24 Italian Appetizer Recipes That Are Irresistible

Italian appetizers aren’t limited to restaurants! Many are surprisingly simple to make at home. And with options ranging from seafood to meat, chicken, and vegetarian, there’s something for everyone. Try creamy burrata stuffed tomatoes, fancy shiitake mushroom crostini, cheesy pizza rolls, and more. Wow your guests with these delightful Italian appetizer recipes!

Burrata Stuffed Tomato Appetizer

Appetizer: Tomatoes stuffed with feta cheese on a wooden cutting board for New Year's Eve celebration. — Italian Burrata Stuffed Tomato Appetizer. Photo credit: XoxoBella.

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

Tomato Burrata Caprese

Italian Caprese Salad. — Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This authentic Italian burrata caprese salad is a delicious side dish or appetizer that features heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese with balsamic vinegar and truffle salt for added flavor. With every bite, you’ll savor the delicious flavors of this simple yet impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Burrata Caprese

Steak and Shiitake Mushroom Bruschetta Crostini Appetizers

Steak and mushrooms on toast on a brown board. — Steak and Shiitake Mushroom Bruschetta Crostini Appetizers. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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. This beef crostini with mushrooms is the kind of appetizer you might take from a tray at a party.
Get the Recipe: Steak and Shiitake Mushroom Bruschetta Crostini Appetizers

Giardiniera

Italian pickled vegetables in jars on a wooden table. — Authentic Italian Giardiniera. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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 Board

A festive Christmas charcuterie platter of meats and vegetables elegantly displayed on a rustic wooden table. — Italian Antipasto Board Appetizer. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

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

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

Whipped Ricotta Crostini With Honey And Pistachios

This whipped ricotta crostini with honey and pistachios is the perfect fast and easy appetizer that you can whip up ahead of time.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Ricotta Crostini With Honey And Pistachios

Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta (Easy Appetizer)

Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta is an easy appetizer with Mediterranean flavors that’s creamy and crunchy, easy to put together and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta (Easy Appetizer)

Caprese And Prosciutto Mini Skewers

A festive plate of skewers featuring New Year's Eve-inspired appetizers with tomatoes, olives, and salmon. — Caprese And Prosciutto Mini Skewers. Photo credit: In the Kitch.

No New Year’s Eve celebration is complete without a tray of appetizers. These caprese and prosciutto mini skewers are small, delicious, and perfect for snacking while you’re watching the ball drop or pouring another glass of champagne.
Get the Recipe: Caprese And Prosciutto Mini Skewers

Prosciutto Crostini Appetizers

Simple, quick and delicious prosciutto appetizers like prosciutto crostini topped with slices of figs and pieces of goat cheese with walnuts is going to be your next to go party appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Prosciutto Crostini Appetizers

Italian Chicken Meatballs

A group of food balls. — Italian Chicken Meatballs. Photo credit: Happy Gut Lucky.

These Italian Chicken Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. They’re easy and go well in soup, pasta, sandwiches, and more!
Get the Recipe: Italian Chicken Meatballs

Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Bruschetta with pesto on top. — Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

Easy Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes features homemade basil Pesto, sautéed zucchini, and delicious sun-dried tomatoes. If you’re looking for a very best crowd-pleasing appetizer for birthday party, Thanksgiving or Christmas, you can count on this Basil Pesto Bruschetta to deliver. Easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta With Pesto And Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Italian Appetizer featuring Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and gravy. — Polpette: Classic Italian Meatballs. Photo credit: Mari Cruzavalos.

