Lasagna is a popular Italian dish that is loved by many for its rich, layered flavors. It typically consists of wide noodles layered with cheese, meat sauce, and other fillings like ricotta, spinach, or vegetables. Lasagna makes a satisfying and filling main course for a dinner party or family meal. However, while lasagna is hearty, it is also quite rich. Serving a light starter or appetizer before lasagna allows your guests’ palates to warm up before diving into the decadent lasagna layers. The appetizers also provide variety and contrast, enhancing the lasagna experience. Having a first course prevents your guests from filling up too quickly on just the lasagna, ensuring they have room for dessert later! This article will explore different appetizer options to serve before your lasagna dinner.
Salads
A salad makes an excellent starter for a lasagna dinner. The fresh, crunchy greens provide a nice contrast to the heavy, cheesy lasagna. Salads are also quite versatile, so you can customize them to suit your menu. Here are some salads to consider:
Green salad – A simple green salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette dressing will refresh the palate. You can also add other veggies like bell peppers or carrots for more variety.
Caesar salad – Crisp romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and a creamy Caesar dressing taste delicious before lasagna. The cheese in the salad mirrors the cheese layers in the lasagna.
Caprese salad – Slices of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic make an elegant Italian starter. The mozzarella in the Caprese foreshadows the stretchy cheese in the lasagna.
Greek salad – Mixed greens, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and a red wine vinaigrette boasts Mediterranean flavors that pair beautifully with lasagna.
Spinach salad – Baby spinach, chopped hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits, mushrooms, and a warm bacon vinaigrette tastes fantastic before lasagna. The spinach echoes any spinach layers in your lasagna.
Soups
A bowl of soup before lasagna makes for a comforting, crowd-pleasing starter. The brothy soup hydrates and prepares the palate for the dense main course. Consider these soup options:
Minestrone – This Italian vegetable soup brimming with beans, pasta, tomatoes, and vegetables makes an authentic primer for lasagna.
Chicken noodle soup – Simple and hearty chicken noodle soup provides an easy prelude to lasagna.
Tomato basil soup – Creamy tomato basil soup hints at the flavors in lasagna with its rich tomato base and Italian herbs.
Tortellini soup – Meat or cheese-filled pasta floating in broth mimics the noodles and fillings layered in lasagna.
Pasta e fagioli – The pasta and bean soup offers carbs and protein to curb appetites before lasagna.
Bruschetta
Bruschetta, an Italian appetizer consisting of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with savory toppings, makes a tasty starter for lasagna. The crunch of the toasted bread contrasts the soft noodles in lasagna. Here are bruschetta ideas:
Classic tomato bruschetta – Fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic on garlic toast is simple and delicious.
Artichoke bruschetta – Marinated artichokes, Parmesan, and lemon zest taste amazing on crispy grilled bread.
Caprese bruschetta – Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic mimic Caprese salad flavors on grilled bread.
White bean bruschetta – Puréed cannellini beans, rosemary, and garlic makes a hearty plant-based topping.
Olive tapenade bruschetta – A spread of chopped olives, capers, anchovies, olive oil, and herbs provides a salty, savory flavor.
Flatbreads
Warm, freshly baked flatbread topped with cheese, meat, and veggies makes an enticing lead-in to lasagna. Flatbreads have a similar ingredient profile to lasagna, just in a thinner, crispy form. Try these flatbread options:
Pesto chicken flatbread – Tomato sauce, mozzarella, chicken, spinach, and pesto, baked on naan or a pizza crust.
Caprese flatbread – Fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze baked on flatbread dough.
Sausage and onion flatbread – Italian sausage, caramelized onions, tomato sauce, and provolone cheese tastes amazing.
Margherita flatbread – Fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil mimics the colors and flavors of the Italian flag.
White flatbread – Ricotta cheese, garlic oil, and shredded mozzarella makes a delicious white pizza-style flatbread.
