Loaded with salami, chunks of mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and homemade Italian Herb Marinated Olives, these Antipasto Skewers are the perfect easy and quick crowd pleasing appetizer for any Christmas or holiday party, brunch, bridal shower, or other occasion.
These Antipasto Skewers are like an Italian antipasto platter neatly packed into handheld servings. They are loaded up with all of my favorites including cubed mozzarella cheese, a variety Italian meats, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, and marinated olives. Each element brings something different from salty meats and creamy cheese to the bright pop of the tomatoes.
But the real star is the Italian Herb Marinated Olives. These olives are packed with flavor. They are briny and salty with lots of herby flavor. Plus they are so easy to make. You just mix everything together and let them marinade in the fridge for a couple of hours – the longer the better.
I brought these Antipasto Skewers with Italian Herb Marinated Olives to a friend’s Christmas party recently and they were a huge hit. People kept asking about the olives and could not believe that I made them. They are sure to impress at any holiday party.
What Do You Need to Make Antipasto Skewers with Marinated Olives?
These Antipasto Skewers can be customized to your liking or tastes but the basic recipe includes:
- Italian Meats: I used a trio of salami for these skewers, because salami is amazing. But you can also use any Italian sliced meats such as capicola, prosciutto, mortadella, or peperoni. You can use all one kind or mix it up with a variety.
- Mozzarella Cheese: You can use any type of cheese here. I used a block of mozzarella cut into bite sized cubes, but little fresh mozzarella cheese pearls would also be cute.
- Artichoke Hearts: A jar of artichoke hearts packed in oil and spices is a quick shortcut to add lots of flavor. We are big fans of artichokes, but if they aren’t your favorite, you can skip them or substitute a jar of roasted red peppers, pepperoncinis, or sundried tomatoes.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes add a pop of freshness and sweetness to balance out the heavy meats and cheese and briny olives.
- Marinated Olives: These Italian Herb Marinated Olives are the highlight of this dish. The recipe makes more olives than you will probably need for the skewers, but I like to serve the extras in a bowl along side the skewers so people can grab some extra.
When constructing the skewers, I like to mix it up, adding the ingredients in a different order on each toothpick. I feel like this keeps it more interesting than just placing everything in the same order one each skewer. Plus, then each skewer is it’s own unique journey. When we were building these, we made some with more or less meat and others with or without olives. This way everyone can find a skewer that fits their preferences.
These Italian Antipasto Skewers with Herb Marinated Olives make the perfect appetizer for any holiday party. For Christmas I love to display them around a round platter so they look like a festive wreath. You can even add a few sprigs of rosemary to make it extra fancy.
More Recipes for Your Holiday Party
Looking for more appetizers and cocktails for your holiday party or Christmas dinner? Here are some of my favorites:
- Frosted Cranberry Margarita with Sugared Cranberries
- Whipped Feta Dip with Artichokes & Kale
- Raspberry Lemon Champagne Cocktail
- Easy Tahini & Avocado Dip
- Quick Maple Cinnamon Candied Walnuts
- Rosemary Citrus Moscow Mule
- Sparkling Peach Sangria
Antipasto Skewers with Italian Herb Marinated Olives
Ingredients
Italian Herb Marinated Olives
- 1 12 oz jar large green olives
- 1 12 oz jar kalamata olives
- ½ cup good quality olive oil
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic (lightly crushed)
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper
To Assemble the Skewers
- 25 6 inch toothpicks or skewers
- 10 oz sliced salami (or other Italian meats)
- 1 pt cherry tomatoes
- 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts (drained)
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese (cut into cubes)
- marinated olives (recipe below)
Instructions
Italian Herb Marinated Olives
- Drain olives of juice and discard liquid.
- Add the olives, olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, and spices to a medium sized bowl, jar, or glass dish. Stir to combine evenly.
- Refrigerate 12 - 24 hours.
To Assemble the Skewers
- Thread ingredients on skewers, varying the order and placement. Serve extra olives in a bowl alongside skewers.
- Skewers can be made in advance and refrigerate until ready to serve.