These easy vegetable squares feature lots of veggies and cheese, loaded onto crescent rolls, making a colorful, delicious cold pizza appetizer!
We spent Thanksgiving in the mountains with my mom’s brother and his family for a number of years when I was growing up.
I remember lots of food and football, long walks through crunchy leaves, and nights of watching movies and combing my cousins' long, silky hair.
They both are more than 10 years older than me and I worshiped them. Still do, to be honest.
My mom and I would make these easy vegetable squares together for everyone to snack on while we watched football in the middle of the day and they were such a hit!
I mean, just look at them - total swoon!
This recipe is basically a cold veggie pizza appetizer.
So colorful, so fun and so pretty.
It’s also a great way to get kids to eat their veggies. And kids can definitely get involved and help mix the cheese spread and sprinkle the veggies and extra cheese on top.
But just a heads up -- these can be messy to eat!
The toppings can scatter as you’re chowing down if you’re not paying attention. Little ones should be seated, for sure.
OK, let’s get cooking!
Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up below on how to make vegetable pizza squares. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Recipe Notes:
- Vegetables: Pick your favorite mix of veggies for the veggie toppings: broccoli, cauliflower, green and/or red bell pepper, tomato, carrots, green onion or black olives all work great here.
- Seasonings: I’ve revised the original recipe a bit to avoid the packaged buttermilk dressing mix. Instead I’ve subbed other spices to get the same flavor, but you could certainly swap back and use the packet if you'd like. You’ll need one teaspoon of it and you can skip the parsley flakes, onion flakes and garlic salt in the recipe below.
- Crescent rolls: You could make your own crescent rolls, but I'm not gonna lie. I didn't go that far. I'm all about the homemade, but I definitely went for the kind in the can here.
- Storage: These are best enjoyed the first 2 days after they are made. Extras can be refrigerated and saved for later, but the bread layer softens after those first couple of days. (See my note below on how to heat these up for a different snack later in the week!)
Finally, you can definitely prep this ahead and have it ready to go.
After all, you want to enjoy the game, the party, the holidays or whatever you've got going on. No fun being stuck in the kitchen!
I'd suggest not making it more than 24 hours ahead though so the bread on the bottom doesn't get too soft.
But if you've got leftovers later in the week, here's how you can wake them up.
I put a few squares (or a whole pan if you've got that many) in a toaster oven and broil them for just a couple minutes.
It gets the bread nice and toasty and the cheese and veggies melt down into it, making it a mini hot veggie pizza. Delicious!
Holidays or not, I hope you give these easy vegetable squares a try. They are sure to be a hit!
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. My family's old fashioned stuffed mushrooms are another classic appetizer to have if you need to round out your spread!
Easy Vegetable Squares
Ingredients
- 2 (8-oz.) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened (I use ⅓-less fat)
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (I use low-fat)
- 1 teaspoon dill weed
- ¾ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried onion flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic salt (or sub regular salt if you don’t have it)
- 3 cups desired veggie toppings, finely chopped (see notes)
- 1 heaping cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- For crust, unroll crescent rolls and put into a large baking pan (15x10x2 or so). Lay both rolls flat and pinch together the seams so it’s all connected.
- Bake according to package directions. (Mine said to bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes, until golden brown.) Remove from oven and cool completely.
- Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed and remaining seasonings (through garlic salt). Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust.
- Sprinkle with the finely chopped veggies, then sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Cut into squares and serve (or refrigerate until ready to serve).
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Okay, your Thanksgivings growing up sounded pretty epic! I would have looooved to cabin-it-up for Turkey day! Loving these easy-peasy veggie squares! So fun and delicious! I don't have any problem eating my vegetables, so I sure as heck would LOVE to eat them like this!! SO YUM! Cheers, my dear! xo
Kathryn
It was pretty spectacular to be in the mountains here in N.C. at that time of year 🙂 You'll have to try it sometime with the Boy! And these veggie squares too 😉 XO
Annie
What fun holiday memories!! These veggie squares look divine!
Kathryn
Thanks Annie - we love them!!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
It seems like this dish is always on a table at whatever gathering I'm at and I always go right for it. I've never made it myself but now that I have the recipe, I'm gonna make it! Love that you made our own healthier version of the dry ranch dressing mix. You're my kind of girl, Kathryn 🙂 PS, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Kathryn
Karrie, it's such a great classic! I somehow have not seen them at parties, unless I'm bringing them. You must have cooler friends than me 😉 Hope you get a chance to make these soon. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! XO
Karly
Delicious! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Kathryn
Thanks Karly! And thanks for hosting such a yummy party!
Carlee
What fun memories! These look like a delicious way to sneak some veggies into the football watching fare too!
Kathryn
They really are, Carlee! So tasty you don't even realize all the good veggies you're getting. 🙂
Alli @ Tornadough Alli
I absolutely love this. We call it veggie pizza and I've always been addicted, love trying new recipes for it. Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday, hope to see you again this week.
Kathryn
It is definitely addictive! This is our go-to staple, but I think I'm gonna have fun trying out different versions 🙂
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
They look absolutely delicious!! What a yummy lunch or quick and easy dinner. Thanks for linking up with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party xx
Kathryn
Thanks Lucy! These really are great any time of day!
Lauren @ Create Bake Make
What a great recipe, my kids would love these!
Kathryn
They were one of my favorite holiday snacks growing up! Hope yours love them, too!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen
This appetizer takes me back to childhood! LOVE veggie "pizza" as we used to call it! 🙂
Kathryn
Me too Tara! And I've heard so many people refer to it as pizza - I think I must have missed out on that name as a kid! 😊