Charcuterie
An Italian charcuterie board loaded with cured meats, cheeses, olives, and pickled vegetables could be a perfect prelude to lasagna. Charcuterie offers similar savory flavors as lasagna in bite-sized portions. Build your board with:
Cured meats – Salami, prosciutto, soppressata, pancetta, coppa
Cheeses – Parmesan, provolone, mozzarella, Asiago, Fontina, Gorgonzola
Fruits and nuts – Grapes, figs, dates, marcona almonds, walnuts
Olives – Kalamata, castelvetrano, oil-cured
Pickled vegetables – Giardiniera, pepperoncini, carrots
Crackers and bread – Baguettes, crostini, flatbreads
Offering an assortment of charcuterie meats, cheeses, and other bites lets guests sample flavors before the main event of lasagna.
Seafood Starters
If you want something a bit lighter before heavy lasagna, start with some seafood. The briny, bright tastes of shellfish or fish provide contrast and added protein. Ideas include:
Shrimp cocktail – Chilled peeled shrimp with lemon and cocktail sauce.
Crab cakes – Pan-fried lump crab cakes with remoulade or aioli.
Mussels – Steamed and seasoned mussels served with crusty bread for dipping.
Calamari – Crispy fried or grilled calamari rings with marinara sauce.
Smoked salmon – Thin slices of smoked salmon served with lemon wedges, capers, and cream cheese.
Seared scallops – Pan seared scallops topped with citrus beurre blanc or pesto.
The light taste of seafood before lasagna makes for a well-rounded meal.
Pasta Starters
It’s hard to go wrong starting an Italian meal with more pasta. Mini pasta dishes help whet appetites for the main lasagna attraction. Consider these petite pasta appetizers:
Mini meatballs – Bite-sized beef and pork meatballs simmered in tomato sauce, served with Parmesan and grilled bread.
Stuffed mushrooms – Large mushroom caps filled with sausage, spinach, and ricotta cheese.
Pasta fritters – Mix leftover pasta with cheese and eggs, then fry into crispy fritters and serve with marinara dipping sauce.
Gnocchi – Tender potato gnocchi sautéed in brown butter and sage.
Tortellini skewers – Cherry tomato and cheese tortellini skewered and baked with Italian dressing.
Baked ziti bites – Mini baked ziti made in muffin tins for single serving portions.
These mini pasta dishes capture similar cheesy, saucy flavors as lasagna in appetizer form.
Garlic Bread
Warm, crusty garlic bread brings the taste of Italy to the table before lasagna. The richness of the garlic butter balances the acidity of tomato sauce in the lasagna. Bake a loaf from scratch or cheat with frozen garlic Texas toast. Serve garlic bread sliced or in mini baguettes for dipping. Offer a dish of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for drizzling. The crunch of garlic bread contrasts nicely with the soft layers of lasagna.
Cheese and Crackers
For easy appetizers with minimal prep, set out a cheese board with crackers, nuts, and fruits. Provide a selection of Italian cheeses like Parmesan, Asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and Ricotta. Add a salami or prosciutto for extra meatiness. Offer an assortment of crackers, nuts, and grapes on the side. The cheese will ready the palate for all the gooey layers in the lasagna. Guests can nibble on cheese and crackers while the lasagna finishes baking.
Dips and Spreads
Whip up a quick Italian-style dip or spread to serve with bread, crackers, or vegetables before lasagna. Options include:
Spinach artichoke dip – Creamy, cheesy spinach and artichoke dip with a hint of garlic.
White bean dip – Puréed cannellini beans seasoned with olive oil, rosemary, and lemon.
Eggplant caponata – A Sicilian relish of sautéed eggplant, onion, celery, capers, olives, and vinegar.
Caprese salad dip – Diced fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic whirled into a dip.
Pizza dip – Pizza sauce, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, and mozzarella melted into a hearty dip.
These quick Italian-style spreads offer bold flavors and textures before lasagna. Serve with breadsticks, pita chips, crudités, or sliced bread.
