12 Creative Ways to Use Olive Oil (Beyond Salad Dressing)

Extra virgin olive oil has always been part of my mission here at Parsley & Parm, but my recent nutrition coach training has turned casual appreciation into a full-blown obsession. Once you understand what monounsaturated fats actually do - how they support heart health, reduce inflammation, and contribute to long-term wellbeing - you stop thinking of olive oil as just a "healthier option" and start thinking of it as something your body actually needs. It's the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet for good reason, and one of the most effortless upgrades you can make to the way you eat.

Most people first discover olive oil as a swap for butter or trans fats when roasting or sautéing, or as the base of a homemade salad dressing. And those are fantastic starting points! But once you fall in love with EVOO, you start wondering: where else can I put this? The answer, it turns out, is almost everywhere.

In Mediterranean kitchens, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) earns a place at every stage of the meal - not just as a cooking fat, but as a finishing ingredient, a condiment, and sometimes even a dessert topping. Over the past year, I've been exploring the world of olive oil, from everyday cooking techniques to how to find bottles worth reaching for again and again.

Here are 12 ways to use olive oil that you may not have thought of, from breakfast to dessert, savory to sweet. And yes, I've tried them all - each one earned its spot on this list!

1. Top your yogurt bowl with olive oil 

Upgrade your morning yogurt bowl by stirring in 1-2 teaspoons of EVOO before adding your toppings. The oil adds a luxurious silkiness that plays beautifully against tangy Greek yogurt, fragrant honey, and crunchy toasted nuts. It's the kind of breakfast that feels indulgent but is genuinely good for you.

2. Blend it into smoothies 

A tablespoon of mild EVOO blended into your smoothie adds healthy fats that help your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in your fruits and greens, and you won't even taste it. Since blending EVOO can make your smoothie bitter, blend the rest of your ingredients first, and add it in just the last few seconds.

3. Stir it into your coffee 

A teaspoon of good olive oil stirred into your morning latte or black coffee adds subtle richness without the heaviness of butter or cream. It won't give you more energy, but fat slows the absorption of caffeine, smoothing out the jitters and making the energy-boosting effect last longer. It's not for everyone, but many EVOO enthusiasts love it (including yours truly...I recommend a mild-flavored olive oil here).

4. Stir into oatmeal or porridge with honey and cinnamon 

Instead of reaching for almond milk, try finishing your morning oats with a tablespoon of olive oil, a drizzle of honey, and a dusting of cinnamon. It makes the oatmeal taste richer and more complex, while the healthy fats help keep you satisfied all morning.

5. Use it on toast instead of butter 

This is the simplest swap on the list and arguably the one with the biggest payoff. Pour a generous glug of olive oil onto good crusty toast, add a pinch of flaky salt, and you have something that tastes as if it came from a trattoria in Rome. Add a smear of ricotta or mashed avocado and a slice of tomato, and suddenly you've got a full moment.

6. Garnish soups with EVOO before serving 

A finishing touch of olive oil is one of the most underrated moves in the kitchen. Ladle your soup into bowls (such as my Spiced Carrot and Red Lentil Soup) then drizzle generously over the top just before serving. It adds richness, a silky mouthfeel, and a peppery kick that elevates even the simplest soup and improves satiety.

7. Drizzle over dips for flavor and texture 

Any thick, creamy dip - hummus, white bean, baba ganoush, whipped feta, even a simple bowl of labneh - becomes something special with a generous puddle of olive oil in the center. It keeps the dip from drying out, adds richness, and creates an irresistible little pool for your pita or veggies to swipe through. Finish with a sprinkle of paprika or sumac and suddenly your appetizer looks like it came from a restaurant.

8. Finish off fish & seafood 

The simplest, most elegant way to serve fish: cook it simply, then finish with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon and a glug of your best olive oil right before it hits the table. The heat of the fish warms the oil just enough to bloom its flavor, and combined with the bright acidity of lemon, it's pure, clean, and completely irresistible.

9. Olive oil mashed potatoes (or other veggies)

Once you try mashed potatoes made with olive oil instead of butter, it's hard to go back. The result is lighter, silkier, and more flavorful - especially if you use a bold, grassy extra virgin olive oil. We have a full recipe on the blog, and it's a reader favorite for a reason. And olive oil works for mashing more than just your average potato; consider using it for mashed sweet potatoes, cauliflower, or pureed winter squash.

10. Olive oil yogurt dip - two ways 

Whisk together Greek yogurt, a good pour of extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs (dill, mint, or chives), garlic, and a pinch of salt for a savory veggie dip that puts ranch dressing to shame. Or, for a fruit dip, whisk EVOO with honey and plain yogurt until smooth and creamy. It's a surprisingly elegant accompaniment to sliced stone fruit, berries, or apple wedges.

11. Toss popcorn with EVOO instead of butter 

Toss freshly popped corn in olive oil while it's still hot, season generously with flaky salt, and (if you're feeling fancy) add a little smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, or dried herbs. It's lighter than butter-drenched popcorn but far more interesting, and it'll ruin microwave popcorn for you forever. I use this olive oil sprayer to prevent soggy spots.

12. EVOO drizzled over vanilla ice cream + flaky salt 

Because we all need dessert sometimes. I know this one sounds wild, but once you try it, you might never go back. A generous drizzle of grassy, peppery extra virgin olive oil over a small scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, finished with a pinch of flaky sea salt, hits every note: rich, sweet, savory, and just a little bit sophisticated. It's very trendy in Italy right now...for a reason.

More Olive Oil Inspiration

If these ideas have you excited to cook with EVOO, Parsley & Parm is a great resource. I've got plenty of olive oil-forward recipes on the blog, including this butternut squash and apple tian, a scrumptious Banana Olive Oil Cake, and my popular Lemon Herb Yogurt Sauce, which works as a drizzle or a dip.

Olive oil is one of those ingredients that can take some time to get used to, but the more you use it, the more uses you find for it. Stay tuned to Parsley & Parm for more recipes, guides, and tips coming soon.

Pin it! Save these tips for later