Whether you're wrapping it, sprinkling it, or just popping it straight in your mouth, Italian prosciutto has a special something about it that shines and brings out the best in other ingredients in everything from appetizers to main dishes. Check out our 20 recipes for inspiration when you want something a little fancier than bacon.
If you’re unfamiliar, prosciutto, which translates to “ham” in Italian, is basically dry-cured pork that’s sliced papery thin. There are technically two kinds, prosciutto cotto (or “cooked”) and prosciutto crudo (or “raw). They’re both delicious and can work in many applications, but you might want to seek out one or the other based on what you’re making. Prosciutto cotto is going to be more moist and bright pink than its partner, and is best for pairing with strong flavors. Here, we’d use it in our prosciutto-melon panini or our flatbread with peach, prosciutto, and mozzarella. Prosciutto crudo is usually darker red and more intensely flavorful than its cousin—as you eat it, the fat melts on your tongue leaving an addicting sweet and salty taste. We’d pair it here with our prosciutto-wrapped melon skewers (if you’ve never tried prosciutto and melon, get on it STAT).
Prosciutto makes for the BEST appetizer. It screams fancy, without a lot of extra work on your part. Pair it with some jams, crackers, olives and nuts for a superb cheese board, or use it to make otherwise standard apps shine extra bright. Try our cranberry brie jalapeno poppers (we know, crazy combo, but it works!), prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, or maple prosciutto wrapped brie for apps that are certain to wow your crowd.
We also like to use it to jazz up our otherwise average dinner nights. It pairs well with other meat, like blank slate chicken or decadent beef, and with chewy, carby pasta. Try our chicken saltimbocca or beef wellington for a meal that’s sure to impress, or just toss it in with spaghetti or tortellini for a quicker weeknight meal. You could even pair it with greens—even salad-haters will love one when it’s got salty, melt-on-your-tongue prosciutto folded in among the other ingredients, like in our kale, apple, pecorino salad.
Want even more ideas? Try swapping prosciutto in for any of our bacon or ham recipes too!
Easy Beef Wellington
Wrapping your tenderloin in prosciutto is a little extra insurance against a soggy bottom. It provides a barrier for moisture, and on top of that it adds even more delicious meaty flavor. By shingling a layer of prosciutto onto a layer of plastic wrap, you can easily spread your duxelle in an even layer and wrap your tenderloin evenly. It's a win/win!
Get the Easy Beef Wellington recipe.
Tuscan Tortellini Salad
This easy tortellini salad is the only pasta salad we bring to potlucks. It's quick and simple with an easy homemade vinaigrette that makes it stand out among a sea of macaroni salads. Feel free to swap in your favorite ingredients too!
Get the Tuscan Tortellini Salad recipe.
Melon Prosciutto Skewers
If you haven't experienced the flavor combo of prosciutto + melon, get on it STAT. It's the ultimate in sweet and salty.
Get the Melon Prosciutto Skewers recipe.
Chicken Saltimbocca
In Italian, saltimbocca means "jumps in the mouth" — this delightful and sinfully simple recipe does just that. Saltimbocca also refers to the Roman style of preparing cutlets of meat, where the cutlet is pounded thin and wrapped in prosciutto and hearty, herbaceous sage. Though it can be served straight-up, we added a delicious and easy white wine sauce that pairs beautifully with the chicken.
Get the Chicken Saltimbocca recipe.
Strawberry Cobb Salad
This is the MOST summery version of our classic cobb salad. Best to make it at the height of summer, when sweet strawberries are at their peak.
Get the Strawberry Cobb Salad recipe.
Boursin-Stuffed Chicken
You can use any herbed goat cheese in lieu of Boursin for this stuffed chicken showstopper.
Get the Boursin-Stuffed Chicken recipe.
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
These are like the fancier version of our bacon-wrapped asparagus. They're a guaranteed party hit—just make sure to cut or snap off the woody ends of the asparagus first!
Get the Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus recipe.
Prosciutto-Melon Panini
This recipe combines cantaloupe jam with salty prosciutto and bitter arugula for a deliciously wild panini. Trust us, the flavor combo works!
Get the Prosciutto-Melon Panini recipe.
Cranberry Brie Jalapeño Poppers
Cranberry brie bites are by far one of our favorite appetizers for the holidays, but jalapeño poppers also have place in our hearts. The combination is really amazing. The spice of the jalapeño goes so well with the tart cranberries and the added bonus of wrapping the whole thing in prosciutto (or use bacon) is just extraordinary.
Chicken Prosciutto Pasta
This dish was inspired by our own Tuscan Chicken Pasta. Broccoli adds nice texture and flavor, but the real star is the sauce: creamy and super flavorful from salty and slightly nutty asiago cheese.
Get the Chicken Prosciutto Pasta recipe.
Apple, Sage, and Prosciutto-Stuffed Pork Loin
The most brilliant way to stuff pork? With more pork ofc! Plus baby spinach, sweet and crunchy apples, and earthy sage.
Get the Apple, Sage, and Prosciutto-Stuffed Pork Loin recipe.
Cherry-Prosciutto Grilled Pizzas
The combo of prosciutto, fresh cherries, Champagne vinegar, and goat cheese help these crispy flatbreads achieve the perfect combo of salty, tangy and sweet in every bite.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts with Broccoli Rabe Pesto
We love a fun twist on pesto, and this bright green one is KILLER. We like to snag extra produce and make our Garlicky Broccoli Rabe to go alongside these chicken breasts too.
Get the Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breasts with Broccoli Rabe Pesto recipe.
Ultimate Holiday Cheese Board
A cheese board is one of the best appetizers to serve at a party because it's easy to execute, shareable, and totally customizable. What's better than a gorgeous wooden board piled high with a variety of high-quality cheeses, cured meats, silky jams and spreads, nuts, fruit, and more?
Get the Ultimate Holiday Cheese Board recipe.
Crispy Skillet Tortellini
If you've ever heated frozen potstickers at home, you know how easy the process is. For this Italian-style spin, start with frozen tortellini and sear them in a hot skillet until golden-brown and crispy. Add water (there will be crazy loud sizzlin'), immediately cover the pan to allow steam to do the rest of the work, and prepare to be amazed.
Get the Crispy Skillet Tortellini recipe.
Flatbread with Peach, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella
Who wants to deal with rolling out pizza dough when you can use store-bought naan?
Get the Flatbread with Peach, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella recipe.
Kale, Apple, Pecorino Salad with Crispy Prosciutto and Balsamic Drizzle
This kale salad recipe's got it all—sweet apples, salty prosciutto, and nutty pecorino cheese, all tied together with a simple lemon vinaigrette.
Get the Kale, Apple, Pecorino Salad with Crispy Prosciutto and Balsamic Drizzle recipe.
Maple-Prosciutto Baked Brie
If you're looking for an ooey-gooey, melty cheese moment that will have your guests oohing and aahing, look no further than baked brie. This recipe takes the concept up a notch by wrapping the brie in prosciutto and topping the whole thing with a smoky maple glaze. Yum!
Get the Maple-Prosciutto Baked Brie recipe.
Ranch Pizza with White Cheddar and Prosciutto
If you love dunking pizza crust in ranch dressing, the ranch roux we made here is for you. Use store-bought or homemade pizza dough!
Get the Ranch Pizza with White Cheddar and Prosciutto recipe.
Spaghetti with Lemon, Arugula, and Prosciutto
The sauce here is just lemon, Parmesan and butter, so you can really let prosciutto and arugula shine in this simple summer spaghetti.
Get the Spaghetti with Lemon, Arugula, and Prosciutto recipe.
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