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This adorable Turkey Veggie Tray is so simple, even the kids can help! It’s a perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving spread.
It’s important to have appetizers on hand for guests to snack on at your Thanksgiving gatherings, and this Turkey Veggie Tray is the perfect solution! Serve it up with some Homemade Ranch or Dill Dip, and your guests will love it.
A Thanksgiving veggie Appetizer
We had so much fun making our Christmas Tree Veggie Platter last year, that we decided to make one for Thanksgiving as well!
This dish couldn’t be cuter, in the shape of a turkey! It’s the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer to be made year after year, and is one even the kids can help out with.
Veggie platters are an absolute must at any party. They offset the other heavy appetizers with something a little lighter. I love vegetable appetizers because it gives a great healthy option for everyone.
This Turkey Veggie Tray is so fun to create – get your kids involved. They will love it!!
turkey veggie tray Dip + Face
Pick your favorite dip to be at the bottom of your Thanksgiving Veggie Tray. Here are some of our favorite dips:
Make the turkey face:
- Cut the bottom off of a red pepper.
- Make the beak by using a baby carrot.
- Add candy eye balls!
Easy as that! Place it in the dip bowl as pictured above.
How to Make the Body
Start by gathering and preparing all of your vegetables. For this turkey veggie tray we used:
- sliced cucumbers
- baby carrots
- broccoli
- sugar snap peas
- bell pepper sticks (red and yellow)
Other veggies you can use: asparagus spears, black olives, grape tomatoes, and/or celery sticks.
1ST LAYER. Layer the sliced cucumbers first, in a half circle around the platter. We did two rows of cucumbers as you can see in the picture below.
2ND LAYER. Then layer the carrots, yellow and red peppers, and broccoli pieces in smaller half circles.
3RD LAYER. End with the snap peas at the bottom.
DIP + SERVE! Add the bowl of your favorite dip. Place the turkey face made out of a pepper in the dip bowl.
How much to make
Plan for each guest to eat about 5 pieces of vegetables each, and use about 3 tablespoons of dip.
For 10 guests this calculates out to 50 pieces of vegetables and 1 ¾ cups of dip. This recipe can feed about 16 people.
Storing + serving info
Make ahead of time. Make this turkey shaped vegetable platter up to 24 hours in advance. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge.
Prep all veggies 24-48 hours in advance and place in Ziploc bags. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Keep it cool when serving. Don’t set out the vegetable tray until you’re ready for guests to dig in. Another way to keep the veggies cool is to place the tray onto a tray of ice cubes or ice packs.
For more vegetable appetizers, check out:
- Veggie Cups
- Cucumber Sandwiches
- Baked Zucchini Fries
- Veggie Tortilla Roll Ups
- Christmas Tree Veggie Platter
Turkey Veggie Tray Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 red bell pepper
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- candy eye balls
- 1 crown broccoli
- 2 cups baby carrots
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 cup snap peas
- dip
Instructions
- Make the face by cutting the bottom off of a red bell pepper. Make the beak by using a baby carrot, a piece of yellow pepper under the beak for the wattle (over the beak for a snood), and candy eyeballs!
- To make the body, gather and prep your veggies. We like to wash and cut to sizes that are easy for grabbing.
- Layer the sliced cucumbers first in a half circle around the platter. Then layer the carrots, yellow and red peppers, and broccoli pieces in smaller half circles. End with the snap peas at the bottom.
- Then add the bowl of your favorite dip. Place the turkey face made out of a pepper in the dip bowl.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thank you for this!! I was on the hook to bring an appetizer and wine for Thanksgiving yesterday. Thought a veggie tray would be a great starter with all the heavy traditional turkey day food. Was so excited to find this creative fun twist!! I made this using a large 18″x14″ oval platter with a 5″ round dip bowl. I chopped and placed veggies on the platter with the dip bowl (empty) in place. I made the turkey face using a little white frosting to attach the eyes, break and wattle and placed it inside the empty bowl. Plastic wrapped the entiring platter and placed in cooler bag for transport. Upon destination arrival, poured container of dill dip in the bowl and place head on top. My man laughed and said it was too pretty and cute to eat. It was such a huge hit with the family of 20! Everyone took pictures before diving into it. Thank you sooo much for sharing this creative spin on a veggie tray for Thanksgiving!
Had everything cut up and organized with picture. When our grandkids got to the house, showed them the picture and let them make it together. They had fun and we enjoyed watching them make it. Thank you for the Great idea.
Oh that sounds so fun! I love that you got your grandchildren involved!
The turkey veggie tray looks adorable. I’m planning to make it. However, I made the ranch dressing ahead of time, upped the ingredients by 1/3, and NO WAY is that enough for 16 people. Unless all of them are on a diet. I’m dealing with 3 hungry teenagers among the partakers, and they’ll empty out the dip in no time.
Sounds like you may have to make a bit more for those hungry teens! I hope the tray and dip are a hit!
What size platter did you use?
Any size from 12-16 inch could work, depending on how many people you are serving.
Hello! I am planning to make this cute veggie tray for Thanksgiving this week. Your recipe calls for 2 cups of baby carrots twice. Will I need 2 cups or 4 cups of baby carrots to make this?
Thanks.
What candy u use for eye ?
You can buy a small bag of eyeball candy at Walmart where they sell the cake decorating supplies.
Love the look of this turkey veggie tray. Only thing I didn’t find in the recipe, or may have overlooked, is the size of the tray. Please advise.
Thanks,
What size plate did you use for this adorable relish plate?
It was either 12 or 14 inches…. you could make any size you have work as long as it’s a round platter!
What size platter did you use to create this, with the amount of ingredients listed?It is adorable and plan to make it this year!!