Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter
This Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter is one of those easy appetizer recipes that instantly adds charm to your holiday table, like my Thanksgiving themed cheese ball. It’s a fun and creative way to serve vegetables, with vibrant cucumbers, carrots, celery, and bell peppers arranged like a turkey’s feathers. With a creamy vegetable dip at its center, this whimsical and healthy platter is a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults, bringing a delightful touch to your Thanksgiving table.
Even better, this vegetable tray comes together in minutes with just a few ingredients. Whether you’re entertaining a crowd or bringing a dish to share, it’s a festive centerpiece that’s as tasty as it is adorable.
During the holidays, we love serving trays of snacks and appetizers when guests come over. The turkey veggie board is always a favorite, just like my Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls Recipe. These Spinach and Cheese Crescent Rolls are another crowd pleaser.
Serving this cute turkey made out of fresh vegetables with a creamy homemade dip, would also be a delicious addition to serving a charcuterie board.
Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter
This Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter is a simple, no-fuss appetizer perfect for busy holiday hosts. Designed for minimal effort and maximum visual appeal, it uses fresh, colorful vegetables like crisp cucumbers and sweet carrots to create a beautiful and healthy snack that complements your holiday menu.
More than just a decoration, this playful vegetable board is also a practical and lighter option for holiday grazing. The creamy dip pairs perfectly with the veggies, and the fun turkey face with its carrot beak and candy eyes is a hit with kids. Meanwhile, adults will appreciate having a healthy, DIY snack that lets you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying family and friends.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
Making this turkey platter doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few shortcuts and swaps, you can save time and tailor it to your preferences.
- Save time by prepping your vegetables the day before serving. Wash and chop all your ingredients and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Or, you can use pre-cut vegeatbles to skip most of the chopping. They can be found in the produce area of the grocery store.
- Swap red peppers for yellow or orange peppers to give the “feathers” more color.
- You can also change the dip. A hummus, spinach dip, or a a flavorful ranch dressing would all be delicious.
- Add crackers, pretzels, or pita chips around the edges for extra variety.
- Use pieces of olives or cherry tomatoes instead of candy eyeballs if you prefer,
This platter is easy to make ahead, and the veggies stay crisp if covered and chilled until serving. Feel free to mix and match vegetables so it fits your crowd’s favorites.
What to Serve with a Thanksgiving Veggie Platter
This board works beautifully alongside other appetizers or as a refreshing side during the meal. It’s especially nice to balance out heavier dishes.
- Everything Bagel Mini Pigs in a Blanket
- Sour Cream Pumpernickel Bread Dip
- Spinach and Cheese Crescents
- Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix Recipe
- Rainbow Fruit Charcuterie Board
Guests will love nibbling on this festive veggie turkey while waiting for the main course. It’s a light and colorful addition to any holiday table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prep the veggies the day before and store them in airtight containers. Assemble the platter a few hours before serving for the freshest look. If you want to get a head start, you can also cut the turkey face and keep it wrapped in plastic until ready to use.
A creamy dip like ranch, dill, or onion dip works well. Hummus or tzatziki are also great options for a lighter twist. Choose a dip with enough thickness so it holds the turkey face and keeps the design in place.
If you can’t find candy eyeballs, you can use small pieces of black olives to create the eyes for your turkey face.
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Tools You Need to Make a Vegetable Tray
Having the right tools makes assembling the this recipe easier. Simple items you already have in your kitchen will work perfectly.
Freshware Cutting Boards for Kitchen, Chopping Board 3-Pack with Different Sizes, Juice Grooves and Non Slip Handles – Reversible, Large Cutting Board Set – Dishwasher Safe – Gray
McCook® Knife Sets, German Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Block Sets with Built-in SharpenerPARTY BARGAINS 13-Inch Charger Plates – 8 Pack, Clear Gold Rim, Heavy-Duty Disposable Chargers for Elegant Dining – Ideal for Weddings and Formal EventsNUTRIUPS 10oz Ice Cream Bowl, 4.3in Small Ceramic Bowls for Dessert Snack Rice Side Dishes, White Dip Bowl, Set of 8Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment Paper Roll, Non Stick Parchment Paper for Cooking and Baking, Oven Safe up to 425 Degrees, Chlorine-Free, 45 Feet x 12 Inches, 45 Total Sq. Ft.
Ingredients for a Thanksgiving Veggie Platter
For this recipe, use fresh, colorful vegetables that double as the turkey’s feathers and face. The dip anchors the arrangement and gives the design personality.
- Mini carrots – form the bright orange feathers
- Celery stalks – crisp green layers for the tail
- Red bell pepper – used for both feathers and the turkey face
- Cucumbers – sliced to create the feather base
- Candy eyeballs – give the turkey its fun look
- Vegetable dip – the base for the platter and tasty pairing for the veggies
These simple ingredients combine into a playful design that makes vegetables irresistible.
How to Make a Thanksgiving Veggie Platter
Line the charger plate with parchment paper and place the dip in a small bowl at the bottom center of the plate. Cut the bottom off the red pepper. Set the bottom aside to use as the turkey’s face. Also, set aside a small piece of a carrot for the turkey’s beak. Cut the rest of the red pepper, celery, cucumbers, and carrots as directed.
Arrange cucumber slices in overlapping circles to form the first layers of feathers. Alternate celery and red pepper slices over the cucumbers, then add the carrots radiating outward from the bowl.
Attach the beak and candy eyes to the pepper face with a little of the dip, then place it at the top of the bowl to complete the turkey.
This array of fresh vegetables and dip can also be served at a holiday brunch along with an Easy Brunch Charcuterie Board.
Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter
Equipment
- sharp knife
- 13-inch round charger plate (or large round platter)
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 1½ cups baby carrots (or carrots peeled and cut into 1 – 1½ pieces)
- 5 – 6 stalks celery
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1 large English cucumber (or 2 regular ones)
- 2 edible candy eyes
- 1½ cups vegetable dip (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
- Start by lining your charger plate with parchment paper, trimming it to fit the circle. Spoon the veggie dip into a shallow white bowl and set it aside.
- Cut the bottom off the red bell pepper and save it for the turkey face. Slice the remaining pepper into ½ inch strips.
- Trim the ends off the celery stalks and cut them to match the length of the red pepper slices.Slice the cucumber into ¼ inch rounds.
- To make the turkey’s beak, cut the tip off one carrot and carve a small “v” shape.
- Place the dip bowl at the bottom center of the charger plate. On each side of the bowl, add a carrot, then slightly overlap a celery stick.
- Just below the celery, begin layering cucumber slices in a fan shape. Start with one full layer, slightly overlapping each slice. Add a second layer beginning at the second slice, then a third layer of four slices centered at the top.
- Alternate celery and red pepper strips above the cucumbers, overlapping slightly.
- Add a layer of carrots starting at the edge of the bowl and fanning outward over the celery and red pepper.
- Use a dab of veggie dip to attach the carrot beak and candy eyeballs to the red pepper face. Place the face at the top center of the bowl, slightly overlapping the rim.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
2025 Alphabet Challenge – “T”
This terrific turkey veggie platter is my “T” recipe for the 2025 Alphabet Challenge. This tasty and timely appetizer is a creative addition to any holiday table, and don’t forget to check out all the amazing “T” ideas from the 2024 Alphabet Challenge for more inspiration!
- Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Tangerine Ricotta Cookies
- Food Lust People Love: Roasted Chicken Thighs with Stuffing
- A Messy Kitchen: Blueberry Buckle Tassies
- Sneha’s Recipe: Thakkali Chammanthi /Tomato Chutney
- Palatable Pastime: Pass Around Macaroni and Tomatoes
- Culinary Cam: Bitter Orange and Blackberry Thumbprint Cookies
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Michigan End of Summer Harvest Salad
Enjoy!
Perfect for our upcoming fall festival!
This is ADORABLE! I love how you cut the pepper at an angle so the turkey has chubby cheeks!
This looks so cute. I can’t wait to try this.
So adorable! I’m going to have to do a “dad-friendly” version of this platter for the holidays. My dad loves to snack…but won’t eat anything with sour cream or cream cheese. Maybe a pimento cheese dip made with mayo!
Wicked cute! My niece will get a huge kick out of this one. Sis is always looking for ways to encourage her to eat more veggies.
So cute! A wonderful idea for a Thanksgiving salad when most people don’t want to have a bowl of salad with their plates already loaded. Thanks for sharing!