This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Move over meat and cheese! This veggie tray is healthy, impressive and easy to make for your next party.
Vegetable Charcuterie Board
I love charcuterie boards and the idea of sitting around with family and friends and nibbling while chatting. When you want a healthier board, these veggie trays are the perfect snack for get-togethers. Much of what goes onto the board can be prepped ahead of time, so all you need to do is assemble the board and bring it to your guests.
Why You’ll Love a Veggie Tray for Your Next Party
- Not your mom’s veggie tray. In my mom’s day, she’d put out a plate with carrot sticks, olives, celery, and some ranch dressing. This dressed up version borrows the style of a charcuterie board for a more modern look.
- Make it your own. You can mix and match to create the perfect vegetable charcuterie board. Use my suggestions below or go with whatever is seasonal and fresh.
- Perfect for making ahead. Gather the ingredients for your veggie tray ahead of time and then just assemble it all before serving.
- A feast for the eyes. This veggie tray is beautiful to look at and delicious to eat! And all those colors mean you’re getting lots of different vitamins and nutrients.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below for more details.
- Radicchio – Radicchio is bitter and spicy. An acidic dip or dressing helps balance its flavor.
- Watermelon radishes – Regular radishes are fine too, but watermelon radishes look much prettier!
- Cherry tomatoes – An assortment of colors adds visual appeal, as does leaving them on the vine.
- Carrot sticks – You can cut up whole carrots or use baby carrots.
- Green beans – Or use yellow beans—or a combination of yellow and green.
- Mini cucumbers – Also known as Persian cucumbers.
- Snap peas – A sweet addition to our veggie tray.
- Broccoli and cauliflower florets – I like using purple and/or orange cauliflower for color.
- Baguette slices or pita wedges – To add some variety to our veggie board.
- Nuts – Pistachios, Marcona almonds, or another kind you like.
- Your favorite dips – Hummus, spinach dip, salsa, Greek yogurt Caesar dip or whipped feta dip.
How to Make a Veggie Tray
See the recipe card below for printable instructions.
- Add the dip. Place a bowl of dip off to one side on a large board. I like using this Big Board from the Reluctant Entertainer so there’s room for lots of goodies!
- Start layering. Layer leaves of radicchio around the platter, then fill in the spaces with the vegetables.
- Finish. Add additional dips and any other goodies you might want to the veggie tray, then serve!
Tips for Success
- Use what’s in season. You don’t have to stick with the ingredients I’ve listed above! Use what’s at the farmers’ market or grocery store, and look for vibrant, rich colors.
- Make sure you have a good variety. Include at least 4 different kinds of veggies, or more if you’re using a large board.
- Always include a dip. Or if your platter is really big, 3 dips. Veggies don’t taste as good without a dip for dunking!
- Blanch the vegetables if you’d like. You can blanch the veggies first by dunking them in boiling water for 1 minute and then chill them in ice water to make them more vibrant.
- Keep it fresh. Don’t cut the veggies more than 2 hours ahead of time to keep them fresh and crisp.
- Add more elements. Try pickled green beans, pickled asparagus, pickled beets, or pickled onions. Layer in your favorite cheeses. Include a small bowl with flaky sea salt. You can totally get creative with this veggie tray!
Proper Storage
Wrap up any leftover veggies and other nibbles and store them in the fridge for 2-3 days.
More Awesome Board Recipes
Veggie Tray
This modernized take on the veggie tray brings more visual appeal to the party staple. Like a vegetable charcuterie board with dips and more!
Yield: 8 servings
Equipment
- 20-inch Big Board
Ingredients
- Radicchio, leaves
- Watermelon radishes, sliced
- Cherry tomatoes
- Carrot sticks, baby carrots with the stems still on them.
- Green beans
- Mini cucumbers, sliced
- Mini bell peppers
- Snap peas
- Broccoli Florets
- Cauliflower florets, the more colorful the better!
- baguette slices, or pita wedges for serving
- Dried Nuts such as pistachios or Marcona almonds
- Your favorite dips – Great choices include:, hummus, spinach dip, salsa, or whipped feta dip
Instructions
- Fill some small bowls with dips of your choice.
- Around the dip place the remaining ingredients.
