Antipasto Platter

This post may contain affiliate links, read our disclosure policy.

An antipasto platter with your favorite meats, cheeses, & Italian condiments is the perfect option for an easy dinner or fun party appetizer. 

This antipasto charcuterie board is one of my favorite easy dinners. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to new foods and flavors. We also love doing a classic charcuterie board to use up leftovers!

Save this recipe!

Save this recipe! Enter your email below and we’ll shoot it straight to ya!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

I consent to receive email from this site 💌

BEST ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Antipasto Platter

Antipasto Platter

Click the button above to save this recipe!

Antipasto Platter Ingredients

  • Meats – Genoa salami, pepperoni, prosciutto. 
  • Cheeses – Marinated mozzarella, Romano cheese, basil & olive oil asiago, sharp provolone. 
  • Fruits and sweets – Black seedless grapes, dark chocolate. 
  • Veggies – Roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, blue cheese stuffed green olives, heirloom cherry tomatoes. 
  • Breads – Artisan bread, crackers. 
  • CondimentsBread dipping oil, olive tapenade, apricot fig jam. 
  • Other – Don’t feel constrained by this list, add all your favorite bite-sized Italian inspired foods!
HOW TO MAKE AN ANTIPASTO PLATTER
Make sure to use a separate container for wet items so they don’t contaminate the other foods.

How do you make an antipasto charcuterie platter? (step-by-step)

First, choose a board that you’re going to put everything on. It doesn’t have to be fancy! We often will use a large sheet pan.

Next, place wet ingredients (like marinated cheeses, dips, sliced fruits and vegetables), into small containers and place on your board. 

Then, arrange dry ingredients on board paying attention to separating colors so they pop!

Finally, add spoons and knives to board for condiments and soft cheeses. 

ITALIAN ANTIPASTO PLATTER
Make sure to balance your platter with sweets and savories.

Preparation

What to Put My Snack Board On?

An appetizer platter can be assembled on almost anything! Don’t let not having the “right” platter stop you from making an awesome charcuterie board. Here are some things we’ve used in the past to make our meat and cheese boards!

  • Cutting Board – This is a pretty standard way to serve a cheese board.  Choose a large one for a crowd or a smaller one for a more intimate board.
  • Slate or Chalkboard – We once served a massive breakfast cheese board with the cutest mini greek yogurt pancakes on our huge homeschooling chalkboard.  It was amazing!  Just make sure it’s very thoroughly cleaned, and if you’re still worried, just toss some parchment paper under the food.
  • Pizza Pan – A pizza pan is the perfect size for a family cheeseboard – and it’s such a fun shape.  Put it on a lazy susan for easy self serving!
  • Baking Sheet – We prepare the majority of our cheese boards on a baking sheet. It’s just the right size for a family of seven, and I love that the lip around the edge keeps things from rolling off.
  • Dinner Plate – Making a romantic cheese board for two? Try a large dinner plate piled high with your favorite goodies.

Can I prep my antipasto platter ahead of time?

Yes, if you’d like to get things going early, you can make this up to a day ahead and store in the refrigerator. Be sure to cover all the liquids and condiments tightly, then wrap the board up in saran wrap or foil. 

I would suggest not including bread or crackers until immediately before serving as they may become stale if refrigerated with the rest of the ingredients. 

ANTIPASTO PLATTER
We like to make our board as colorful as possible.

Storage and leftovers

How long will antipasto leftovers last?

If the platter sat out at room temperature for more than two hours, then remaining food should be discarded.  Otherwise, wrap up leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or foil and finish in the next day or so. 

Can you freeze an antipasto charcuterie board?

No, this is not recommended. 

ANTIPASTO PLATTER IDEAS
If you’re making a large board for a party, try using a sheet pan!

Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions

Is a Cheese Board the Same as a Charcuterie Board?

A cheese board is not the same as a charcuterie board insofar as historically a cheese board is centered around a selection of cheeses and a charcuterie board is centered around a selection of meats.

That said, these days the terms cheese board and charcuterie board are typically used interchangeably to mean a meat and cheese board with a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and breads.

What is an Italian antipasto platter?

Italian appetizer platters, or as we like to call it antipasto platter, is a charcuterie board filled with antipasto ingredients (olives, cured meats, Italian cheeses, peppers) and Italian inspired condiments!

