How to Make the Perfect Caterpillar Veggie Skewers
American · Easy · 15 min · 8 servings
Fresh colorful vegetables threaded onto skewers in a repeating pattern create adorable caterpillar shapes that make eating vegetables exciting for kids at parties. A simple ranch dip served alongside encourages even the pickiest eaters to try them.
Why this recipe works
This Caterpillar Veggie Skewers recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 15 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 55 calories with 2g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 large yellow bell pepper cut into circles
- 1 cup sugar snap peas
- 8 pieces wooden skewers
- 1 cup store bought ranch dressing for dipping
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Prep All Vegetables
Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly. Cut the yellow bell pepper into round coin shaped circles. Break broccoli into similar sized florets. Leave cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas whole.
Step 2: Thread the Caterpillar Bodies
Thread vegetables onto skewers alternating colors and shapes to create a striped caterpillar pattern. Start with a cherry tomato as the head and continue with broccoli, bell pepper, snap pea, and repeat down the length of the skewer.
Step 3: Create the Caterpillar Face
Use a toothpick to attach two small olive or raisin pieces to the first cherry tomato on each skewer to create eyes. You can also use a dab of cream cheese to help small decorations stick to the tomato head.
Step 4: Arrange and Serve
Lay all caterpillar skewers parallel on a large green platter lined with lettuce leaves to look like grass. Place a small bowl of ranch dressing at the side and serve immediately.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- cherry tomatoes → grape tomatoes or small radish rounds
- ranch dressing → hummus for a healthier dipping alternative
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Using vegetables that are all the same size which makes the caterpillar look flat and uninteresting instead of rounded and cute
- Not washing and completely drying vegetables first which makes everything slippery and hard to thread onto skewers
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 55 calories, 2g protein, 9g carbs, 1g fat, 3g fiber.
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