Looking for a festive, healthy, and easy appetizer for your next game day gathering? You're gonna love this Football Veggie Tray, packed with colorful veggies! Plus, you can customize it to include your favorite veggies, chips, and dip.

Football-themed veggie platter with broccoli, celery, and carrots

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Why you'll love this football veggie tray

Fun and festive: This veggie tray is shaped like a football, making it a perfect fit for any sports-themed party!
Easy and quick: With just a few simple ingredients, you can assemble this tray in minutes.
Healthy option: This snack offers a refreshing break from typical heavy game-day foods, providing a tray that's packed with nutrients. That makes my dietitian heart happy!

Game day vegetable tray arranged like a football field

Is this football veggie tray healthy?

Yes! This Football Veggie Tray is an incredibly healthy option for game day. The variety of vegetables provide different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber to support your health. Plus, fresh veggies are low in calories, making this a nice addition to other heavier game day options.

Ingredients you'll need

Baby carrots or orange peppers - These orange veggies are the star, creating the football.
Cherry tomatoes - Use these to outline the football shape. You could also use slices of red bell peppers.
Green veggies of your choice - Feel free to mix it up! Here are a few suggestions:
- Cucumber slices - Fresh and hydrating, cucumbers make a great addition.
- Broccoli florets - Adds texture and crunch, along with vitamin C.
- Celery sticks - Perfect for dipping, celery adds fiber and a satisfying crunch.
- Snap peas - Sweet and snappy, they're a delightful addition to this tray.
- Green bell pepper strips - These add a mild, sweet crunch and are easy to pick up and dip.
- Zucchini slices - Slice them into rounds for a fresh, mild-tasting addition that pairs well with dips.
- Kale or baby spinach leaves - Lay them as a "bed" around the edges for extra color and texture without needing much prep.

Creative veggie layout resembling a football for party

How to make a football veggie tray

Form the football shape: On a large platter, tray, or cutting board, arrange the baby carrots in an oval shape to form the "football" body.
Outline with cherry tomatoes: Carefully place cherry tomatoes along the edge of the carrot "football" to create a bright outline.
Fill with green veggies: Around the outside of the football shape, arrange the cucumber slices, broccoli florets, celery sticks, and snap peas to complete the look.
Serve with chips and dips: Set out your favorite chips and dips for a complete, crowd-pleasing snack station.

Veggie football platter next to chips and dip

Recipe tips and tricks

Serving tips: I like serving my veggies on this beautiful tray from Pottery Barn.
Troubleshooting tips: Place the cheese laces on the "football" just before serving, to avoid it drying up over time.
Scaling tips: Need more for a larger group? Simply add extra carrots, tomatoes, and green veggies around the tray's edges to expand the "football."

Customize it your way

Like all of my recipes, this Football Veggie Tray is completely customizable. You get to choose what veggies, chips, and dips you want to use. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:

Green veggies of your choice - Try cucumbers, broccoli, celery, snap peas, green bell pepper strips, or zucchini slices. Each veggie brings its own texture, flavor, and crunch, letting you mix it up to suit your tastes.
Chips of your choice - Round out your tray with chips that complement the fresh veggies. Tortilla chips, pita chips, potato chips, or veggie chips are delish.
Dips of your choice - Pair your veggie tray with an assortment of dips! Classic ranch is always a hit, but you could also opt for hummus, guacamole, or a spicy sriracha yogurt dip. I also am loving Daisy Dips in French Onion and Ranch flavors!

Can I make it ahead of time?

Yes, you can! You can make this tray up to 24 hours in advance and then cover in saran wrap to preserve its freshness!

How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftover veggies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be enjoyed as a snack, in a salad, or with your favorite dip for the next few days.

Need more help with recipes for your busy schedule?

In my coaching + cooking program, I help busy people with beginner cooking knowledge become confident in the kitchen so that they can enjoy nourishing foods they love and stress less about mealtime. Click here to learn more about this virtual program led by a dietitian.