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If you’re looking for an easy appetizer to make for your next dinner or party, try these Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing. They look great on a table, and they are delicious. Plus, they are so easy to put together.
I’m always looking for new recipes to serve company or to take to family gathering or church dinners. These skewers are great when you’re busy and don’t have the desire to cook something. However, they are best when they have marinated in the Italian dressing for at least 6 hours. 8 hours or overnight would be even better! Plus, you can make as many or as few as you need. Simple, simple!
What is Antipasto?
Simply put, antipasto means a dish that is served before the main meal. It’s taken from the Latin root “anti”, which means before, and “pastus,” which means meal. So, before the meal. I sometimes get confused with using antipasto (singular) vs antipasti (plural). And some people think the English language is hard to understand!
This recipe uses all of my favorite antipasto ingredients that you might find on an appetizer tray–calamata olives, grape tomatoes, green olives, fresh mozzarella, artichoke hearts, salami, pepperoni. And really, you could add more items if there’s something else that you love, such as roasted red peppers. Place the items on skewers and then drizzle them with your favorite Italian dressing. See my Antipasto Recipes Here.
I like to make a homemade Italian dressing with Italian seasonings and spices, extra-virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It’s so easy to make and uses common ingredients in your cupboard. Then I simply store the dressing mix in a small container until I need it for such a recipe as this! If you don’t have the time or interest in making your own, simply use your favorite Italian dressing. I recommend Olive Garden’s Signature Italian Dressing or Wishbone Italian Dressing.
I recently made these skewers for a four-course Italian dinner with family including some cousins from Colorado. We began the dinner with this appetizer and continued laughing and enjoying each course to the very end–a good 4-5 hours! As I’ve mentioned before, if you’re going to the trouble to make a fine-dining experience for those you love, you should also take the time to enjoy eating it, with lots of laughter and stories–and wine, if you so choose.
FYI, I also served Spinach Salad, French Bread with Dipping Oil, Baked Five-Cheese Ravioli, and ended with Tiramisu with Cream Cheese, and these Chocolate Irish Cream Truffles, simply because I had them.
What Skewers Should I Use?
When deciding on the skewers for this recipe, I recommend using bamboo vs metal. I happened to have some 12″ wooden skewers for making kabobs, which were too long. To fix this, I had my husband cut them in half to make 6″ skewers. You could buy Bamboo Skewers Here.
More Appetizers to Enjoy
Ingredients for Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- Calamata olives
- Green olives with pimento
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Fresh Mozzarella Pearls
Homemade Italian Dressing
- Dried Oregano
- Parsley
- Dried Basil
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Onion salt
- Seasoned salt
- Granulated sugar
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Celery seed
- Red pepper flakes
- extra-virgin olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. To begin, go ahead and drain the olives and artichoke hearts from their liquid, and then pat dry with paper towels.
Prepare the Italian Dressing Mix
Next, prepare the homemade Italian Dressing Mix. In a small bowl (or spice container), combine the dried oregano, parsley and basil, garlic powder, onion powder, onion salt, seasoned salt, granulated sugar, freshly ground black pepper, celery seed, and red pepper flakes. Mix together with a fork until combined.
When I prepare homemade spice mixes, I will often mix them directly into the container that I will store them in. I like to repurpose glass spice bottles for this purpose. Use a small funnel to ensure there are no spills. Then when you have everything in the container, tighten the lid and shake everything to combine. It works great. Also, make sure to shake it well before you use the spice.
In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon Italian Dressing Mix, extra-virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
Save the remaining dressing mix for another time and use.
Add the fresh mozzarella pearls to the olive oil mixture and allow them to soak for a few minutes while you prepare the skewers.
Assemble the Antipasto Skewers
For ease in assembling the skewers, I like to place each ingredient in a small bowl, then placed each bowl in the order that I want on the skewer. – Kalamata Olive, pepperoni, artichoke heart, salami, mozzarella, tomato, mozzarella, salami, and finish with green olive.
I tried to coordinate the skewers in an appealing way with the olives on each end and the cheese on each side of the tomato. You may assemble the ingredients as you wish. Just be sure to leave a couple inches on one end for picking up the appetizer.
Final Step – Drizzle with Italian Dressing
Once arranged, layer the filled skewers on a baking sheet or in a baking pan so that they are packed close together.
Generously drizzle the remaining Italian dressing over the skewers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours to let the flavors meld.
When ready to serve, place Antipasto Skewers on a pretty platter. This recipe will make at least 24 skewers and will serve 10-12 people.
Wine Recommendations: Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Barolo, or Chianti.
See more Appetizers Here. Browse Italian Recipes Here.
Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Ingredients
- 6.35 oz Kalamata olives
- 7 oz Green olives with pimento
- 12 oz Marinated Artichoke Hearts
- 10 oz Grape Tomatoes
- 16 oz Genoa Salami
- 6 oz Pepperoni
- 8 oz Fresh Mozzarella Pearls
Homemade Italian Dressing
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons onion salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. To begin, go ahead and drain the olives and artichoke hearts from their liquid, and then pat dry with paper towels.
Prepare the Italian Dressing
- In a small bowl (or spice container), combine the dried oregano, parsley and basil, garlic powder, onion powder, onion salt, seasoned salt, granulated sugar, freshly ground black pepper, celery seed, and red pepper flakes. Mix together with a fork until combined.
- In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon Italian Dressing Mix, extra-virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
- (Save the remaining dressing mix for another time and use.)
- Add the fresh mozzarella pearls to the olive oil mixture and allow to soak for a few minutes while you prepare the skewers.
Assemble the Antipasto Skewers
- For ease in assembling the skewers, I like to place each ingredient in a small bowl, and then in the order I want to place them on the skewer.
- Kalamata Olive, pepperoni, artichoke heart, salami, mozzarella, tomato, mozzarella, salami, and finish with green olive.
- You may assemble the ingredients as you wish. Just be sure to leave a couple inches on one end for picking up the appetizer.
- Once arranged, place the filled skewers on a baking sheet or in large container.
Drizzle with Italian Dressing
- Drizzle the remaining Italian dressing over the skewers. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for 6-8 hours to let the flavors meld.
- When ready to serve, place Antipasto Skewers on a pretty platter. This recipe will make 24 skewers and will serve 10-12 people.
I would try this just without the meat. It has everything I like – cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes
Hi Kim, Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll enjoy making this appetizer! Skewers are always fun. Enjoy!