeast

Pour warm water into a small bowl. Add sugar and sprinkle yeast on top. Let the mixture sit quietly, allowing the yeast to bubble and foam for about 5-10 minutes until it looks puffy and alive.

Step 2: Create Dough Foundation

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine flour and salt. Pour in the activated yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir everything together until a soft, sticky dough emerges. Don’t worry about perfection- just mix until ingredients are well blended.

Step 3: Develop Dough Texture

Transfer dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead with your hands, pushing and folding for 8-10 minutes. The dough should become smooth and springy. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook and knead for approximately 5 minutes.

Step 4: First Rise

Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let it rest in a warm spot for about an hour, during which the dough will expand and become puffy.

Step 5: Prepare Topping Ingredients

• Sliced onions
• Shredded cheese
• Dried herbs
• Olive oil
• Coarse salt

Step 6: Shape The Focaccia

Gently punch down the risen dough. Spread it onto a baking sheet, creating dimples with your fingertips. Drizzle with olive oil.

Step 7: Add Delicious Toppings

Scatter sliced onions across the dough. Sprinkle generously with cheese and herbs. Drizzle additional olive oil and dust with coarse salt.

Step 8: Final Rise And Bake

Let the topped focaccia rest for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 9: Serve And Enjoy

Remove from oven, let cool slightly. Slice and serve warm as a delightful appetizer or side dish.

Tips That Boost Cheesy Focaccia Bread Texture

• Boost Yeast Activation: Use lukewarm water between 100-110°F for perfect yeast blooming, ensuring the mixture becomes frothy and bubbly.
• Customize Onion Topping: Caramelize onions beforehand for deeper, sweeter flavor or use a mix of red and white onions to add more complexity and visual appeal.
• Enhance Cheese Selection: Experiment with different cheese combinations like sharp cheddar, gruyère, or parmesan to create unique flavor profiles that complement the focaccia's richness.
• Achieve Perfect Texture: Brush olive oil generously before baking to create a crispy, golden crust and prevent the bread from drying out during cooking.
• Master Kneading Technique: If hand-kneading feels challenging, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for consistent, smooth dough development without manual effort.

Storage and Reheating Tips for Onion Focaccia

• Store leftover focaccia in an airtight container or tightly wrapped plastic wrap for up to 3 days, keeping its soft texture and delicious flavor intact.
• Wrap individual slices or the entire bread in freezer-safe plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing up to 2 months for later enjoyment.
• Preheat oven to 350°F, wrap bread in aluminum foil, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through, maintaining its original crispy edges and soft interior.
• Heat individual slices for 15-20 seconds, checking frequently to prevent drying out, then briefly crisp in a toaster oven for renewed texture.

Best Foods to Pair with Cheesy Focaccia

• Choose a robust Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese that complements the bread's rich, cheesy flavor and enhances the caramelized onion notes.
• Create a classic comfort food combination by dipping the focaccia into a creamy, herb-infused tomato soup that echoes the bread's Mediterranean roots.
• Offer a small plate of mixed olives seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and garlic to provide a tangy counterpoint to the bread's dense, cheesy texture.
• Create a cheese board featuring sharp Pecorino Romano, which harmonizes with the focaccia's own cheesy profile and adds an extra layer of salty complexity.

Fun Variations on Cheesy Onion Focaccia Bread

• Gluten-Free Focaccia: Swap wheat flour with a gluten-free blend of rice flour, almond flour, and xanthan gum for a celiac-friendly version that maintains a soft texture.
• Vegan Onion Focaccia: Replace olive oil with coconut oil and use nutritional yeast instead of cheese to create a dairy-free alternative that's packed with savory flavors.
• Herb-Infused Focaccia: Incorporate fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano into the dough for an aromatic Mediterranean-inspired bread that elevates the classic recipe.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Focaccia: Substitute traditional flour with riced cauliflower and almond flour to create a low-carb bread alternative that's lighter and more nutritious.

Cheesy Onion Focaccia Bread Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Mouthwatering cheesy onion focaccia bread brings Italian rustic charm to kitchen tables with golden crispy edges and caramelized onion perfection. Layers of melted cheese and herbal notes promise a delectable journey through Mediterranean comfort you’ll savor slice by slice.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 3 ½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced

Bread Base Ingredients:

• 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) warm water (110F/43C)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Topping and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, for caramelizing)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water, allowing the mixture to bloom and become frothy, indicating active fermentation.
2. Combine flour and salt in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a well for the yeast liquid and olive oil to merge into a cohesive, slightly tacky dough.
3. Transfer the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface, kneading vigorously with the heel of your hand until the texture becomes smooth, supple, and exhibits elastic properties.
4. Lightly coat a clean bowl with oil, nestle the dough inside, and drape with a kitchen towel, permitting the dough to expand and double in volume in a draft-free environment.
5. Punch down the risen dough to release trapped gases, then gently stretch and press into a rustic rectangular shape on a prepared baking sheet.
6. Scatter caramelized onions and shredded cheese across the surface, allowing them to nestle into the dough’s soft landscape.
7. Create signature focaccia dimples using fingertips, pressing deliberately to create characteristic wells that will capture olive oil and enhance flavor complexity.
8. Drizzle additional olive oil over the surface, sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and allow a final brief proofing before baking.
9. Bake in a preheated oven until the edges turn golden brown and the cheese melts into a tantalizing, bubbling crust.
10. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, then slice and serve warm, celebrating the bread’s rustic texture and rich, savory profile.

Notes

• Choose instant yeast for quicker proofing and more reliable rising, especially in cooler kitchen environments.
• Experiment with different cheese combinations like aged cheddar, gruyère, or fontina to customize flavor profiles and create unique taste experiences.
• Layer caramelized onions before baking for deeper, richer flavor complexity and heightened aromatic notes that complement the cheese’s richness.
• Ensure water temperature is between 100-110°F when activating yeast to create optimal fermentation conditions without killing the live cultures.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg