50 Italian Appetizers

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

If you’ve got a holiday party or a special occasion on the calendar, this simple yet incredible Italian appetiser collection will impress your guests!

Published on July 2022 /Updated on Dec 2024

Top view of a table full of colorful Italian appetizers.

If you think about Italian food, Italian appetizers provide some of the most delicious moments in an Italian meal. They’re colourful, generous, fast to make loads, and most can be served at room temperature.

Oh – and they look and taste amazing, absolutely perfect for sharing and celebrating!

What does antipasti mean?

Antipasto or antipasti (in English, appetizer) means ‘before the meal’. To be precise, Italian starters are the beginning of a long meal (I’m 100% Italian, so I know what I’m talking about!).

So, let’s pretend to be in Italy for a moment. Clutch your glass of wine in one hand and use your other to grab moist focaccia, scrumptious crostini, bruschetta, cheese, and olives while you’re having a lovely, sometimes loud, conversation with family and friends. : )

Close-up a table full of Italian appetizers including mozzarella, caprese skewers, and pinzimonio.

Popular ingredients to make easy Italian appetizers

The list of Italian starters can be endless!

The variety of flavour and textures from Northern to Southern Italy is impressive, but seasonal products are usually the main ingredient in Italian dishes, regardless of the region. 

Although here at The Clever Meal, we share mostly vegetarian recipes, I’ve decided to offer a wider array of traditional recipes, including fish and meat, in this collection of Italian appetizers.

But let’s see which are the most popular ingredients in the Italian cuisine when it comes to antipasti:

Fruit and vegetables: Plenty of olives and extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, eggplants, artichokes, mushrooms, and much more. Italians turn simple, seasonal ingredients into fabulous rustic antipasti.

Italian cheese: from the soft, mild mozzarella cheese, ricotta, and gorgonzola to the savoury aged parmesan or pecorino cheese, cheese is definitely a must.

Carbs: Crispy ciabatta bread, focaccia, pizza, crackers, grissini, or taralli are absolutely the stars of the show when it comes to a classic Italian antipasto platter.

Beef: The most popular meat is the savoury and salty Prosciutto di Parma or Parma Ham. This cured ham is the result of traditional artisan techniques, and it’s served thinly sliced along with bread, breadsticks, or crostini. But cooked ham, bresaola, salami, pancetta and mortadella are also popular appetizers.

Fish: The variety of Italian appetizers includes many fish and seafood recipes, especially in South Italy. From anchovies and tuna to prawns and mussels, if you love seafood, there’s plenty to choose from!

Italian Appetizers

Here you'll find some of the best Italian appetizer recipes. ENJOY!

Looking for more appetizer recipes?

Check out these collections of 50 vegan appetizers, 25 dairy-free appetizers or easy vegetarian appetizers, all packed with delicious recipes. Below are more appetizer ideas to inspire you and perfect for sharing:

If you make one or more of these delicious Italian appetizers or have a question, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you and get your feedback! x

For more recipe updates, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on InstagramPinterest and Facebook.

Top view of a table full of Italian appetizers.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

50 Italian Appetizers

If you've got a holiday party or a summer gathering on the calendar, this collection of simple, flavorful Italian appetizers are sure to impress! Here is one of my favorite super easy recipe to make caprese skewers.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian appetizers
Servings: 6
Calories: 58kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 12 baby mozzarella balls (in water)
  • 12 cherry tomatoes
  • 12 fresh basil leaves
  • ½ Tablespoon tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle
  • salt, to sprinkle
  • freshly ground black pepper, to sprinkle
  • balsamic glaze or basil pesto, to drizzle (optional)

Instructions

  • Layer a basil leaf, a cherry tomato, and a mini mozzarella ball onto a skewer, followed by another fresh basil leaf. If your skewer is long enough, repeat. Otherwise, use another skewer to make 12 small servings. 
  • Place all your lovely skewers on a serving plate and season with fine salt, pepper, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. If you wish, you can also drizzle them with basil pesto or balsamic glaze. Serve at room temperature.

Notes

Storage: these Caprese salad skewers keep well in the fridge in airtight container for about 24 hours. However, the basil leaves might turn brown in the fridge.
Nutrition facts: the nutrition values are for one serving and are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate only and it should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 208IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 0.3mg

2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a wonderful collection, love all of them! Thank you!

    1. I’m so pleased to hear that! Thank you. X

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating