Trader Joe's Antipasto Stick Review: Meat Your New Favorite Snack

There are snacks you buy because they are exciting, and there are snacks you buy because you need something that will keep you from making terrible decisions when you are hungry. Trader Joe's Antipasto Sticks fall pretty comfortably into the second category.

These are essentially individually packaged meat and cheese sticks, but calling them Antipasto Sticks makes them sound substantially more sophisticated. And I'm fine with that. If wrapping cheese in cured meat transforms my afternoon snack into an antipasto experience, I'm willing to play along.

Trader Joe's offers two varieties, Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella and Salami Wrapped Pepper Jack Cheese. Each 1.5 ounce stick costs $1.99 and packs 10 grams of protein into a convenient single serving package.

I've tried both, and while I definitely have a favorite, these are both solid additions to the refrigerated section.

Review

Let's start with the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella because this was easily my favorite of the two.

If this combination sounds familiar, it should. Trader Joe's previously carried Volpi Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella, and since these Antipasto Sticks appeared, I haven't noticed the Volpi version on shelves. This certainly seems to occupy the same little corner of the refrigerated snack universe.

The concept couldn't be much simpler. You have a dense stick of mozzarella wrapped tightly in thin slices of prosciutto. That's it. No crackers. No sauce. No assembly required.

And it works.

The mozzarella is firm and substantial rather than soft or watery. It has enough density that the stick actually feels filling, while the prosciutto adds the salty, savory flavor that mozzarella on its own would be missing.

More importantly, the prosciutto is wrapped tightly enough around the cheese that the whole thing stays together while you eat it. I realize that sounds like a very low bar, but nobody wants to open a snack at work and immediately have a piece of prosciutto unravel into their lap.

The Salami Wrapped Pepper Jack follows exactly the same formula, but the personality is completely different.

Pepper Jack obviously brings more flavor and a bit more heat, while the salami is richer and more assertive than prosciutto. Together, it makes for a bolder, spicier snack. The cheese is just as dense and satisfying, and the salami is wrapped just as securely around it.

Quality wise, I don't think one is better than the other. This really comes down to preference.

For me, the prosciutto and mozzarella combination wins. I like the contrast between the mild mozzarella and salty prosciutto better than the stronger salami and Pepper Jack combination. But if you prefer a little heat, you might easily come to the opposite conclusion.

Are Trader Joe's Antipasto Sticks Filling?

For such a small package, surprisingly, yes.

Each stick contains 10 grams of protein, and combining meat with a dense piece of cheese makes these considerably more satisfying than their 1.5 ounce size might suggest.

There isn't much sugar here either, so this isn't one of those snacks that tastes great for five minutes and leaves you rummaging through the pantry again shortly afterward.

I could easily see keeping one in the refrigerator at work for that awkward stretch between lunch and dinner. They also make sense for road trips, after school snacks, or any time you need something quick without wanting to commit to an entire meal.

At $1.99 each, however, convenience is definitely part of what you are paying for. You could buy packages of meat and cheese and assemble the same basic thing yourself for less per serving. But then you have to actually do that.

Sometimes two dollars to have someone else tightly wrap prosciutto around your mozzarella is money well spent.

Prosciutto and Mozzarella vs. Salami and Pepper Jack

If you are trying to decide between the two, the biggest difference is flavor rather than quality.

Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella is the milder option. The mozzarella is creamy and mild while the prosciutto supplies most of the salty, savory flavor. This was my favorite.

Salami Wrapped Pepper Jack is the bolder option. You get more seasoning from the salami and some additional heat from the Pepper Jack cheese.

Both contain 10 grams of protein, both are 1.5 ounces, and both cost $1.99.

So this isn't really a case where I would tell you one is worth buying and the other isn't. Pick based on whether you want mild and salty or bold and spicy.

Or buy one of each. We aren't making major life decisions here.

Allergy Information

One detail worth mentioning is the relatively simple allergen statement. Milk is the only major allergen listed on the packages.

That may make these worth a closer look for shoppers avoiding some other common allergens, although you should always check the current package yourself if you have a food allergy since ingredients and manufacturing information can change.

I have a child whose classroom is peanut free, so having a safe snack is big in my book.

How to Serve Trader Joe's Antipasto Sticks

Obviously, the entire appeal here is that you can tear open the package and eat one. But there are a few ways to make them more interesting.

Pair with crackers Add a handful of crackers and suddenly your meat and cheese stick has become a respectable little lunch.

Add fruit Grapes, apple slices, pears, or berries add sweetness to balance the salty cured meat.

Make a mini antipasto plate Add olives, marinated artichokes, peppers, and crackers. Slice the stick into pieces and you've basically made yourself a tiny charcuterie board.

Pack one for lunch Pair it with fruit, vegetables, crackers, and a small treat for an easy lunchbox option.

Slice into bite sized pieces If you're putting together a snack plate, cutting these into rounds makes them much easier to share.

FAQs about Trader Joe's Antipasto Sticks

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about this product:

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe's Antipasto Sticks aren't revolutionary, but they don't need to be. For $1.99, you get a convenient, individually packaged meat and cheese snack with 10 grams of protein that actually does a decent job of keeping hunger away.

Both varieties were good quality, the cheese was dense and satisfying, and the meat stayed wrapped around it instead of turning snack time into an assembly project. My vote goes to the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella, but that's entirely a matter of taste rather than quality.

Could you make essentially the same snack yourself for less? Absolutely. But for something you can grab from the refrigerator and throw into a lunch bag, purse, or cooler without thinking about it, these are pretty convenient.

I'd buy the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella again without hesitation, and I'd happily recommend trying either variety depending on how much spice you like.