This Italian polpette recipe is made with a mixture of meat and cheese, flavored with a hint of nutmeg, and sautéed with wine. A simple and delicious main dish of traditional Italian cuisine that you should try at least once.
Get the Recipe: Polpette: Classic Italian Meatballs

Polenta Bites With Black Olive Tapenade

Polenta bites with tomato on top. — Vegan Polenta Bites With Black Olive Tapenade. Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

If you need a quick vegan appetizer idea, these Polenta Bites will do the trick. Crispy polenta topped with a tangy Kalamata Olive-Caper spread create a mouthwatering appetizer that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Polenta Bites With Black Olive Tapenade

Italian Fried Peppers

Italian roasted peppers on a white plate. — Italian Fried Peppers. Photo credit: Mari Cruzavalos.

This super easy Italian fried peppers recipe is the perfect appetizer for everyday meals. Serve with some crusty bread and enjoy them in your al fresco dinner any weeknight!
Get the Recipe: Italian Fried Peppers

Italian Cheese Bread

A traditional Italian appetizer consists of two slices of bread served on a plate. — Italian Cheese Bread. Photo credit: Kitchen Divas.

This Italian Cheese Bread recipe is the best bread for Grilled Cheese and tastes similar to Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Red Lobster but in loaf form. It is a quick bread recipe and the perfect addition to any meal. Just wait until you try it
Get the Recipe: Italian Cheese Bread

Mascarpone Stuffed Dates

These Mascarpone Stuffed Dates are topped off with nuts and pomegranate seeds and drizzled with honey. Ready in less than 20 minutes, these are the perfect little finger desserts to impress your guests for cocktail parties, quick get-togethers, or even when you want to satisfy your own sweet tooth.
Get the Recipe: Mascarpone Stuffed Dates

Easy Tomato Bruschetta

Italian crostini on a white plate. — Easy Tomato Bruschetta. Photo credit: Kitchen Divas.

This Easy Tomato Bruschetta recipe is the best Italian appetizer with onion, and parmesan, mozzarella, feta or goat cheese, if desired, on a crusty bread. So much better than store bought.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tomato Bruschetta

Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Looking for a mouthwatering dish that will make you the star of your next gathering? Look no further, my friend! This pull apart pizza bread recipe will not only tickle your taste buds but also leave your guests craving for more. Let’s dive into the world of flavorful delights.
Get the Recipe: Pull Apart Pizza Bread

Pizza Rolls

Turn everyday pizza into an extraordinary experience with pizza rolls! This is a delightful fusion of traditional pizza ingredients rolled into bite-sized pieces that burst with flavor in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Rolls

Crostini With Scallops And Avocado

Italian appetizer with toasted bread, guacamole, and pomegranate. — Holiday Crostini With Scallops And Avocado. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This Crostini with Scallops and Avocado is the perfect appetizer for all your holiday parties. The scallops are sauteed to perfection and placed on top of crunchy crostini spread with avocado. A drizzling of balsamic syrup really takes the flavor over the top.
Get the Recipe: Crostini With Scallops And Avocado

Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer

A dish with meatballs with toothpicks in them. — Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer. Photo credit: Dishes Delish.

This bourbon meatballs recipe fits the bill of a well-loved and delicious appetizer. The meatballs are succulent, the bourbon sauce is scrumptious and their flavors complement each other famously!
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Meatballs Appetizer

Bruschetta With Mozzarella

Italian bruschetta is a delightful appetizer consisting of four delectable bites featuring fresh tomatoes and fragrant basil atop a pristine white plate. — Bruschetta With Mozzarella. Photo credit: Pass Me Some Tasty.

There is nothing quite like the classic flavor combination of sweet tomatoes with fresh basil and mozzarella. Allow this winning flavor trio to marinate with a bit of olive oil, balsamic, and garlic, serve on slices of rustic toasted gluten-free bread, and you’ll have a simple bruschetta with mozzarella appetizer that everyone will love and devour. Just 30 minutes start to finish!
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta With Mozzarella

Burrata Caprese Is Summer’S Best Italian Salad!

For a light, easy meal for dinner tonight, make our recipe for Burrata Caprese- an Italian salad with heirloom tomatoes and vibrant flavors!
Get the Recipe: Burrata Caprese Is Summer’S Best Italian Salad!