🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (2024)

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For a healthy appetizer recipe that will inspire everyone to eat vegetables (and enjoy them!), serve my easy Veggie Platter. This party snack idea is customizable and ready to share in just 10 minutes.

🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (1)

I’ll never turn down a charcuterie board that’s overflowing with meats and cheeses. That being said, some occasions call for a lighter, brighter appetizer recipe. Enter: Veggie Platter!

Whether you’re seeking inspiration for how to eat more vegetables or need a no-cook appetizer that’s almost as easy to assemble as it is to love, this Veggie Platter delivers. It’s among the most colorful, beautiful party snack ideas, can be made up to a full day ahead, and takes just 10 minutes to toss together once you have your vegetables washed and sliced.

This appetizer recipe is proof that sometimes, it can be a great thing to veg out!

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step-by-step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Recipe FAQs
  6. Veggie Platter Recipe

Recipe ingredients

🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (2)

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Easy homemade dill dip:To make this better-than-store-bought dip recipe, in a medium bowl, combine 1 ½ cups sour cream, 2/3 cups mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons dill weed, 2 tablespoons dried minced onion, 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes, and 1 teaspoon celery salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors meld. This makes 2 ¼ cups dip, enough to serve about 10 adults.
  • Fresh veggies: Since they can be crafted into easily scoopable shapes and are crowd-pleasers, I recommend a mix of carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon radishes, baby bell peppers (or a selection of your favorites from that list). For bonus points and to save money while eating nature’s best, customize the selection to the season. Check out my collection of produce guides for the month you plan to make this easy appetizer recipe, then adjust accordingly to highlight the items that are in season.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. On a large board or serving platter, create some anchor points with dill dips or your other favorite dips. Add piles of baby carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.
🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (3)
  1. Fill in gaps with tomatoes, snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, radishes, and baby bell peppers.
🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (4)

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield:Aim for about 1 cup or more of vegetables and about 2 to 4 tablespoons of dip per person. This tray will easily serve 10.
  • Storage:This is a cold platter, so keep it chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to party.
  • Make ahead:Yes, please. Make the dip and cut the vegetables the day before and the ingredients will have a chance to mingle and get really flavorful.
  • More veggies: Looking for tasty ways to eat more veggies? Zucchini Lasagna has thin, flavorful ribbons in place of regular lasagna noodles. Shakshouka has eggs cooked in a rich, spicy tomato sauce. Asparagus Frittata is a spectacular breakfast dish featuring asparagus, feta cheese, a lovely green salad on the side. And Pasta Primavera is a springy pasta dish full of tomatoes, peas, zucchini, asparagus, and a light lemon sauce.
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Recipe FAQs

How many veggies should I buy per person?

When paired with dip and the main appetizer recipe in your spread, vegetables go surprisingly quickly! Plus it’s much better to have extra than too little, so I suggest erring on the generous side. Estimate about 1 to 1 ½ cups of vegetables per person, or about 4 to 6 ounces. Put any leftovers to use in Vegetable Casserole, Veggie Pizza, Vegetable Stock, or simply roast them on a sheet pan. (As far as the dip goes, ⅛ to ¼ cup is a good guesstimate, but again, I suggest aiming high; extra makes for a tasty and healthy snack option for the next few days!)

How do ounces translate to cups for these veggies?

Great question! We did the math to help you adjust this recipe to suit your crowd size.
One 16-ounce bag of baby carrots = about 4 cups
One 12-ounce bag of broccoli florets = about 4 cups
One 10-ounce bag of cauliflower florets = about 3 cups
One 10-ounce pint of cherry tomatoes = about 2 cups
One 16-ounce bag of celery sticks = about 30 (3-inch) sticks
One 8-ounce bag of sugar snap peas = about 2 ½ cups
Two medium cucumbers = about 2 ½ cups
6 ounces of green beans = about 1 ½ cups
Three radishes = about 1 cup
6 ounces of baby bell peppers = about 2 cups

What other dips could I serve with this Veggie Platter?

If you’re not a huge dill fan, or simply want to offer multiple dunking options, consider Hummus with Za’atar Butter, Knorr Spinach Dip, or French Onion Dip.

Do you have any suggestions about how to make the Veggie Platter Instagram-worthy?

If you’re lucky enough to have fresh herbs, such as dill or parsley, use some to sprinkle on the top, mix in the dip, and garnish the platter. Or fill in any gaps with olives, cornichons, or your favorite toasted nut to round out the snack spread.

