Antipasto Skewers

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.  

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

• 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. And both 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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
• Baked Sauerkraut Balls
• Italian Meatballs
• Greek Pinwheels
• Baked Brie
• Crab Cakes

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