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All The Times Olives Made Eating Infinitely Better

We're forever grateful.

Olives come in all shapes and sizes: Green, purple, black; pitted, stuffed, spiced; Kalamata, Nicoise, Sicilian; and they all have their own unique flavor. They're great on their own -- especially as a happy hour snack -- but they're also just the thing you need if you're looking to take your favorite dish up a notch or two.

Think of olives as your kitchen's secret weapon. Planning on making fish for dinner? Dress it up with an olive and mint relish. In the mood for pasta? Add a handful of olives and fresh herbs, and dinner is ready.

Basically, it's in your best interest to keep these jars of briny goodness stocked in your fridge (or cupboard) at all times. You never know when they'll come to your rescue and make your dinner infinitely better. We've gathered 31 recipes to show you exactly how it's done.

1.

Greek Pasta Salad

Foodiecrush
Get the Greek Pasta Salad recipe from Foodiecrush
2.

Greek Style Mac and Cheese

Eclectic Recipes
Get the Greek Style Mac and Cheese recipe from Eclectic Recipes
3.

Roasted Garlic And Olive Focaccia

Eclectic Recipes
Get the Roasted Garlic and Olive Focaccia recipe from Eclectic Recipes
4.

Greek Olive Pesto And Fried Zucchini Grilled Pitas With Marinated Feta and Garbanzo Beans

Half Baked Harvest
5.

Chicken Tzatziki Pizza

Foodiecrush
Get the Chicken Tzatziki Pizza recipe from Foodiecrush
6.

Quick Broiled Barramundi Fillets With Puttanesca Sauce

Cafe Johnsonia
7.

Lemon-Dill Orzo Pasta Salad

Sarah Fioritto
Get the Lemon-Dill Orzo Pasta Salad recipe from Sarah Fioritto via Food52
8.

Greek Quinoa Dinner Omelets With Feta And Tzatziki

Half Baked Harvest
9.

Minty Green Olive-Celery Salsa

Kana Okada/Food&Wine
10.

Olive Tapenade

Eclectic Recipes
Get the Olive Tapenade recipe from Eclectic Recipes
11.

Swiss Chard With Olives

Simply Recipes
Get the Swiss Chard with Olives recipe from Simply Recipes
12.

Sautéed Chicken With Olives, Capers And Lemons

Foodie Crush
13.

Green Olive Pesto Pizza with Roasted Red Peppers And Feta Stuffed Crust

Half Baked Harvest
14.

Middle Eastern Chicken And Couscous Wraps with Goat Cheese

Half Baked Harvest
15.

Greek Grilled Stuffed Chicken

Eclectic Recipes
Get the Greek Grilled Stuffed Chicken recipe from Eclectic Recipes
16.

Orzo Salad With Cannellini Beans And Olives

Eclectic Recipes
17.

Greek Steak Salad French Bread With Soft Boiled Eggs And Feta

Half Baked Harvest
18.

Chicken, Black Olives And Lemon With Spaghetti

Tom Hirschfeld/bonafidefarmfood.com
Get the Chicken, Black Olives and Lemon with Spaghetti recipe from thirschfeld via Food52
19.

The Scuttlebutt Sandwich

Eric Moran/Food52
Get the Scuttlebutt Sandwich recipe from Marian Bull via Food52
20.

Marinated Olives And Feta

A Beautiful Mess
Get the Marinated Olives and Feta recipe from A Beautiful Mess
21.

Fried Olives Stuffed With Cheeses And Herbs

Bell'Alimento
22.

Crispy Chicken Leg Confit With Couscous And Olives

Quentin Bacon/Food&Wine
23.

Pollo Alle Olive

Bell'Alimento
Get the Pollo Alle Olive recipe from Bell'Alimento
24.

Cumin And Lemon Scented Green Olives

New Media Publishing
25.

Savory Rotini

Bell'alimento
Get the Savory Rotini recipe from Bell'alimento
26.

Rigatoni With Artichokes, Garlic And Orange Zest

Kate Whitaker
27.

Braised Pork Shoulder With Fennel, Oranges & Olives

Sarah Fioritto
Get the Braised Pork Shoulder with Fennel, Oranges & Olives recipe from Sarah Fioritto via Food52
28.

Soupe Aux Pistou Aux Olives

fiveandspice
Get the Soupe aux Pistou aux Olives recipe from fiveandspice via Food52
29.

Grilled Fennel Flatbread With Olives And Sultanas

James Ransom/Food52
Get the Grilled Fennel Flatbread with Olives and Sultanas recipe from Girl Farm Kitchen via Food52
30.

Brown Rice Pilaf With Green Olives And Lemon

Martin Morrell/Food&Wine
31.

Salmon With Andouille Sausage And Green Olives

Kana Okada/Food&Wine

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