Italian Antipasto Skewers Antipasto Recipe

If you’re a fan of food on a stick, like chicken kabobs, vegetable kabobs, or shish kebabs, you need to try these antipasti skewers. With fresh and marinated vegetables, cured meat, creamy cheese, and robust herbs, these appetizer skewers are a delightful hand-held appetizer for your next potluck.

Antipasti

Like tapas in Spain, or mezze in the Middle East, antipasti (plural of antipasto) are Italy’s way of setting the stage for dinner. They are Italian appetizers that may include any number of foods, depending on the region, from fresh and marinated vegetables, to olives and pickles, to cured meats and farinata (chickpea pancakes). Some may even include seafood like shrimp or anchovies. Antipasti are carefully selected for their color and texture to help stimulate the appetite and evoke all five senses–weather it’s in antipasti salad, platters, sandwiches, or these skewers!

Antipasto skewers

I love the idea of a loaded, cornucopia-type antipasto and cheese board like this one or a quick burrata plate with prosciutto when I have guests over. But, like my Greek salad skewers, these beautiful and festive appetizer skewers are a great way to present antipasti as easy-to-handle finger food to feed a crowd. Plus, they require fewer ingredients. To make these antipasto skewers, you’ll need some mini wooden skewers and a few of your favorite antipasti. I like to soak the skewers beforehand to avoid splinters, but this is not a necessary step. When selecting which antipasti go on my skewers, I keep in mind: color, texture and flavor. I typically add one meat such as prosciutto, but you can keep it all vegetarian if you like. Let’s get into what you’ll need for the perfect antipasto kebabs!

Ingredients you’ll need for this antipasto recipe

For my antipasto skewers, I use a combination of one vegetable, one or two marinated options, cheese, meat, and a fresh herb. Here’s what you’ll need to make this antipasto:

Cured meat such as prosciutto di parma, salami, or pepperoni. Cut into smaller pieces and roll or fold the meat to fit easily on a skewer. Cheese such as baby mozzarella balls or any firm mild cheese, cut into cubes. Fresh cherry tomatoes. Cherry or grape tomatoes are ideal here given their size. Marinated vegetables such as artichoke hearts. You can also try marinated mushrooms, marinated baby corn, or roasted red peppers (check the olive bar at your local grocery store for some delicious marinated veggies). Olives. Use pitted olives you enjoy (I like kalamata olives here, which are just enough briny but not too bitter). Fresh herbs such as basil leaves, mint, or large flat leaf parsley. Fresh herbs are a great way to add a pop of color and flavor.

How to assemble antipasti skewers

There is no right or wrong way to thread the antipasto through the skewers. Simply pay attention to size, color, and shape, alternating between fresh and marinated ingredients to make it more interesting. When making these antipasto kebabs, I like to start with the fresh herb, then add the meat slices as a hefty base to thread the rest on top. From there, alternate the rest of the ingredients, ending with the olive (the smallest item) at the very top of the skewer. Once you put together one skewer with the antipasti of your choice, try to follow the same pattern as you make the others. This keeps things looking consistent and pretty. Arrange the delicious Italian skewers of antipasti on a platter or board, and to finish, you can sprinkle a little dried oregano with a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil, or perhaps a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. Totally optional. Serve cold or at room temperature – antipasti taste better at room temperature.

Variations

You can easily make these antipasto skewers your own. Here are some ideas:

Use different vegetables – Add some cucumber or bell peppers for more crunch. Add shrimp – Not a fan of cured meat? Use some cooked shrimp instead. (Cook the shrimp as you would for my grilled shrimp – it takes just 5 minutes.) Switch up the cheese – A mild option like provolone is a good option. If you aren’t too fussed about keeping things totally Italian, you could also use cheddar or gouda cheese. Make it vegetarian – Skip the meat altogether and add more vegetables (fresh or marinated!). Add tortellini! – Many antipasto skewer recipes call for tortellini (personally, I love a tortellini salad, but these skewers are hefty enough and do not really require the pasta addition). For a heartier meal with the same flavors, try our antipasto chicken sandwich with sun dried tomato aioli, roast peppers, and artichoke hearts.

Make-ahead tips

These pretty party appetizer skewers are a great make-ahead option. You can assemble the skewers and arrange them on a platter even one night in advance. Cover and refrigerate until your guests arrive! If you do make these antipasto skewers ahead, just don’t drizzle any vinaigrette or olive oil on top – save that for just before you serve them.

Leftovers and storage

These skewers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days if stored in airtight containers. Eat leftovers as is, or take apart the antipasto skewers for a sort of antipasto salad!