When you think "Italian" you may already envision pasta, but there's so much more to the cuisine than that. If you're dreaming up the best Italian appetizer recipes to serve at a party, permit these classic and unique recipes to inspire your spread. While most of them lean more toward the traditional route, a few are Americanized (think: caprese skewers, pizza cone, and fried ravioli).
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Marinated Olives
Marinate olives with chili flakes to give them a spicy kick.
Get the recipe: marinated olives [4]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Burrata-Stuffed Squash Blossom Recipe
For a simple side, stuff squash blossoms with burrata and serve with a briny olive tapenade.
Get the recipe: burrata-stuffed squash blossoms [5]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Crostini With Zucchini Pesto
Consider this shredded zucchini pesto the closest thing to Italian salsa.
Get the recipe: crostini with zucchini pesto [6]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Caprese Salad Skewers
Turn the famous salad into a party-ready appetizer.
Get the recipe: caprese skewers [7]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Lamb Lollipops
Roast lamb lollipops in the oven and dollop a little mint-pistachio pesto once they come out.
Get the recipe: lamb lollipops [8]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Tartines
Carbs on carbs; you can't go wrong! Giada De Laurentiis tops toasted bread with roasted butternut squash, herbed goat cheese, and candied pistachios.
Get the recipe: butternut suqash and goat cheese tartines [9]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Parmesan Fricos
A frico simply means cheese that's baked until it's crisped up like a cracker. Serve these solo or with more cheese.
Get the recipe: parmesan fiscos [10]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Pizza Cones
Instead of frozen pizza bites, try these pizza cones. The centers are pure molten heaven of cheese and tomato sauce.
Get the recipe: pizza cones [11]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Truffle and Parmesan Popcorn
Try splashing truffle oil and sprinkling parmesan cheese on popcorn to make it a party-worthy appetizer.
Get the recipe: truffle and parmesan popcorn [12]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: T.G.I Friday's Mozzarella Sticks
Battered, deep-fried mozzarella sticks with tomato dipping sauce sounds like pure weekend indulgence.
Get the recipe: mozzarella sticks [13]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Cranberry, Pear, and Orange Crostini
Cranberry, orange, pear mostarda, and triple-cream goat brie top off these crispy crostini.
Get the recipe: baked crostini bites [14]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms
You won't miss the meat in these loaded stuffed mushrooms.
Get the recipe: vegetarian stuffed mushrooms [15]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Sautéed Kale and Burrata Bruschetta
Freshly sautéed kale and burrata form these lightened-up bruschetta.
Get the recipe: kale bruschetta [16]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Breadsticks
Italian grissini (breadsticks) make for great snacking solo or with a little tapenade.
Get the recipe: Italian breadsticks [17]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Baked Goat Cheese
This simple, three-ingredient fix can be whipped up for last-minute entertaining.
Get the recipe: baked goat cheese appetizer [18]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Pizza With Swiss Chard and Walnuts
This cheeseless pizza packs plenty of flavor with greens and toasted nuts.
Get the recipe: pizza with swiss chard and walnuts [19]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Green Olive Dip
Cilantro and green olives blend together for a briny, herbaceous spread.
Get the recipe: green olive dip [20]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Grilled Caprese Bruschetta
This is like an open-faced Italian grilled cheese.
Get the recipe: grilled caprese bruschetta [21]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Marinated Goat Cheese With Olives
This appetizer requires little effort yet looks so refined.
Get the recipe: marinated goat cheese with olives [22]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Tortellini Skewers
Mozzarella, olive, cherry tomatoes, basil, and tortellini come together for a skewer you won't want to put down.
Get the recipe: tortellini skewers [23]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Garlic and Thyme Monkey Bread With Spicy Tomato Sauce
Take the best of garlic bread and transform it into pull-apart money bread!
Get the recipe: garlic and thyme monkey bread with spicy tomato sauce [24]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Garlic Bread Mini Pizzas
Hybridize two favorite Italian dishes into one crowd-pleasing app.
Get the recipe: garlic bread mini pizzas [25]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Walnut Pesto
While pesto is most commonly tossed in pasta [26], it makes an awesome cracker spread, too.
Get the recipe: walnut pesto [27]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Baked Chicken Parmesan Poppers
These are like Italian chicken nuggets.
Get the recipe: baked chicken parmesan poppers [28]
Italian Appetizer Recipe: Balsamic Steak Bites With Kale and Roasted Tomatoes
Meat eaters won't get enough of these steak morsels.
Get the recipe: balsamic steak bites with kale and roasted tomatoes [29]
Goat Cheese and Prosciutto Crostini
These crostini feature two easy-to-find yet fancy-tasting ingredients.
Get the recipe: goat cheese and prosciutto crostini [30]
Supreme Pizza Dip
It's like queso dip, and the bread slices are like chips!
Get the recipe: supreme pizza dip [31]
Crispy Roasted Baby Artichokes
Need a salty veggie side? Try grilled baby artichokes.
Get the recipe: crispy roasted baby artichokes [32]
Pizza Rolls
This snack is made like cinnamon rolls only stuffed with pepperoni pizza ingredients.
Get the recipe: pizza rolls [33]
Antipasto Sausage Skewers
Take the best of antipasto and combine it together into these packaged skewers.
Get the recipe: antipasto sausage skewers [34]
Fried Ravioli
Make ravioli 10 times greater by breading and frying it and serving with tomato sauce dip.
Get the recipe: Olive Garden's fried ravioli [35]
Pull-Apart Pepperoni Pizza Bread
This casserole dish full of garlic pizza bread will go quick!
Get the recipe: pull-apart garlic pizza bread [36]
DIY Burrata
Yes you can make homemade cheese. The best way to start is with a fresh cow's milk cheese like burrata.
Get the recipe: DIY burrata [37]
Pizza Croquetas
These fried rice balls are filled with mozzarella that stretches a foot long when pulled apart.
Get the recipe: pizza croquetas [38]
Chicken-Stuffed Cheesy Garlic Bread
No one will leave the party hungry after chowing down on this indulgent bite.
Get the recipe: chicken-stuffed cheesy garlic bread [39]