What is the difference between antipasto and antipasti?

Antipasto is a traditional first course of an Italian meal (literally “before the meal”). Antipasti is the plural form of antipasto. You could consider Antipasto the “appetizer” course of the meal.

ANTIPASTO CHARCUTERIE
Don’t forget utensils and toothpicks so people aren’t touching the food.

What to eat with a antipasto appetizer platter (serving suggestions)

If you’re serving this as an appetizer, try following it with Italian sausage soup, and an easy dinner of Italian dressing chicken, baked ravioli, or Italian sloppy Joes. For dessert, a slice of creamy lemon pie!

ANTIPASTO BOARD
I love these mini forks! We found them at a local party store.

More awesome antipasto dishes

Other fun charcuterie board ideas

  • Breakfast Board – Try including some mini pancakes, cut up waffle bits, and bite sized sausages for a fun breakfast themed board.
  • Snack Board – We love doing after school snack boards with lunch meat, pickles, carrots, string cheese, and cottage cheese.
  • Game Day Board – One of my favorite boards to make!  Lunch meat, hoagie bread, wings, and pizza slices are perfect for a game day board.
  • Romantic Board – Chocolate, strawberries, fondue, and maybe some steamed mussels or oysters.
  • Dessert Board – Think cheesecake bites, fudge, cookies, ganache, and mini cupcakes!
  • Halloween Snack Board – Pile it up with all the spooky treats you can find!
  • See all our charcuterie board ideas!
ANTIPASTO APPITIZER CHEESE BOARD
The stuffed olives are my personal favorite.

Tools we love

  • Santoku knife – My favorite knife for cutting vegetables!  This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced. 
  • End grain cutting board – This is my absolute favorite cutting board and the one that I get the most compliments on.  And p.s. I have a lot of cutting boards.  
  • Bakers half sheet – It’s cool, we only have about six of these bakers half sheets because they’re good for absolutely everything.  
ANTIPASTO CHARCUTERIE APPETIZER
😍😍😍

Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!

Follow us below!Use #mamalovesfood on Instagram!

How to Make an Antipasto Platter

ITALIAN ANTIPASTO PLATTER
5 from 3 votes

Antipasto Platter

Created by: April Woods

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
1 serving
An antipasto platter with your favorite meats, cheeses, & Italian condiments is the perfect option for an easy dinner or fun party appetizer. 

Ingredients
 

  • Cheeses marinated mozzarella, Romano cheese, basil & olive oil asiago, sharp provolone

  • Meats genoa salami, pepperoni, prosciutto
  • Crackers or bread artisan bread, crackers
  • Fruits
  • Veggies roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, blue cheese stuffed green olives, heirloom cherry tomatoes

  • Sweets dark chocolate
  • Dips or Spreads bread dipping oil, apricot fig jam, olive tapenade

Instructions

  • First, choose a board that you're going to put everything on. It doesn't have to be fancy! We often will use a large sheet pan.
  • Next, gather your ingredients. We try to always include meats, cheeses, fruits, and breads.
  • Then, make sure everything is bite size and easy to eat without utensils. Cut larger items up into smaller pieces.
  • Finally, arrange everything on your board. Remember to put the wet items in small bowls or jars to avoid dripping and muddling flavors.

Notes

Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients. 
Don't feel constrained by this list, add all your favorite bite-sized Italian inspired foods!

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal
ITALIAN ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share it with me on Instaram and use the hashtag #mamalovesfood and follow on Pinterest for even more!

Antipasto Platter

Click the button above to save this recipe!

BEST ANTIPASTO BOARD

Get Our Free Easy Casseroles ebook!

Recipes in your inbox

(your email will never be sold!)

Let’s Connect!

Tag #mamalovesfood on Instagram!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I am seriously drooling over here! This board looks amazing! Love the ideas to add in artichoke hearts and roasted peppers! Those and Greek olives are some of my favorite things! Definitely doing this for my next charcuterie board! This is awesome!

  2. 5 stars
    This is seriously amazing!! Everyone at my house was impressed with this appetizer! Thank you!

  3. 5 stars
    I love this!! So easy & so delicious!! Will definitely be making these for all of our holiday parties!!

Related Recipes