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    Antipasto Skewers

    Appetizers Holiday Cuisine Pasta Real Food April 22, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 10 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    A party-perfect appetizer that is full of flavor and festive colors.

    Antipasto Skewers are a simple, yet elegant appetizer that is perfect for any party! Made with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and tortellini and served with a cheesy pesto sauce, these tortellini skewers are one party appetizer that everyone loves.  

    Appetizer sticks with cherry tomatoes, tortellini, basil, mozzarella and pepperoni on wooden cutting board.

    Why You Will Love This Appetizer

    If you are looking for a perfect appetizer, these Antipasto Skewers are it.

    This simple appetizer only takes minutes to whip up, yet is impressive enough for cocktail parties and festive enough for holiday parties.

    Made with grape tomatoes, olives, fresh mozzarella, tortellini, and savory pepperoni or proscuitto, these tortellini skewers mimic the flavors of an Antipasto Platter--hence their name Antipasto Skewers.

    They are the not only delicious to eat, they are also pretty to look at, and are the perfect finger food for any party.

    Notes on Ingredients

    Ingredients for Antipasto Skewers labeled on white counter.
    • Tortellini: I prefer cheese tortellini, as it will not compete with the other flavors on the antipasto skewers, but you can use any tortellini you like. Either fresh or frozen tortellini work in this recipe.
    • Pesto: To give our appetizer more flavor and to keep the tortellini from getting gummy or sticky, I recommend tossing the cooked tortellini with a bit of prepared store-bought or homemade basil pesto. If you don't like pesto, toss the tortellini with a bit of olive oil or Balsamic Salad Dressing instead.
    • Basil: If you don't happen to like basil or don't have it on hand, substitute the basil with fresh spinach leaves instead. I love how much color the greens bring to these skewers.
    • Fresh Mozzarella: Mini mozzarella balls are absolutely divine on these skewers. They are bite-size and pair perfectly with tortellini, tomatoes, and pesto. However, you can use cubes of Mozzarella, Provolone, or Asiago if desired.
    • Meat: Thin slices of salami, pepperoni, or prosciutto add heartiness and additional flavor. Of course, if you are meatless, omit the meat altogether. You can also prepare half of your skewers with meat and half without for a party, so both meat-eaters and vegetarians can enjoy it.
    • Optional Add-Ons: Kalamative olives, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and/or pepperoncini are all great options for these skewers.
    • Skewers: Use wooden or metal skewers. For finger foods, I prefer smaller 4-inch skewers, but you can use any size skewer you like.

    Take my recipe as inspiration and create your own spin on these Antipasto Skewers. Any ingredient that you typically find on an antipasto platter can be used for this appetizer.

    How to Make Antipasto Skewers

    • Prepare the tortellini according to package instructions in salted boiling water.
    Cheese tortellini cooking in boiling water.
    • Once cooked, drain off the tortellini and place them in a large bowl.
    • Add the pesto (or olive oil or balsamic dressing) to the warm tortellini and toss to coat.
    • At this point, allow the tortellini to cool to room temperature before preparing the appetizer skewers.
    Cheese Tortellini with pesto in mixing bowl.
    • Once the tortellini is cooled, thread the tortellini, cheese, tomatoes, basil, olives, meat, and any ingredients you opt to use, on the skewers in an alternating pattern.
    • Serve with additional pesto if desired.
    Antipasto Skewers on a wooden platter.

    Preparing in Advance

    Antipasto Skewers can be assembled and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before serving. Any longer than that, the basil will begin to brown.

    Be sure to store the prepared skewers in a sealed container or wrapped well on a platter in the refrigerator. Serve cold, directly from the refrigerator.

    More Holiday Appetizers

    • Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Spinach Artichoke Dip
    • Texas Caviar
    • Italian Meatballs
    • Baked Brie
    • Crab Cakes

    If you enjoyed this recipe for Antipasto Skewers, I would love for you to love a comment below. 

    Antipasto Skewers with tomatoes and mozzarella on wooden cutting board ready to be served.

    Antipasto Skewers

    Made with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, tortellini and served with a cheesy pesto sauce, these Antipasto Skewers are one party appetizer that everyone loves.  
    4.70 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24
    Calories: 121kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 20 ounces cheese tortellini fresh or frozen
    • ¼ cup prepared pesto plus additional for serving if desired
    • 24 grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
    • 24 mini fresh mozzarella balls
    • 48 spinach or basil leaves
    • 24 slices pepperoni

    Optional

    • 24 Kalamative olives
    • 24 Artichoke Hearts
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Prepare tortellini according to package directions and drain well.
    • Toss cooked tortellini with prepared pesto. 
    • Skewer the tortellini onto mini cocktail skewers along with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and pepperoni, and any other additional ingredients your family enjoys.
    • Refrigerate for up to 2 days until ready to serve or serve warm immediately.
    • Serve with additional pesto if desired. 

    Notes

    • You can use fresh or frozen cheese tortellini. 
    • Use 4, 6, or 8 inch skewers. I prefer 6 inch skewers for appetizer. 
    • If you don't care for pesto, simply toss your prepared tortellini with a bit of olive oil after cooking.
    • You can use spinach leaves or basil leaves on these Caprese Skewers. I personally prefer spinach to a large basil leaf. 
    • Salami, pepperoni, or prosciutto are all good options to use on your skewers or you can omit the meat altogether for a meatless appetizer. 
    • Feel free to add kalamative olives, pepperoncini peppers, or artichoke hearts to these skewers if you like. 
    • These tortellini skewers are safe to keep at room temperature for 2 hours. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Nellie Tracy

      December 17, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      5 stars
      Love these! Absolutely perfect for holiday parties

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 17, 2020 at 4:28 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed Nellie! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Noelle Simpson

      December 17, 2020 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! So simple and really delicious, great idea!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 17, 2020 at 4:29 pm

        Glad you enjoyed so much Noelle!

        Reply
    3. Denise

      November 21, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      What size skewer do you recommend for these? I found cute bamboo ones but they are 6 inches and i'm not sure if that will be long enough.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        November 22, 2019 at 7:00 am

        Hi Denise! I have used 6 or 8 inch skewers with success. If you feel your skewer is too crowded, just omit one tortellini from the skewer. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Nora

      December 21, 2018 at 2:59 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made caprese pesto skewers many times, but never with tortellini - sounds so yum! I want to make these for NYE, do you think I could use sundried tomatoes in oil instead of the pepperoni? Have a vegetarian coming 😁

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 21, 2018 at 6:23 am

        Hi Nora! Sundried tomatoes sounds like a PERFECT addition to these skewers.

        Reply
    5. Bec

      December 21, 2018 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      Finally, a HEALTHY appetizer idea for New Year's Eve that's easy to make! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 21, 2018 at 6:24 am

        YAY!!! So happy to help!

        Reply

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    A party-perfect appetizer that is full of flavor and festive colors.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

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    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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