Finger Foods
Round out your lasagna dinner with some simple Italian finger foods that guests can pop in their mouths while mingling before sitting down to eat. Opt for bite-sized foods that aren’t too messy. Ideas include:
Meatballs – Make a platter of miniature meatballs in tomato sauce for picking up with toothpicks.
Stuffed mushrooms – Use small mushrooms like buttons or creminis and stuff with Italian sausage and cheese.
Prosciutto-wrapped asparagus – Grilled or roasted asparagus spears wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto.
Caprese skewers – Cherry tomato, mozzarella ball, and basil leaf skewers with balsamic drizzle.
Italian pinwheels – Spinach, roasted red peppers, and provolone rolled up in a tortilla and sliced.
Polenta bites – Fried cubes of creamy polenta topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan.
Easy hot and cold finger foods will appease hunger while guests mingle before sitting down to lasagna.
Breadsticks
For an easy, inexpensive starter, serve fresh breadsticks before lasagna. Offer Italian breadsticks plain, salted, or sprinkled with Parmesan, sesame seeds, or herbs. Accompany the breadsticks with dishes of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic butter for dipping. The crispy, chewy breadsticks serve as edible utensils for swiping up sauces. Breadsticks also help fill up guests before serving the lasagna main course. Purchase breadsticks from the store or brush bread dough with olive oil, season to taste, and bake into breadsticks.
Antipasto Platter
An Italian antipasto (“before the meal”) platter makes a visually stunning and flavorful prelude to lasagna. Arrange an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, marinated veggies, olives, and other Mediterranean nibbles. Allow guests to graze on Italian delicacies like prosciutto, salami, Asiago, artichokes, roasted peppers, dolmas, and marinated mushrooms. Offer a variety of textures and flavors to awaken the senses before the lasagna centerpiece. Accompany the antipasto with sliced bread or crackers.
Wine and Cheese Pairing
Introduce your lasagna dinner by hosting a mini wine and cheese pairing before the meal. Select 2-3 Italian wines like Chianti, Montepulciano, or Nebbiolo. Accompany each wine with a complementary Italian cheese. Offer cheeses like Asiago, Fontina, Gorgonzola, Parmesan, provolone, Romano, and tallegio. Explain how the notes in each wine pair with the cheeses. Provide water crackers or bread to cleanse the palate between tastings. Educate your guests about Italian wines and cheeses while priming their appetites for the lasagna to come.
Serving Suggestions
- Make appetizers easy to eat standing up or mingling, either bite-sized or handheld.
- Set out appetizers before guests arrive so they can start nibbling immediately.
- Match the style of appetizer with the formality of the event – simple for casual, elegant for sophisticated.
- Include a mix of hot and cold appetizers for visual and textural contrast.
- Prepare some meatless and vegetarian appetizers to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Complement lasagna flavors in appetizers but don’t overlap ingredients too closely.
- Offer lighter seafood or veggie appetizers if lasagna is very heavy and cheesy.
- Time appetizers so the meal flows smoothly without long gaps between courses.
Sample Appetizer Menus
Here are some balanced three-course appetizer menus to precede lasagna:
Menu 1
- Caprese Salad Crostini – Tomato, mozzarella, basil bruschetta
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
Menu 2
- Antipasto Platter – Cured meats, cheeses, veggies, olives
- Pesto Chicken Flatbread
- Zucchini Fritters with Lemon Aioli
Menu 3
- Mussels in White Wine Broth
- Pan-fried Polenta Rounds with Parmesan
- Arugula Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Conclusion
Lasagna makes a stellar main course but requires thoughtful appetizers that complement without overpowering. Salads, soups, bruschetta, flatbreads, charcuterie, seafood, pasta, and finger foods all make delicious prelude to lasagna. Match the intensity of flavors and consider offering a variety of textures. Time appetizers so guests have a moment to digest before slicing into lasagna. With a well-rounded lineup of starters, your lasagna dinner will leave everyone satisfied. Buon appetito!