35 Snacks That Prove Italians Do Appetizers Best

Marinate olives with chili flakes to give them a spicy kick.

Get the recipe: marinated olives

For a simple side, stuff squash blossoms with burrata and serve with a briny olive tapenade.

Get the recipe: burrata-stuffed squash blossoms

Consider this shredded zucchini pesto the closest thing to Italian salsa.

Get the recipe: crostini with zucchini pesto

Turn the famous salad into a party-ready appetizer.

Get the recipe: caprese skewers

Roast lamb lollipops in the oven and dollop a little mint-pistachio pesto once they come out.

Get the recipe: lamb lollipops

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

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

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

Try splashing truffle oil and sprinkling parmesan cheese on popcorn to make it a party-worthy appetizer.

Get the recipe: truffle and parmesan popcorn

Battered, deep-fried mozzarella sticks with tomato dipping sauce sounds like pure weekend indulgence.

Get the recipe: mozzarella sticks

Cranberry, orange, pear mostarda, and triple-cream goat brie top off these crispy crostini.

Get the recipe: baked crostini bites

You won't miss the meat in these loaded stuffed mushrooms.

Get the recipe: vegetarian stuffed mushrooms

Freshly sautéed kale and burrata form these lightened-up bruschetta.

Get the recipe: kale bruschetta

Italian grissini (breadsticks) make for great snacking solo or with a little tapenade.

Get the recipe: Italian breadsticks

This simple, three-ingredient fix can be whipped up for last-minute entertaining.

Get the recipe: baked goat cheese appetizer

This cheeseless pizza packs plenty of flavor with greens and toasted nuts.

Get the recipe: pizza with swiss chard and walnuts

Cilantro and green olives blend together for a briny, herbaceous spread.

Get the recipe: green olive dip

This is like an open-faced Italian grilled cheese.

Get the recipe: grilled caprese bruschetta

This appetizer requires little effort yet looks so refined.

Get the recipe: marinated goat cheese with olives

Mozzarella, olive, cherry tomatoes, basil, and tortellini come together for a skewer you won't want to put down.

Get the recipe: tortellini skewers

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

Hybridize two favorite Italian dishes into one crowd-pleasing app.

Get the recipe: garlic bread mini pizzas

While pesto is most commonly tossed in pasta, it makes an awesome cracker spread, too.

Get the recipe: walnut pesto

These are like Italian chicken nuggets.

Get the recipe: baked chicken parmesan poppers

Meat eaters won't get enough of these steak morsels.

Get the recipe: balsamic steak bites with kale and roasted tomatoes

These crostini feature two easy-to-find yet fancy-tasting ingredients.

Get the recipe: goat cheese and prosciutto crostini

It's like queso dip, and the bread slices are like chips!

Get the recipe: supreme pizza dip

Need a salty veggie side? Try grilled baby artichokes.

Get the recipe: crispy roasted baby artichokes

This snack is made like cinnamon rolls only stuffed with pepperoni pizza ingredients.

Get the recipe: pizza rolls

Take the best of antipasto and combine it together into these packaged skewers.

Get the recipe: antipasto sausage skewers

Make ravioli 10 times greater by breading and frying it and serving with tomato sauce dip.

Get the recipe: Olive Garden's fried ravioli

This casserole dish full of garlic pizza bread will go quick!

Get the recipe: pull-apart garlic pizza bread

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

These fried rice balls are filled with mozzarella that stretches a foot long when pulled apart.

Get the recipe: pizza croquetas

No one will leave the party hungry after chowing down on this indulgent bite.

Get the recipe: chicken-stuffed cheesy garlic bread