Marinated Olives with Feta

This marinated olives and feta appetizer is packed with bold Mediterranean flavors. Quick, easy, and delicious—perfect for snacking or entertaining!

You might enjoy heart-shaped pork potstickers, but watch out – they’re addictive! Other tasty bites are crab cake egg rolls and sheet pan crab legs.

Why You’ll Love It

One of the simplest appetizers: Unless you especially want to make a complicated appetizer for some reason, you’re likely to be attracted to simple ones. Since all you have to do is combine the ingredients, you will love the simplicity here.
You can customize it: This marinated olives recipe is simple to tweak if you wish, and there are many different types of olive varieties you can use, or you might like to add a bright zing of fresh lemon juice or try a different variety of cheese.
Popular for any occasion: Nobody will be able to stop snacking on this flavor-packed appetizer. If they like olives, they’re going to love this. You can buy readymade feta and olive salads at the grocery store but honestly this homemade version is so much better, and you’re in full control of the ingredients.

Marinated Olives and Feta Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Extra-virgin olive oil: It’s worth using a good quality olive oil since you’ll be able to taste it clearly in this appetizer. Either a nice Italian or Greek extra-version olive oil will work well here.
Olives: I like to use kalamata olives and green olives.
Feta cheese: Adds a creamy, salty flavor to the appetizer.
Caperberries: For a contrasting texture and briny flavor.
Red pepper flakes: Adds a little spice.

Substitutions and Variations

Olives: Use any olives you like in this marinated Greek olives with feta recipe. You can use some green and some black, or whatever combination you wish for a more complex flavor. Any good olives will work. Stuffed olives are also good, and you can get many varieties stuffed with anything from anchovies to lemon zest strips or almond slivers.
Optional add-ins: Sun-dried tomatoes also work in this marinated olives appetizer, or you could add some whole garlic cloves, jalapeno slices, or chunks of parmesan cheese or ricotta salata in place of feta. Ricotta salata is the firm, salted, aged form of ricotta cheese, and it’s the closest Italian cheese to feta in terms of flavor and texture.
More flavors to consider: Fresh herbs like fresh rosemary or fresh thyme can also go into the mix, or you might want to add some lemon peel.

Serving Suggestions

With other appetizers: Serve this tasty Mediterranean-inspired appetizer in a serving bowl (maybe one of these with an olive branch motif) or as part of an antipasto platter. Add some Cajun shrimp deviled eggs for a contrast, or perhaps some marinated mozzarella balls. Don’t forget the napkins!
With bread or crackers: Present the appetizer with homemade soda bread or rosemary crackers. Another idea is to use it as a topping for grilled fish or chicken.
With Pizza: If you are wondering what appetizer goes with pizza, look no further! Make this happy for serving at home or bring it to a pizza party.

How to Store Marinated Olives

Store: This feta olive appetizer will keep for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freeze: The olives in this appetizer would thaw out mushy, so freezing really isn’t recommended here.