Antipasti: Italian Appetizer Recipes

From classic caprese salad to new spins on bruschetta, here are 36 reasons to be pro-antipasti.

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Italian Flatbread (Piadina) with Fontina and Prosciutto

Piadina is a lot like pizza, except the crust doesn't rise and it's grilled instead of baked. The topping possibilities are endless, but an easy go-to is Giada De Laurentiis' ricotta, fontina and prosciutto combination.

Get the Recipe: Italian Flatbread (Piadina) with Fontina and Prosciutto

Chickpea Bruschetta

Instead of pureeing your chickpeas for hummus, leave them whole and add sun-dried tomatoes and parsley for an easy toast topper.

Get the Recipe: Chickpea Bruschetta

Broccolini with Anchovies and Garlic

If you're trying to eat more vegetables, an anchovy-and-garlic-spiked pile of baby broccoli will make healthy eating painless.

Get the Recipe: Broccolini with Anchovies and Garlic

Bruschetta Pizzaiola

A cross between bruschetta and pizza, covered in melted fresh mozzarella? Sign us up.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta Pizzaiola

Grilled Seafood Salad

Garlic and citrus provide a subtle yet flavorful dressing for this mixed-seafood salad that can be served either warm or at room temperature.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Seafood Salad

Roasted Fig Salad with Goat Cheese, Prosciutto and Arugula

Need a salad you can throw together quickly? Roasted figs are the only mildly time-consuming part of this dish — the rest is just an assembly process.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Fig Salad with Goat Cheese, Prosciutto and Arugula

Chicken Parmesan Sticks

Skip the forks and knives, and dig into a bite-size version of chicken Parmesan — on sticks! These bites are perfect for dipping in marinara sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Sticks

Simply Dressed Bocconcini

Crafting the perfect antipasto platter is a cinch with marinated bocconcini around.

Get the Recipe: Simply Dressed Bocconcini

Roasted Tomato Tart

Change up your pizza routine with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil and fontina cheese melted over flaky, buttery puff pastry.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato Tart

Roasted Fennel with Oranges and Greens

Licorice haters will love the sweeter flavor of roasted fennel, complemented by orange juice and crunchy pine nuts.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Fennel with Oranges and Greens

Caprese Salad

Justine Simmons' take on a classic caprese salad uses colorful heirloom tomatoes, making it almost too pretty to eat.

Get the Recipe: Caprese Salad

Roasted Sunchokes with Salsa Verde

Salsa verde is a vibrant green sauce — packed with parsley, capers, anchovies, garlic and lemon — that would taste good on anything, but tender-crisp roasted sunchokes are one of our favorite vessels.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sunchokes with Salsa Verde

Insalata Tre Colori

Technically, there are four colors in this salad if you count the copious amounts of shaved Parmesan cheese.

Get the Recipe: Laura's Insalata Tre Colori

Grilled Ciabatta with Ricotta and Snap Peas

Instagram-worthy and delicious? That's how Tiffani serves her appetizers.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Ciabatta with Ricotta and Snap Peas

Panzanella

Even the biggest salad haters can get behind a bread salad with an almost-even ratio of croutons to vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Panzanella (Stale Bread Summer Entree)

Crispy Ribollita

It may seem strange to make a butternut squash and cannellini bean soup only to add bread to it, chill it and pan-fry it, but once you try Laura Vitale's ribollita, you'll understand why it's such a popular Italian dish.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Ribollita

Pear with Prosciutto and Gorgonzola

This appetizer won't cause a stink at your next party when tangy Gorgonzola and sliced pears get cozy, wrapped up with prosciutto.

Get the Recipe: Pear with Prosciutto and Gorgonzola

White Beans and Rosemary Crostini

There's nothing better than carbs on carbs, so stack baguette slices high with rosemary-infused white beans.

