If you're looking for a show-stopping appetizer for your next dinner party, nothing beats a good Antipasto Platter. Combine a variety of marinated veggies, olives, cheeses, breads, cured meats, and fresh vegetables on a serving platter, and watch as your guests crowd around to try every single one. It's a must-have appetizer for any event!
Whether you're planning a big cocktail party during the holiday season or just having people over for dinner, try this Antipasto recipe! They are usually served as the first course of an Italian meal, but they're special (and easy) enough to serve for any event. Since most ingredients are prepackaged from the grocery store, you'll spend more time arranging your favorite ingredients than cutting or cooking anything!
Why You'll Love This Antipasto Platter Recipe
- Stunning presentation. This classic Italian appetizer is absolutely gorgeous, with bowls of roasted red bell peppers and marinated olives, a delicious array of meats, different cheeses, the best fresh bread, and more. Your guests will be floored by your thoughtful display and generous servings! It's a vibrant and colorful masterpiece.
- Easy to prepare. Although some of the ingredients need to be sliced, most are purchased brined or marinated from the store. Just add your olives and peppers in small bowls, and arrange everything else on your wooden cutting board or serving platter. and you have the perfect appetizer ready to go!
- Perfect for a crowd. A good antipasto tray draws people in. You can't help but grab a bite of this or nibble on a little of that. Plus, since each one has a range of items, your guests can easily find something that fits their dietary preferences without having to make 10 different appetizers.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Antipasto Platter recipe, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- marinated olives - choose at least one type of marinated olives. Some options include kalamata olives, castelvetrano, stuffed olives, and more.
- marinated artichoke hearts - these marinated artichoke hearts have a buttery, herby flavor that pairs well with deli meats.
- roasted red peppers - choose roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for a pop of color and flavor.
- marinated mushrooms - select pickled or marinated mushrooms for their tender, delicate texture.
- marinated mozzarella balls - these are made by marinating fresh mozzarella balls in olive oil with different herbs and spices and are easy to find at the grocery store. See our easy Marinated Mozzarella Balls for instructions on how to make it at home.
- cheese - you'll need a mix of different kinds of cheeses. Pair different flavors and textures, like parmesan, gouda, provolone, or gorgonzola.
- cured meats - select a variety of different cured meats like salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni.
- crackers or bread - your guests will need some bread or crackers to eat the marinated vegetables, cheeses, and meats. Try serving ciabatta rolls, pita chips, or fresh breadsticks.
- vegetables - slice cherry tomatoes and cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. These will fill any gaps on your Italian antipasto platter.
- optional items - fill out your platter with a variety of other ingredients like nuts, fresh fruits, honey, olive tapenade, and fresh herbs.
You will also need a variety of small bowls, a wooden cutting board, different serving platters, and small spoons, knives, and forks for serving.
How to Make the Best Antipasto Platter
- Position bowls. On a large platter, arrange the items that are in a bowl (these are the marinated items), spacing them apart from each other in a non-symmetrical pattern.
- Arrange cheeses. Arrange the cheese around the bowls, also spacing them away from each other to keep things pleasing to the eyes.
- Layer meats. Arrange the cured meats around the bowls and cheese. You can use your hands to roll up the meat to create an aesthetically pleasing design.
- Add bread. Arrange the crackers and bread in gaps (also keeping them apart from each other).
- Add vegetables. Fill any large gaps with vegetables
Recipe Variations
- Add variety. If you're throwing a big party, offer different types of peppers, olives, and mushrooms instead of having multiple bowls of the same type. Look for cherry peppers, blue cheese stuffed olives, almond stuffed olives, etc.
- Go big. For a deluxe antipasto platter, add Marcona almonds, fresh figs or other fruits, Italian honey, fig jam, dried fruit, olive tapenade, fresh pesto, and more.
- Make an Italian antipasto platter. Although most of these ingredients are Italian, take it to the next level and choose only the best Italian cheeses and cured meats for your antipasto board.
- Make a Mediterranean antipasto platter. Switch up the flavor by adding in classic Mediterranean ingredients to the platter such as Hummus and Tzatziki, Pita Bread, stuffed grape leaves (dolmades), and feta cheese.
How to Serve
This Antipasto Platter is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite Italian recipes including:
- Italian Meatballs
- Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Eggplant Parmesan
- Italian Pasta Salad
For more recipe inspiration, see our 50 Best Italian Recipes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Balance textures and flavors. The best antipasto platters have a mixture of flavors and textures. Offer a range of textures, like crunchy, soft, and creamy, and incorporate all the different tastes (sweet, salty, sour, umami, and bitter).
- Find the right blend of cheeses. The secret to a good cheese board is to incorporate several different types of cheeses with a range of flavors and textures. Choose at least one of each of these types of cheese: fresh or soft (mozzarella balls, goat cheese, or gorgonzola dolce), soft-ripened (taleggio or cambozola), semi-hard cheeses (provolone or fontina), and hard Italian cheese (parmesan, pecorino, or piave).
- Include something fresh. Since many of these ingredients are cured or marinated, some fresh basil leaves or fresh fruit can make the whole platter light and inviting.
- Look for a local deli. Although you can find many of these ingredients at the grocery store, you'll learn so much about Italian food and have a real, authentic antipasti board after a trip to an Italian deli.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
The fresh ingredients in your antipasto platter should be at room temperature for at most 2 hours. Consider storing them in chilled dishes to keep them fresh for longer. Hard cheese can be at room temperature for up to 4 hours and bread/crackers can be longer.
How to Freeze
It's best to make antipasti platters right before serving. The ingredients do not typically freeze and thaw very well.
FAQ
The best antipasto platters contain a variety of ingredients that can be paired together in different ways. You typically want to offer some bread, cured meats, cheeses, olives, marinated meats, and fresh vegetables, but there are many different options for each one you can choose from. Add several types of olives or marinated vegetables or round out your display with nuts, fresh fruits, herbs, honey, and more. Your guests will eat some items on their own and combine others together, so think about items that will taste delicious together or separately.
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, charcuterie refers specifically to cured meats. A charcuterie board should contain a variety of cured meats with other ingredients that enhance the flavors of the salami and prosciutto. On the other hand, an antipasto platter has a much wider arrangement of ingredients. It typically includes a variety of breads, marinated vegetables, olives, nuts, salami, a great cheese selection, and other sauces, dips, and fresh fruits for people to graze on.
For a great antipasto platter, you need a great selection of cheeses. Include a range of flavors and textures, like a mixture of fresh cheeses, soft-ripened cheeses, semi-hard cheeses, and hard cheeses. For an Italian antipasto platter, choose exclusively Italian cheeses.
More Appetizer Recipes
- 75+ Easy Appetizer Recipes
- How to Make a Charcuterie Board
- Veggie Tray
- Antipasto Skewers
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- Caprese Skewers
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
