This fresh turkey veggie tray is a cute and colorful appetizer display that brings a healthy balance to your holiday Thanksgiving spread. Best of all, kids love to help make it!
It’s the perfect easy Thanksgiving appetizer to kick off your holiday gathering along with this turkey fruit tray or chocolate strawberry turkeys!
Table of Contents
Turkey Veggie Platter
As you can probably imagine, this turkey vegetable tray for Thanksgiving is always a hit next to the oven roasted turkey!
Placing fresh, colorful, healthy veggies as a turkey-shaped veggie tray is super simple to do, yet so creative! It’s the perfect appetizer to kick off your Thanksgiving menu and is a fun twist on a fruit and veggie platter.
The kids will love these platters especially when you add their favorite dip. This customizable turkey vegetable tray is an inexpensive way to serve a crowd and easy enough to do in just 20 minutes!
Assembling the Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Tray
To start, grab a large circular or oval-shaped platter and a small bowl or ramekin. Grab your veggies out of the fridge and if you haven’t washed them yet, do so and allow them to dry.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below
- Set up. Place the bowl in the center at the bottom of the platter. Fill it with your favorite dip.
- Turkey body. Cut the bottom of a yellow bell pepper off and place two candy eyes on two bumps on the bell pepper end. Use a small sliver of red bell pepper for the beak and cut out more yellow pepper for the wings. Slice the carrots for the feet.
- Lettuce. Place lettuce leaves around the outer edge of the platter. Lay them flat side by side but a little overlapping is fine. Fan them out like turkey feathers.
- Celery. Line celery stalks beside one another and layer them around the platter just below the lettuce leaves.
- Cucumber. Place slices of cucumber just below the celery in the same fashion.
- Bell pepper and carrots. Keep going you’re almost done! Layer the red bell pepper sticks first followed by the baby carrots.
- Black olives. Last but not least, add them to the bottom of the tray before serving.
Tip: Make sure to use the pictures as a guide. I love making mine this way, but it’s your platter, so you can have fun with it!
Tips & Variations
Make the best turkey veggie tray for your next Thanksgiving! These simple tips and variations can help keep your vegetables fresh and last throughout the day.
- Wash and cut your veggies ahead of time for faster assembly. Keep them crisp by placing them in a Ziploc bag with a paper towel to absorb the moisture.
- Keep them in the vegetable crisper in your fridge for a few days until you’re ready to use them.
- To assemble the platter ahead of time, cover the dip with plastic wrap and leave off the olives and turkey face until just before serving.
- Use different veggies. You can follow the color scheme by swapping the cucumber for broccoli, the red bell pepper for cherry tomatoes, and Kale or collard greens for the lettuce leaves.
- You could also do a completely different color pattern and arrange the veggies any way you like.
- Make this entire platter using fruit instead! Strawberries, kiwi, oranges, you get the idea. Use this funfetti dip to pair with it!
Favorite Veggie Dip Ideas
There are so many great dips to choose from! These dips are perfect to dip vegetables, chips, and sliced bread. Choose which dip is best for you and your family!
Recipe FAQs
It can be, that is for sure! It depends on purchasing organic or nonorganic vegetables as well as how much you will be needing. Usually making your own does save money.
Yes! Throughly was and cut up your vegetables. Place them in a ziplock bag or airtight container with a paper towel at the bottom.
You can cut your vegetables 2 to 3 days ahead of time. Store them properly to have them last longer and keep their crisp layer.
5 star review
“This was so cute. All the kids loved it.”
-Taryn
Looking for more great dip appetizers?! Try this tzatziki sauce, hummus, or this dill dip for more delicious snacks!
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Turkey Veggie Tray
Ingredients
- 1 baby romaine lettuce
- 1 stalk celery , sliced into 3-inch pieces
- 1 english cucumber , sliced
- 1 red bell pepper , sliced
- 8 ounces carrots , sliced
- 1-2 cups black olives
For turkey dip:
- 1 cup dill dip
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 mini yellow pepper
- 2 candy eyes
- 2 baby carrots
Instructions
- Wash vegetables, slice and allow to air dry. Gather a large oval or circle platter. Place bowl for the dill dip in the bottom center of the platter.
- Then cut the bottom of the bell pepper off and place at the top of the bowl. Place two candy eyes on top and cut a little sliver from a red bell pepper to make the beak. Then slice the mini pepper in half for the wings. Next slice the carrot in half and carve out the feet. Then place onto the bottom of the bowl.
- Start at the top of the plate and add the romaine lettuce all around the top. Then layer the celery and cucumber.
- Next add the bell pepper and baby carrots. Place olives on the bottom of the platter and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Gluten-Free, Kid-Friendly, Low Carb, Platters, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
What size is the turkey veggie tray platter?
Mine was about 12 inches :)
This was so cute. All the kids loved it.
This is so cute! We always have a veggie tray for Thanksgiving, but I never thought of arranging it into an adorable turkey. It will be a great project for my daughter to help with!
Such a fun recipe for your little ones to help out with!