26 of Our Best Crostini Recipes to Start a Party—or Any Meal (2024)

13 Make-Ahead Cold Appetizer Recipes for the Busy Host

Pear, Walnut, and Ricotta Crostini

This crostini combination is elegant and a little different yet also so simple. After making your crostini, simply spread them with ricotta, top with wafer-thin slices of pear, salt, cracked black pepper, and a drizzle of honey.

Crostini With Olive Relish

This bright crostini employs a quick relish with pitted green olives, lemon, minced red onion, celery, olive oil, and parsley.

Roasted-Garlic Toast With Tomato

Thinly sliced Campari tomatoes and mashed garlic confit top baked rustic bread for an umami-packed bruschetta bite.

Persimmon and Brie Crostini

Toasted baguette slices, gooey melted Brie, sweet persimmons, and freshly cracked pepper—our mouths are watering just thinking about taking a bite of these little toasts. Fortunately, they only take 10 minutes to make!

Smoked Trout Pâté on Toasted Baguette

Making trout pâté for this crostini appetizer is suprisingly easy. Simply combine cream cheese, minced shallot, lemon juice, chives, and smoked trout, then spread the pâté on toasted baguette slices and enjoy.

Mortadella, Artichoke Heart, and Olive Crostini

This sophisticated crostini brings together mortadella (a cured meat studded with pistachios and black pepper), oil-packed anchovy fillets, artichoke hearts, and pitted black olives.

Zucchini Crostini

A perfect summer bite, tender zucchini sautéed in butter with shallots and red-pepper flakes makes a succulent topping for crostini.

Prosciutto, Melon, and Balsamic Vinegar Bruschetta

The classic pairing of sweet melon and salty prosciutto is enhanced by a splash of good-quality balsamic vinegar in this bruschetta recipe.

Cherry and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Take cherries on a spin by pairing them with tangy goat cheese and fresh thyme in this sweet-meets-savory bruschetta recipe.

Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

Top grilled garlic-rubbed bread with a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes along with thinly sliced red onion and plenty of fresh basil for what we think is the ultimate summer appetizer.

Clams Casino Crostini

The classic seafood dish—featuring fresh clams, minced garlic, bacon, and plenty of herbs—is transformed into a tasty appetizer.

Roasted Grape and Burrata Crostini

Upgrade supermarket grapes by roasting them until sizzling and blistered. Serve with creamy burrata cheese for a heavenly appetizer that no one will be able to stop eating.

New Caesar Salad

Serving Caesar salad on crostini (think of them as bigger croutons!) is a genius idea. Vinegary white anchovies give the toasts an extra flavor kick.

Chicken-Liver Crostini With Quince Jelly

Make this easy chicken liver mousse, then turn it into a classy crostini by spreading it over toasted baguette slices with quince jelly.

Cucumber-Feta Toasts

Looking for a refreshing vegetarian appetizer? Try topping toasted baguette slices with lemony feta and crisp cucumber rounds.

Grilled Pepper Bruschetta

Toss flame-kissed peppers and juicy cherry tomatoes with briny capers, red wine vinegar, and olive oil for a flavor-packed toast topping. Finish with shaved Parmesan.

Spinach Pesto on Sardine Crostini

Need healthy finger food for your party menu? Try these protein-packed toasts. The meaty sardines are a great foil for garlicky spinach pesto and sweet currants.

Ricotta Crostini

Creamy ricotta cheese is a delicious base for all kinds of crostini. Try simply topping the cheesy toasts with a drizzle of olive oil and a little cracked pepper, or top with tomato-anchovy salad or roasted broccoli rabe. Our recipe includes all three options.

Minted Pea and Prosciutto Crostini

Mint pairs beautifully with the sweetness of bright green peas in this crostini. Prosciutto takes it over the top.

Gravlax and Cucumber Crostini

Smoked salmon and cucumber is a classic combination that takes crostini into elegant territory. A touch of Dijon, mayo, and plenty of fresh dill are the only other ingredients you need.

Melted Chocolate With Fleur de Sel Bruschetta

Luxurious melted chocolate covers crunchy toast in this bruschetta recipe that's just right for a sweet snack or dessert.

Beets With Greens and Ricotta on Toast

A timeless treat, ricotta crostini is taken to the next level by topping each slice with beets sprinkled with ground coffee (yes really!), plus thinly sliced garlic and sautéed beet greens.

Charred Carrot Bruschetta With Goat Cheese and Parsley

This colorful bruschetta tastes as good as it looks, thanks to the inspired pairing of roasted carrots and tangy goat cheese.

Fava Bean, Mint, and Pecorino Romano Bruschetta

A touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes complements the fava beans and salty aged cheese that top this bruschetta.

Grilled Tomato Bruschetta

Cook the tomatoes and the bread on the grill for this bruschetta appetizer. Then enjoy the elemental combination of soft, charred tomatoes and crispy toasted bread.

Pesto-Bocconcini Crostini

This easy crostini appetizer comes together in a flash. Simply toast the bread, spread on store-bought pesto and top with the delightful bite-sized balls of mozzarella known as bocconcini.