20 Delicious Italian Starters to Kick Off Your Feast
Elevate dinner with these irresistible Italian appetizers that are sure to impress. Whether you’re serving up a traditional antipasto board brimming with flavors or indulging in creamy burrata-stuffed tomatoes, these recipes bring a taste of Italy to your table. From crispy arancini to savory meatball sliders, each dish offers a unique blend of textures and tastes that are perfect for any gathering.
Arancini
If you have leftover rice or leftover risotto, why not make this arancini recipe? These crispy rice balls are great as an appetizer or snack.
Get the Recipe: Arancini
Steak And Shiitake Mushroom Bruschetta
This steak and shiitake mushroom bruschetta crostini is a really tasty canapé. Since the steak and mushrooms are served on toasted bread, it’s a handy finger food option for parties.
Get the Recipe: Steak And Shiitake Mushroom Bruschetta
Burrata Stuffed Tomato Appetizer
For a delightful Italian appetizer, try making fresh burrata-stuffed tomatoes – a quick, simple, and colorful dish that’s perfect for bite-sized finger food. With only four ingredients, plus salt and pepper, these appetizers are appetizing without being too filling, making them a great start to an Italian-inspired meal.
Get the Recipe: Burrata Stuffed Tomato
Marinated Olives With Feta
You only need seven different ingredients to prepare this delicious marinated olives and feta cheese appetizer or snack. Expect a riot of soft and pleasing Mediterranean flavours in every mouthful. Everything in there is tasty from the green and kalamata olives to the creamy feta, salty caperberries, and hints of garlic, red pepper flakes and extra virgin olive oil. If you love Greek appetizers, this might become your next favourite.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Olives With Feta
Antipasto Board
Make the Italian antipasto board or holiday antipasto wreath your new appetizer tradition – a delicious party platter featuring a variety of cheeses, deli meats, vegetables, and a flavorful garlicky herb dressing that’s sure to please every palate.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Board
Giardiniera
An authentic Italian giardiniera recipe consists of Italian pickled vegetables, making it the perfect condiment for Italian sandwiches, cured meats, cheese, grilled meats, pasta salads, and charcuterie boards. Fresh peppers and veggies add a burst of flavor to any dish.
Get the Recipe: Giardiniera
Antipasto Skewers
Antipasto skewers, or antipasto kabobs, make great party food. Easy to make in advance, they are an easy party appetizer idea that’s ideal for parties, picnics, game day, BBQs, road trips, tailgating and gatherings, among others. This crowd-pleasing antipasto bite appetizer is served on wooden skewers and made with classic Italian flavours.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Skewers
Italian Stuffed Mushrooms
These Italian Stuffed Mushrooms have become one of our absolute favorite appetizers!
Get the Recipe: Italian Stuffed Mushrooms
Chicken Milanese Bites
Chicken Milanese Bites are breaded chicken pieces, seasoned with Italian seasoning and fried to a crisp perfection. Super crispy and juicy.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Milanese Bites
Easy Mushrooms On Toast With Avocado Appetizer
Easy Mushrooms on Toast with Avocado Appetizer is a delightful mushrooms on toast recipe, full of flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes. On its own, avocado and mushroom on toast is a great snack, and it’s also a perfect appy to serve before your main course.
Get the Recipe: Easy Mushrooms On Toast With Avocado Appetizer
Cheesy Crusted Roasted Tomato Crostini
Step up your appetizer game with these gorgeous crispy cheese-crusted crostini, piled with creamy Greek yogurt and jammy roasted tomatoes. They’re SUPER easy and guaranteed to be a hit with your guests over the holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Crusted Roasted Tomato Crostini
Prosciutto With Melon And Balsamic Glaze
Take a trip to Italy with this Prosciutto with Melon with Balsamic Glaze. This simple and fresh Italian recipe is perfect as an antipasti appetizer or a party.
Get the Recipe: Prosciutto With Melon And Balsamic Glaze
Mediterranean Platter
From sweet to spicy to hearty to umami-flavored, these 7 amazing recipes are from the South Italian home cuisine and kept simple, so this Italian platter comes together quickly whether you plan to entertain guests or make it a fun dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Platter
Burrata Bruschetta
This easy-to-make Burrata Bruschetta recipe is the ultimate summer appetizer! It features creamy burrata cheese and a delicious fresh tomato basil topping on garlic-rubbed slices of crispy, toasted bread. Absolutely delicious!
Get the Recipe: Burrata Bruschetta
Italian Pickled Eggplant
Melanzane sott’olio (or Italian pickled eggplant) is an Italian delicacy featuring eggplant sticks, garlic, herbs, and red pepper chilies, packed in extra-virgin olive oil, creating a flavorful preserve. Pop them on a bruschetta, toss them with pasta, or simply enjoy them on their own.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pickled Eggplant
Taralli Pugliesi
Taralli Pugliesi (or Tarallini) are an iconic Italian favorite from Puglia/Apulia. A crunchy bread snack served everywhere, with everything! They’re completely addictive and the perfect accompaniment at aperitivo time.
Get the Recipe: Taralli Pugliesi
Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders
These Meatball Sliders are the result of taking juicy, flavorful Italian meatballs, bathing them in rich, zesty marinara, smothering them in mozzarella and cocooning them in hollowed out toasted garlic butter rolls. drool.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Italian Meatball Sliders
Easy Baked Calamari
This Baked Calamari Recipe is a lighter version of the ever-popular fried calamari, but it’s just as delicious! These directions for how to cook calamari rings from frozen using your oven or air fryer are quick and easy.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Calamari
Mini Caprese Deep Dish Pizzas
Mini Caprese Deep Dish Pizzas are the perfect appetizer: combining two favorites into one! Caprese salad meets pizza in these delicious mini deep dish pizzas.
Get the Recipe: Mini Caprese Deep Dish Pizzas
Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites
Mini pizza bagels combine cute mini bagels with garlic, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, marinara, mozzarella cheese, and more. This is an Italian inspired recipe which features fresh flavors and a mouth-watering crunch. This will be one of your favorite lunch ideas!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Mini Pizza Bagel Bites