More veggie-forward favorites

Salad Recipes

Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese

Vegetable Recipes

Harvest Roasted Vegetables

Main Dishes

Stuffed Zucchini

Salad Recipes

Orzo Pasta Salad

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🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (10)

Veggie Platter

By Meggan Hill

For a healthy appetizer recipe that will inspire everyone to eat vegetables (and enjoy them!), serve my easy Veggie Platter. This party snack idea is customizable and ready to share in just 10 minutes.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 10 servings

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Calories 55

5 from 2 votes

ReviewPrint

Ingredients

  • Dill dip homemade or store-bought, for serving (see note 1)
  • 1 (16-ounce) bag baby carrots
  • 1 bunch celery leafy tips and bases removed, cut into 3-inch sticks
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag broccoli florets
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag cauliflower florets
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 (8-ounce) bag sugar snap peas
  • 2 medium cucumbers sliced on the bias
  • 6 ounces green beans trimmed
  • 3 watermelon radishes or regular radishes, sliced
  • 6 ounces baby bell peppers assorted colors

Instructions

  • On a large board or serving platter, create some anchor points with dill dips or your other favorite dips.

  • Add piles of baby carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower. Fill in gaps with tomatoes, snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, radishes, and baby bell peppers.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Homemade Easy Dill Dip:To make this better-than-store-bought dip recipe, in a medium bowl, combine 1 ½ cups sour cream, 2/3 cups mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons dill weed, 2 tablespoons dried minced onion, 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes, and 1 teaspoon celery salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors meld. This makes 2 ¼ cups dip, enough to serve about 10 adults.
  2. Fresh veggies:Since they can be crafted into easily scoopable shapes and are crowd-pleasers, I recommend a mix of carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon radishes, baby bell peppers (or a selection of your favorites from that list). For bonus points and to save money while eating nature’s best, customize the selection to the season. Check out myproduce guidefor the month you plan to make this easy appetizer recipe, then adjust accordingly to highlight the items that are in season.
  3. Yield: Aim for about 1 cup or more of vegetables and about 2 to 4 tablespoons of dip per person. This tray will easily serve 10.
  4. Storage: This is a cold platter, so keep it chilled in the refrigerator until you’re ready to party.
  5. Make ahead:Yes, please. Make the dip and cut the vegetables the day before and the ingredients will have a chance to mingle and get really flavorful.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingsCalories: 55kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.04gSodium: 66mgPotassium: 476mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 6963IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill

Meggan Hill

Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

🥕 🥦 🍅 How to Make the Perfect Veggie Platter (2024)

FAQs

What makes a good veggie tray? ›

Fresh veggies: Since they can be crafted into easily scoopable shapes and are crowd-pleasers, I recommend a mix of carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, green beans, watermelon radishes, baby bell peppers (or a selection of your favorites from that list).

How to make a fancy veggie platter? ›

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.

What makes a good vegetable plate? ›

Tips for Creating a Fancy Vegetable Tray

Go beyond the traditional carrot & celery combo and bring in a diversity of veggies, including watermelon radish, mini bell peppers, orange cauliflower, purple cauliflower and broccolini. Less common or unexpected veggies can elevate a board & make it fill at “bit fancy”.

What vegetables to put in a platter? ›

Broccoli, cauliflower, celery, red peppers, green beans, or radishes would all be good choices. A creamy dip – If you're a fan of dairy-based dips, one would be great here. You could also try this curried red lentil hummus, beet hummus, or vegan pimento cheese dip.

Can you put raw asparagus on a veggie tray? ›

Asparagus of all different colors can be served raw and unpeeled if very slender. Thicker stalks should be peeled from the top two-inches and below, then briefly blanched in boiling salted water and shocked in ice water while still tender-crisp.

How many veggies should be on a veggie tray? ›

Think about 5 pieces of vegetables per person (so 50-60 pieces for 10-12 guests). Have about 3 tablespoons of dip per person (so about 1 3/4 – 2 cups for 10-12 guests). For non-vegetable items like naan or pretzels, have about 2 per person (so 20-24 pieces for 10-12 guests).

Is it cheaper to make a veggie tray or buy one? ›

Is it cheaper to buy a veggie tray or make your own? Homemade is almost always cheaper than buying a convenience item. Unless you find a vegetable tray on serious markdown, it's more affordable to assemble your own.

Is it cheaper to buy a veggie tray or make your own? ›

Is it cheaper to buy a veggie tray or make your own? Homemade is almost always cheaper than buying a convenience item. Unless you find a vegetable tray on serious markdown, it's more affordable to assemble your own.

Can you cut up veggies ahead of time for a veggie tray? ›

To keep them fresh, wash the vegetables well, peel if necessary and cut to desired sizes. Wrap in damp paper towels and store in a large, sealed zip-top baggie with the air pressed out. The vegetables can be prepped up to two days in advance.

What is the difference between veggie tray and crudite? ›

A crudités platter (pronounced crew-de-teh) is simply another name for a vegetable platter, typically served at parties, picnics, or other social events. The platter consists of a range of fresh vegetables, cut into bite-sized sticks and shapes, and is typically served with sauces and spreads for dipping.

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