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Charcuterie skewers are fun, easy, and customizable party hors d’oeuvres with something for everyone. Skewers are a great alternative to boards because they’re easy to serve and eat—plus, they look great. Ingredients can be prepped ahead and no cooking or baking is required!
Follow my simple assembly tips for a beautiful presentation. Options to make vegetarian or omnivore skewers and alternative ingredient recommendations if you want to build your own—like my yummy Spanish marinated olives.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
These easy antipasto skewers are so versatile! You can use any of your favorite charcuterie board ingredients—just be mindful of their order on the skewers so everything stays fresh. I make my charcuterie sticks omnivore-style with meat and cheese, fresh veggies, pickles, and olives.
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- Creamy Havarti cheese: In bite size cubes.
- Cherry tomatoes: Whole
- Fresh basil leaves: With the stems removed
- Pitted green olives: Drained
- Cornichons (aka gherkins): Drained
- Mini mozzarella balls: Drained
- Salami: In round slices
- Glaze: Serve with a thick glaze, such as balsamic glaze, aged balsamic vinegar, or honey.
Tools:
- Cocktail skewers: About 5 inches (12.7 cm) long (shorter than kabobs).
How to assemble charcuterie skewers
My biggest tip is to be mindful of the order of ingredients. Make sure wetter ingredients (like fruits and olives) aren’t bleeding into the cheeses, for example. This can dye them and make them soggy. Here is the order I use and more tips for a beautiful presentation:
- Prepare the ingredients: Cube the havarti; rinse and drain the cherry tomatoes; remove basil leaves from the stems; drain the olives, pickles, and mozzarella—place in separate bowls.
- Thread the skewers: Fold the salami in half and then fan the ends to make a bowtie. Thread this first, followed by a Havarti cheese cube, a mozzarella ball, a cornichon, a green olive, and a basil leaf (fold the leaf in half lengthwise, then roll it up). Finish with a cherry tomato.
- Repeat: Follow the threading process until you’ve used all the ingredients.
- Serve: Arrange the skewers on a charcuterie board or serving plate. Serve with balsamic glaze on the side for guests to drizzle. Serve at room temperature.
Can you make them ahead?
The ingredients can be prepped a day in advance, but it’s best to assemble the skewers the same day you serve them. This keeps them fresh and makes for the nicest presentation.
- Prep ahead: Cut the meats and cheeses. Rinse and dry your vegetables. Store prepped ingredients in separate airtight containers in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble.
- Storage: Once assembled, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Serve on the same day.
What to do with leftovers?
If you wind up with leftovers (a big if!), you can enjoy your appetizer skewers as a snack in the coming days—or deconstruct them and repurpose the ingredients in these yummy recipes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- Make a salad – Add leftovers to my Paleo kale salad with Asian ginger dressing, this leafy green Tatsoi salad with cucumber noodles, or a super quick mung bean sprouts salad.
- Add to pasta – Like this simple lemony tuna spaghetti with gluten-free pasta or my broccoli pesto pasta with a nutty vegan pesto sauce.
- Breakfast scramble – Enjoy your leftovers in a gourmet breakfast spread with soft scrambled eggs, an air fryer fried egg, or air fryer poached eggs—perfect every time!
Build your own charcuterie bites
These easy skewer appetizers are so adaptable. Here are some ideas for making hors d’oeuvres skewers without meat, keeping them dairy-free, or offering more variety.
- No meat: Stick to olives, tomatoes, cornichons, Havarti, brie, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and/or basil. You could add diced tofu puffs for protein.
- Dairy-free: Remove the cheese and consider adding some fruits and vegetables (strawberries, grapes, pear, mandarin oranges, bell peppers, or artichoke hearts) for variety.
- More protein options: Try adding prosciutto, ham, roast beef, or turkey lunchmeat using the fold and fan method. Cocktail sausages or shrimp would work too.
Presentation tip
Threading the skewers – Keep juicy fruits separate from the cheeses so they stay fresh and don’t leak color onto them.
What goes well with charcuterie sticks
These small skewers are perfect for appetizers or party hors d’oeuvres. Here are some more easy finger foods to round out your holiday spread!
- Vegetarian hors d’oeuvres: These ginger spiced nuts are perfect for everyday snacking or parties. Marinated olives in olive oil and air fryer zucchini fries are great options, too.
- Protein options: These bacon wrapped green beans are so cute and delicious—always the first to go at parties! Air fryer deviled eggs are an easy take on a holiday classic.
- Stuffed mushrooms: My ultimate favorite party food! Shrimp stuffed mushrooms with a parmesan crust, air fryer French onion stuffed mushrooms, or these keto stuffed mushrooms are my go-to recipes when I’m hosting.
ChihYu’s helpful notes
- Ingredient selection: Don’t use ingredients with too much moisture. As the skewers sit out they will leak, color other ingredients, and make them soggy.
- Drain the olives, cornichons, and mozzarella balls before starting the skewers.
- Thread the skewers in order: For the best presentation, follow the order of the recipe steps. I like using the same pattern for all my skewers.
- Serve at room temperature: The ingredients will have the best texture and mouthfeel.
- Plating: Arrange the skewers appetizers on a large charcuterie board or platter with the balsamic glaze or honey on the side. Add extras like crackers, nuts, or dried fruits for a polished presentation.
- Make-ahead: These skewered appetizers are best assembled a few hours before you serve them. You can prepare the vegetables, meat, and cheese in advance.
Charcuterie skewers recipe
Ingredients
- 4 oz creamy Havarti cheese sliced into square cubes
- 12 cherry tomatoes
- 1.25 oz basil leaves about 12 large leaves
- 12 pitted green olives drained
- 12 cornichons drained
- 12 mini mozzarella balls
- 12 round slices salami any variety
- Drizzle balsamic glaze aged balsamic vinegar (thick syrupy texture), or honey
Equipment
- 12 cocktail skewers about 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Slice the Havarti cheese into square cubes. Rinse the cherry tomatoes and set them aside to drain. Pinch off the basil stems and discard. Drain the olives, cornichons, and mozzarella balls, then place each ingredient in individual bowls for easy assembly.
- Thread the skewers: Take one slice of salami, gently fold it in half to form a half-moon shape. Then lift both ends upward to make a bow-tie shape. Thread the folded salami onto a skewer through the center of the bow-tie fold.
- Next, thread a Havarti cheese cube, followed by a mozzarella ball, a cornichon, a green olive, and a basil leaf (fold the leaf in half lengthwise, then roll it up). Finish with a cherry tomato on top.
- Assemble: Repeat the threading process for all the skewers until you’ve used all the ingredients.
- Serve: Arrange the skewers on a charcuterie board or serving plate. Serve with balsamic glaze on the side. Enjoy the skewers at room temperature.
Notes
- Vegetarian skewer example: Pair olives, tomatoes, cornichons, havarti, and basil.
- Omnivore skewer example: Pair olives, mozzarella, cornichons, tomatoes, and salami.
- Make-ahead: Ingredients can be prepped a day ahead. For example, meats and cheeses can be cut, and vegetables washed and dried.
- Assemble the day of: It’s best to assemble the skewers a few hours before serving. Once assembled, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed. This helps maintain their freshness and presentation.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
