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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Making your own veggie platter tastes much better than the store bought version, and is sure to get rave reviews!
Veggie Tray Video
Veggie Tray
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.
Karen says
We enjoyed the blanched vegetables as I had not done that before!
Cheryl says
Perfect suggestions for my tray! Thanks
Nart says
Yum! Loving all the colors and and this is definitely my kind of food when it comes to gatherings!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Such a great range of veggies here that I often forget about for a platter like this. So beautiful!
Sadia Malik says
impressive looking veggie tray love the idea of serving the dips in pepper bowls
Jere Cassidy says
I could make a meal from a veggie tray. I love serving the dip in red peppers.
Alexandra says
Perfect for entertaining – so fresh and delicious!
Jessica Formicola says
Such a gorgeous tray of veggies! And I love how you arranged them. Definitely serving mine with hummus!
Emily Liao says
This veggie tray is perfect for a summer snack! So refreshing 🙂
Jennifer Allen says
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!
Colleen says
I love the addition of the blanched veggies along with raw veggies. Thanks for all the great veggie platter tips, too!
Kristin says
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!