Get the Recipe: White Beans and Rosemary Crostini

Cheesy Tomato Bruschetta

Roasting tomatoes with garlic and breadcrumbs is an easy way to amp up bruschetta's flavor and texture — and melted mozzarella doesn't hurt, either.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Tomato Bruschetta

Insalata di Fagiolini Verdi: Green Bean Salad

Snake beans (Chinese long beans) are fun to look at, but make sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces for your guests for easy eating.

Get the Recipe: Insalata di Fagiolini Verdi: Green Bean Salad

Tapenade

Briny olive tapenade is a versatile spread that keeps well in the fridge if you don't eat it all in one sitting. It works as a bruschetta topping, a pasta sauce or a salty dip.

Get the Recipe: Tapenade

Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto with Gorgonzola and Brie

Gorgonzola and figs are often paired, but sneaking in creamy Brie makes this dish even more addictive.

Get the Recipe: Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto with Gorgonzola and Brie

Mini Pizzas

Embrace your inner kid with bite-sized pies, but satisfy your grownup palate with toppings like bacon and onion, olive and feta, and grilled eggplant and mushrooms.

Get the Recipe: Mini Pizzas

Italian Stuffed Artichokes

Stuffing vegetables with garlicky, cheesy breadcrumbs never hurt anyone. Artichokes are a lot of work to eat, but it's worth the extra effort to get to the tender heart.

Get the Recipe: Italian Stuffed Artichokes

Cheese and Spinach Puff Pastry Pockets

Giada gives Greek spanakopita an Italian makeover by substituting fontina and Parmesan for feta cheese in poppable puff-pastry bites.

Get the Recipe: Cheese and Spinach Puff Pastry Pockets

Porcini Carpaccio

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, this mushroom rendition of beef carpaccio will keep you coming back for seconds (and thirds).

Get the Recipe: Porcini Carpaccio

Antipasto Di Ricotta

This luscious spread of fresh ricotta and lemon zest is as simple as can be. Serve it on toasted or grilled bread for delicious crostini.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto di Ricotta: Simple Ricotta Antipasto

Open-Faced Carpaccio Sandwich

David Rocco gives his beef carpaccio a little flash in the pan before serving it sandwich-style.

Get the Recipe: Crostone di Carpaccio: Open-Faced Carpaccio Sandwich

Schiacciata

This crisp, delicate flatbread is a thinner, crunchier version of focaccia. Top with tomatoes to add a bright burst of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Schiacciata

Arugula and Roasted Fruit Salad

Peppery arugula pairs nicely with sweet roasted pears and plums. Giada also adds croutons made from panettone, the classic Italian Christmas bread.

Get the Recipe: Arugula and Roasted Fruit Salad with Panettone Croutons

Risotto Croquettes

Called "arancini" in Italy, these addictive fried snacks are a great way to use leftover risotto.

Get the Recipe: Risotto Croquettes: Arancini Di Riso

Bruschetta With Sauteed Mushrooms

Instead of traditional tomato bruschetta, Debi and Gabriele of Extra Virgin make a topping of mixed mushrooms sauteed with garlic and herbs.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Sauteed Mushrooms

Caramelized Pancetta Salad

Known as "Italian bacon," pancetta is cured but not smoked. Giada tosses it with brown sugar and spices and serves it with fresh greens.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad

Potato Croquette

David Rocco's creamy potato croquettes have a surprise inside: gooey fresh mozzarella.

Get the Recipe: Potato Croquette

Fried Zucchini Flowers

Italians never discard zucchini blossoms; when lightly battered and fried, they are a crispy treat.

Get the Recipe: Fiori Di Zucchine: Fried Zucchini Flowers

Porcini and Nepitella

Nepitella is a wild Italian herb that tastes similar to a cross between mint and oregano. David Rocco pairs it with porcini mushrooms for this bruschetta.

Get the Recipe: Porcini and Nepitella

Chopped Salad with Roasted Vegetables

A trio of roasted vegetables transforms classic chopped antipasto into a hearty salad.

Get the Recipe: Chopped Salad with Roasted Vegetables