Salami Cups Appetizer Recipe (Crispy Antipasto Bites)
Updated Apr 14, 2025, Published Mar 06, 2025
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This crispy salami cups appetizer is the perfect bite-sized antipasto, filled with fresh and flavorful Mediterranean ingredients. They’re easy to make and bursting with savory, tangy, and creamy goodness! They only take 20 minutes, and everyone loves them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
A guaranteed hit at parties, holiday gatherings, and game nights! There are many reasons to love this fun twist on an antipasto salad:
- Easy & Elegant – Simple to make but look impressive for any gathering.
- Crispy & Flavorful – The crunchy, salty salami pairs perfectly with the fresh filling
- No Utensils Needed – A perfect bite-sized appetizer that’s easy to grab and eat.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – Bake the cups in advance and fill them before serving.
- Versatile & Customizable – Swap ingredients to suit different tastes and dietary needs.
- Naturally Low-Carb & Gluten-Free – An excellent option for keto and gluten-free diets.
You’ll also love my antipasto pasta salad, stuffed mushrooms, and baked brie.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
These crispy salami cups are an easy appetizer idea you will want to make any time you crave a savory bite.
- Salami – Large, thinly sliced salami forms the crispy, savory base for the cups. Choose regular, peppered, or spicy for added flavor.
Antipasto filling:
- Mozzarella Pearls – Small, soft mozzarella balls add a creamy and mild contrast to the salty salami.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Juicy and slightly sweet, these add freshness and a pop of color to the filling.
- Roasted Red Peppers – Smoky, slightly tangy, and soft, they enhance the Mediterranean flavors.
- Castelvetrano Olives – Buttery and mild green olives that bring a briny balance; substitute with your favorite olives.
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts – Tender, slightly tangy, and packed with flavor from their marinade.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Enhances the richness of the filling while tying all the ingredients together.
- Balsamic Vinegar – A touch of acidity adds depth and a hint of sweetness to the mix.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper – Adds a subtle warmth and spice to balance the flavors.
- Fresh Basil – Herbaceous and slightly sweet, it brings a fresh, aromatic finish.
- Balsamic Glaze – A thick, slightly sweet drizzle for an elegant touch and extra depth of flavor.
Each ingredient complements the others, creating a perfect bite-sized, crispy, and flavorful appetizer!
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Salami Cups
You’ll love this tasty snack! The best part is how easy they are to make. See the step-by-step photo instructions below and the full recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Combine all the filling ingredients in a large bowl.
Add the balsamic vinegar.
Add the olive to the bowl with the antipasto ingredients.
Mix the antipasto filling until the filling is coated with the oil and balsamic.
Place the salami slices in the muffin tins. This is a regular size, but you can use a mini muffin tin.
Bake until crispy and golden. Let cool before filling.
fill the center of each cup with the antipasto mixture.
Yes, bake the cups in advance and store them at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days. Fill just before serving.
Substitutions and Variations
With a few simple swaps, you can customize the filling ingredients with different flavors.
Substitutions:
- Salami → Pepperoni, prosciutto, ham, or coppa
- Mozzarella → Feta, goat cheese, or burrata
- Cherry Tomatoes → Sundried tomatoes
- Roasted Red Peppers → Fresh bell peppers or pepperoncini
- Olives → Kalamata or black olives
- Balsamic Vinegar → Red wine vinegar or lemon juice
- Basil → Oregano or parsley
- Balsamic Glaze → Honey or pomegranate molasses
Variations:
- Mediterranean → Feta, cucumbers, oregano- serve on mini bagel toast!
- Spicy → Spicy salami, jalapeños
- Caprese → Mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, pesto
- Italian Deli → Pepperoncini, provolone, soppressata
How to Store
- Salami Cups (Unfilled): Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Filled Salami Cups: Best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. Avoid freezing, as the texture may change.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tips
- Bake the salami cups until fully crisp; they will firm up as they cool.
- Let the cups cool completely before filling to prevent fogginess.
- Drain mozzarella, olives, and artichokes well to keep the cups crisp.
- Assemble just before serving for the best texture.
Easy Appetizer Ideas
Looking for other recipes like this? You will love these:
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Salami Cups Appetizer Recipe (Crispy Antipasto Bites)
Ingredients
- 24 thin slices salami about 4-5 in in diameter, regular, peppered, or spicy
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese pearls, such as BelGioioso®, drained
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ⅓ cup roasted red peppers, drained and finely chopped
- ½ cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted and chopped (or olives of choice)
- ⅓ cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Sea Salt , to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Balsamic glaze, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a regular sized muffin tin or cupcake pan. Press a slice of salami into each cavity, shaping it into a cup. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until crispy and slightly curled. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely in the tin; they will firm up as they cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling by combining the mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts, and basil in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and toss gently to combine.
- Once the salami cups have cooled, carefully remove them from the muffin tin. Spoon the antipasto filling into each cup, then drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.
- These crispy, flavorful, and elegant antipasto bites are best served fresh at room temperature. If making ahead, bake the salami cups in advance and store them in an airtight container, then assemble just before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe! I wonder what else I could serve the filling in/on. It’s delicious!!
So happy you loved it. The filling is so great on toasted ciabatta bread, or in a salad!
Fun to make and eat- you will love these easy appetizers.