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Home » Appetizers » The Best Veggie Tray

July 2, 2020 By Sara 11 Comments

The Best Veggie Tray

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This homemade veggie tray is an assortment of colorful vegetables paired with a variety of flavorful dips. A crudite platter is a must-have for any party or gathering, it’s always a big hit with both kids and adults alike!

When I’m entertaining, I always put out a lot of different snacks such as chex mix, 7 layer dip and this easy yet impressive veggie platter.

This homemade veggie tray is an assortment of colorful vegetables paired with a variety of flavorful dips. This homemade veggie tray is an assortment of colorful vegetables paired with a variety of flavorful dips.

A large veggie tray with assorted fresh and steamed vegetables, ranch dip and hummus.

Every good party starts with a veggie tray – it’s an appetizer that’s quick to make and fun to eat! My version of this classic dish includes both raw and blanched vegetables, with plenty of dipping options to choose from.

How do you make a veggie tray?

Start by collecting an assortment of vegetables of different sizes, colors and textures. Arrange the veggies in a decorative pattern on a board or platter. Spoon some dips of your choice into bowls, and nestle the bowls among the veggies. Garnish with fresh herbs, then serve and enjoy.

Bell peppers, asparagus, tomatoes and green beans on a plate.

Tips for the perfect platter

  • You can scatter your vegetables around the platter, or serve them upright in glasses for a different look.
  • For added color, line your tray with lettuce or radicchio leaves.
  • I always peel my carrots, and I recommend peeling other vegetables with tough skins such as waxy cucumbers.
  • I often add other ingredients to my platter such as olives, marinated artichokes, breadsticks, mozzarella balls or other bite sized snack options.
  • If you’re pressed for time, you can purchase pre-cut vegetables in the produce area of the grocery store.
  • For an elegant touch, serve your dips inside of hollowed out bell peppers or small heads of cabbage.
  • Add a few unexpected items to the mix, such as french radishes, jicama, rainbow carrots or broccolini.
  • I recommend blanching tougher vegetables such as cauliflower, asparagus and green beans. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the vegetables to the pot, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until just tender. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Pat the veggies dry and they’re ready to add to your platter.

Carrots, celery, radishes and cucumber on a plate.

What veggies are good for a veggie tray?

Any vegetable that tastes good either raw or lightly blanched will make a good addition to a veggie tray! You can even use a combination of raw, cooked and pickled vegetables to change things up a bit. Here are some of my favorite options.

  • Broccoli
  • Celery
  • Radishes
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Bell Peppers
  • Asparagus
  • Green Beans
  • Cauliflower

Bowls of hummus and ranch dip.

How long will a veggie platter stay fresh?

A veggie tray will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 2 hours. You can refrigerate your platter for up to 3 days, although the cut vegetables will dry out a bit over time. I recommend enjoying your crudites within 24 hours for the best result.

A veggie tray filled with fresh vegetables and two types of dip.

Can you make a vegetable platter in advance?

You can prepare your platter up to 4 hours before you plan to serve it. Store your tray covered in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy it.

Dip Options

There are so many great dips to pair with your veggies! Ranch and hummus are classic choices, but here are some other options.

  • Herb Veggie Dip
  • Avocado Dip
  • Dill Pickle Dip
  • Spinach Dip

A hand dipping celery into ranch sauce.

Making your own veggie platter tastes much better than the store bought version, and is sure to get rave reviews!

Veggie Tray Video

A large veggie tray with assorted fresh and steamed vegetables, ranch dip and hummus.
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5 from 11 votes

Veggie Tray

This homemade veggie tray is an assortment of colorful vegetables paired with a variety of flavorful dips. A crudite platter is a must-have for any party or gathering, it's always a big hit with both kids and adults alike!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword veggie platter, veggie tray
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 15kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 cup carrots peeled
  • 1 cup celery stalks
  • 1 cup cucumbers sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup radishes
  • 1 cup asparagus stalks blanched
  • 1 cup green beans blanched
  • 3 cups assorted dips such as ranch or hummus
  • fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions

  • Arrange the vegetables on a large platter.
  • Place the dips into bowls, then add the bowls to the platter.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2036IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: Dip, Vegetables

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Comments

  1. Cheryl says

    March 22, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect suggestions for my tray! Thanks

    Reply
  2. Nart says

    July 22, 2020 at 6:07 am

    5 stars
    Yum! Loving all the colors and and this is definitely my kind of food when it comes to gatherings!

    Reply
  3. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    July 22, 2020 at 2:19 am

    5 stars
    Such a great range of veggies here that I often forget about for a platter like this. So beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Sadia Malik says

    July 21, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    5 stars
    impressive looking veggie tray love the idea of serving the dips in pepper bowls

    Reply
  5. Jere Cassidy says

    July 21, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    I could make a meal from a veggie tray. I love serving the dip in red peppers.

    Reply
  6. Alexandra says

    July 21, 2020 at 8:32 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect for entertaining – so fresh and delicious!

    Reply
  7. Jessica Formicola says

    July 13, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    5 stars
    Such a gorgeous tray of veggies! And I love how you arranged them. Definitely serving mine with hummus!

    Reply
  8. Emily Liao says

    July 13, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    5 stars
    This veggie tray is perfect for a summer snack! So refreshing 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jennifer Allen says

    July 13, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    5 stars
    I love veggie trays but never thought of some of these! thanks for the tips – i’m off to get my veggie tray set up!

    Reply
  10. Colleen says

    July 13, 2020 at 12:34 pm

    5 stars
    I love the addition of the blanched veggies along with raw veggies. Thanks for all the great veggie platter tips, too!

    Reply
  11. Kristin says

    July 13, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    5 stars
    I never would have thought to serve asparagus spears as part of a veggie tray but they were a big hit. Great idea! Same with the green beans. I even served the leftovers as a side dish with dinner the next day. The kids loved it! Thanks!

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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