Italian Appetizer Recipes That Say “Buon Appetito” to Your Dinner Guests

Bring a little bit of la dolce vita to your dining room with these savory snacks inspired by our favorite Italian and Italian-American restaurants.

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Cantaloupe and Mozzarella with Prosciutto and Basil

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Bring a little bit of la dolce vita to your dining room with these savory snacks inspired by our favorite Italian and Italian-American restaurants.

Cantaloupe and Mozzarella with Prosciutto and Basil

Pink, white, and orange paint a pretty picture on this antipasti platter.

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Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini

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Marinated artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, and parsley come together in just a few minutes to make the tasty topping for this easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Serve at room temperature or broil the crostini for a few minutes so the cheese melts.

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Eggplant Focaccia

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Thin slices of eggplant become tender and silky as they roast on top of chewy focaccia dough. Emmentaler cheese adds a wonderfully nutty flavor.

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Pancetta-Wrapped Figs

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Simmer dried figs in spiced red-wine vinegar to make them plump and tangy, then wrap in pancetta and bake.

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Stravecchio Frico

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These lacy, crispy cheese morsels require only two ingredients.

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Grilled Tomato Bruschetta

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Use a hot grill to char halved plum tomatoes and thick slices of country bread for this bruschetta. Combine the tomatoes with minced garlic, red-wine vinegar, red-pepper flakes, and fresh basil before mounding on grilled bread.

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Bagna Cauda

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Anchovies, garlic, butter, and olive oil: There's nothing demure about this Italian classic. Serve the dip warm with raw vegetables.

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Marinated Olives

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Herbed olives instantly elevate any gathering.

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Pomegranate-Fontina Rice Balls

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Often called arancini, these breadcrumb-coated fried rice balls are a popular Italian appetizer. Here, juicy little pomegranate seeds offset the richness of the risotto's Parmesan and fontina cheeses.

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Meatball Parmigiana Sliders

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Meatballs coated in marinara sauce, smothered with cheese, and sandwiched in brioche rolls are a party-perfect nibble.

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Fried Baby Artichokes

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Savor the delights of tender little artichokes in this preparation that poaches and then fries the thistles in the same pan along with fragrant cloves of garlic.

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Chicken-Liver Crostini

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Sage and Vin Santo complement the earthiness of this chicken-liver spread.

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Broiled Green Figs with Pancetta

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Hungry barhoppers are treated right in Venice, where drinks can be chased with freshly made snacks known as cicchetti, such as these. Try broiled green figs sprinkled with fennel seeds and wrapped in pancetta.

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Eggplant Caponata Crostini

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The essential Sicilian dish relish composed of eggplant, tomatoes, raisins, and pine nuts gains depth here from unsweetened cocoa powder.

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Antipasti Pizza

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Top these mini pizzas with olives, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, and red-pepper flakes. You can use store-bought or homemade dough to make this sure-to-go-fast appetizer.

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Italian Appetizer Recipes That Say “Buon Appetito” to Your Dinner Guests

1 of 15

Cantaloupe and Mozzarella with Prosciutto and Basil

Cantaloupe and Mozzarella with Prosciutto and Basil

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Artichoke-Parmesan Crostini

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Eggplant Focaccia

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Pancetta-Wrapped Figs

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Stravecchio Frico

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Grilled Tomato Bruschetta

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Bagna Cauda

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Marinated Olives

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Pomegranate-Fontina Rice Balls

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Meatball Parmigiana Sliders

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Fried Baby Artichokes

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Chicken-Liver Crostini

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Broiled Green Figs with Pancetta

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Eggplant Caponata Crostini

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Antipasti Pizza

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