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Dec282021

Crispy Baked Cheesy Salami Appetizer Bites

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Print Recipe
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites
Baked Salami Cheese Bites

Find the recipe card at the end of the post. Make sure to read the content as it contains chef tips, substitution options, answers to FAQs to help you succeed the first time around!

Crunchy, cheesy, and oh so delicious are these baked salami cups!  Crispy baked salami cups stuffed with cheese, pepper jelly, basil, and topped with a crunchy bagel toast bite!

What’s your take on appetizers? Meaning, could you eat them as your meal and be content? I’m that person that, when we go out to eat, always orders an appetizer. There’s just something about that little morsel of deliciousness to tantalize the tastebuds before the main course. However, I’ve been finding that I’ll tend to order a few appetizers and skip the main meal altogether.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

I’m all about variety when it comes to foods. It’s smaller portions and you get to try a bunch of different things.  I think that’s one of the reasons why I loved going to buffets (well, let me clarify that statement… I like going to GOOD buffets! I’ve been to some sketchy ones where I wouldn’t even try the water in my glass).

To me, these baked salami cups are such a great appetizer that you can easily turn into a meal. Crunchy, cheesy, flavorful, and all-around delicious!

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

Grab your ingredients!

As you can see there are only a handful of ingredients and one is even optional (the bagel toast). Later on in the post, I’ll talk about substitutions and making it keto-friendly

  • Salami
  • Cheese cubs
  • Jelly (spicy, sweet or sweet & spicy combo)
  • Basil
  • Bagel toasts crisps

 

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

 

Let’s Make Deliciousness!

Now the only thing you need here is a mini muffin tin. However, if you don’t have one and you only have the larger standard size muffin tin, no worries. Just triple the recipe (though only double up the jelly). You just need to make sure that the meats cover the muffin well and the cheese is about halfway up.

  1. To each muffin tin, add a room-temp piece of salami. Gently press it down into the well.
  2. Add in some cheese to each well and then add a spoonful of jelly.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

  1. Pop the tray into the oven and bake for 13-18 minutes or until the salami is crisp and the cheese is all melted.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

  1. Line a plate with paper towels and, using a thin off-set spatula blade, carefully nudge each cup out of the muffin tin, placing them onto the paper towel. The paper towels will help absorb any residual grease from the meat.
  2. Garnish with some basil while warm.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

The Crunch Factor

Now you could stop there and serve these little bites of scrumptiousness as-is but your girl here wanted something a bit more.

So into my pantry, I went looking for something else crunchy to add on top. I grabbed some Fritos, oyster crackers, and bagel crisps.

The crackers were just okay. It didn’t add much flavor to it or any difference in texture. The Fritos I LOVED but then I love Fritos.  However, the corn chip taste overpowered the rest of the dish.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

I then tried the bagel crisp. Guys this was so good! Like really, REALLY good! It added a killer crunch, a hint of flavor (I used everything bagel crisps) but still left the salami cup as the star.

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

Recipe Substitutions

I love this section of my posts as I love to show simple swaps that can help you create an entire tray of these cups but with all different flavors!

  • Meats – Pepperoni, prosciutto, speck, ham, or jamon
  • Cheeses – seriously, pretty much any cheese- even brie, feta, cream cheese
  • Jelly – grape, strawberry, apricot. Need keto-friendly or low-carb? Try sugar-free jams and jellies.
  • No Jelly – try honey mustard, sweetened sriracha, or when they come out, add ranch, pizza sauce, marinara, or a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar
  • Herbs – Thyme, parsley, cilantro

Optional Flavor Combinations

  • Pepperoni – mozzarella, pizza sauce, basil
  • Prosciutto – brie, apricot jam, thyme
  • Ham – cheddar, honey mustard, pretzel nub
  • Jamon – cotija, salsa, cilantro, avocado

 Baked Salami Cheese Bites

Storing & Reheating

You can most certainly make these ahead of time (1-2 days) but do not add the bagel crisps or basil until you’re ready to serve.

Storing

To store, place in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Reheating

Place the salami cups on a lined, rimmed baking sheet and place them into a 350F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through and they are re-crisped. Add the basil and bagel toasts before serving.

Freezing – I’ve not tried freezing these as we frankly eat them way too fast. I would think they’d freeze well. I’d thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. If you try this out, let me know!

Baked Salami Cheese Bites

 

Print

Crispy Baked Cheesy Salami Appetizer Bites

  • Author: TKWAdmin
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 20
  • Category: appetizers, snacks, meat and cheese
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: appetizers, snacks, meat and cheese

Crunchy, cheesy, and oh so delicious are these baked salami cups! Crispy baked salami cups stuffed with cheese, pepper jelly, basil, and topped with a crunchy bagel toast bite!

Baked Salami Cheese Bites
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★★★★★ 5 from 13 reviews
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Ingredients

  • 12 slices of salami
  • 12 cubes of cheese (cheddar, gruyere, or pepper jack) about 1/2″ big
  • 1/4 cup red pepper jelly or Calabrian fig jam
  • fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 12 bagel toast crisps

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375F. In each mini muffin tin add 1 slice of the salami. Next place a cheese cube, and 1 teaspoon of jelly.
  2. Bake for 13-18 minutes or until the salami is crisp and the cheese is melted.
  3. Remove from the oven, use a thin offset spatula to remove from the pan, and place on a paper towel to catch any grease from the meat. Sprinkle chopped basil and a bagel toast crisp. Serve immediately.

Notes

See post body for substitutions and additions

2 pieces1657.2 g182.2 mg9.4 g14.5 g5.8 g23.6 mg

Keywords: Crispy Baked Cheesy Salami Appetizer Bites, keto-friendly appetizers, salami cups, baked salami and cheese, finger foods, salami appetizers, #salamicups

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Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

Pairs Perfectly With:

Sweet & Spicy Fig Calabrian Chili Jam Calabrian Chili Fig Jam
Spicy Red Pepper Jelly
Baked Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites Baked Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites

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Recipe Reviews & Comments

  1. Jonny says

    April 27, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    Best Keto appetizer ever! Seriously this was stupid easy and absolutely fantastic! Even my sister who isn’t keto devoured these!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Jules says

    January 12, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    These are outstanding!!! I also made it with pepperoni and mozzarella too. These are perfect for keto!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. Veronika Sykorova says

    January 3, 2022 at 8:45 am

    We made these bites over the holidays and they disappeared almost in no time! Everyone loved them!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
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