How To Assemble A Veggie Tray On A Budget

This is a sponsored post written by Cheap Recipe Blog on behalf of Litehouse Dressing.

When you think of a veggie platter, what comes to mind?

A lot of vegetable plates are pretty sad: A variety of bland veggies with an equally bland dip in the middle. A mix of celery, baby carrots, huge pieces of cauliflower and broccoli, and if you’re lucky, some grape tomatoes.

But I’m here to tell you that your vegetable platter doesn’t have to be boring.

You can make a fresh and delicious vegetable platter without spending a lot of money. A platter that your family or party guests will actually love digging into.

Here are some easy ways to create an epic veggie platter on a budget:

1: Pick Budget-Friendly Vegetables

Fill your veggie tray up with delicious and affordable vegetables like:

• Carrots: Cut whole carrots yourself. Look for pretty rainbow blend carrots that are purple, red, white, and orange.
• Radishes: Low-cost radishes add some bite and color to your veggie platter.
• Cucumbers: Make sure to slice cucumbers thick enough. Also, before adding to the platter, blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
• Sugar snap peas: Sugar snap peas are a veggie platter favorite. They’re sweet and fun to eat.
• In-season vegetables: Visit a farmer’s market or local grocery store to pick up in-season vegetables that are fresh and affordable.

Most importantly, fill your platter with a variety of colors and flavors. And don’t forget to add some crackers too.

2: Buy The Best Dressing – And Serve It Cold

Remember: Dressing is the most important part of your platter.

Do your guests a favor and serve fresh veggies with a chilled dressing. Serving fresh vegetables with a warm dip is kind of gross.

I served these vegetables with Lighthouse Homestyle Ranch. What I like about this dressing is that it’s delicious, for one. The dressing is so fresh tasting – which is not the case with many ranch dressings, in my opinion. It’s made with real buttermilk, sour cream, and herbs.

The other thing I love about it is that sold in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. It’s sold chilled and served chilled.

Add some fresh herbs to your dressing, if desired. I added some fresh dill that I couldn’t resist buying at the farmer’s market.

Get a coupon: Look for Lighthouse Homestyle Ranch dressing in the produce section of your grocery store. Grab a coupon for Lighthouse Dressing by signing up for their newsletter.

3: Prep Your Own Veggies

Ready-prepped vegetables at the grocery store are certainly convenient – but they also cost more. To save money, purchase whole vegetables and cut/prep them yourself.

Pro tip: Cut vegetables into smaller, bite-sized pieces. This will help fill up your platter – and is easier for your guests to nibble on.

Remember: Don’t overthink it. Buy a variety of vegetables and a good dressing and you’re party ready!

This is a sponsored post written by Cheap Recipe Blog on behalf of Litehouse Dressing.