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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.

Turkey veggie tray with cucumbers, carrots, peppers, broccoli, and peas.
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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!!

Thanksgiving veggie tray that looks like a turkey.

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:

  1. Cut the bottom off of a red pepper.
  2. Make the beak by using a baby carrot.
  3. Add candy eye balls!

Easy as that! Place it in the dip bowl as pictured above.

Close up of veggie feather on turkey veggie tray.

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.

Close up of veggies on turkey veggie tray.

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.

Complete turkey veggie tray served with dip.

For more vegetable appetizers, check out:

4.99 from 241 votes

Turkey Veggie Tray

By: Lil’ Luna
This adorable turkey veggie tray is so simple even the kids can help! It's a perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving spread.
Servings: 16
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

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 

Face

  • Cut 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!

Body

  • Gather and prep your veggies. We like to wash and cut to sizes that are easy to grab.
  • 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.
  • Add the bowl of your favorite dip. Place the pepper turkey face in the dip bowl.

Video

Notes

Need a larger serving? When I serve this tray I have found that is enough for 16 people to nibble on. If you are serving a larger crowd, you can either prepare a second tray or have extra produce that you can use to replenish what gets eaten.
Prepare ahead of time. You can wash, dry, and chop the different ingredients 2 days ahead of time and keep them stored in separate containers in the fridge. You can then assemble the turkey platter up to 24 hours in advance, and keep it covered and in the fridge until serving it.

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 27mg, Potassium: 186mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 4991IU, Vitamin C: 39mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.99 from 241 votes (103 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




203 Comments

  1. Ann says:

    5 stars
    How do you get the candy eyeballs to stick?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I’ve done different things, toothpicks shoved in, I’ll use a dab of corn syrup or something sticky.

  2. Mary Gunther says:

    5 stars
    I love the vegetable turkey, I made it last year for a party. It was a big hit!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Happy it was a hit!! Thank you for sharing that!

  3. Allison Karline Ewing-McDonad8qt says:

    5 stars
    I would re share this again. I’ve made this at every friendsgiving for a few at its been a hit. Such a good idea!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Awe, thank you so much!

  4. Sandra Phillips says:

    5 stars
    It is so cute

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you 🙂

  5. Lindy Poper says:

    5 stars
    Fantastic!!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you so much!

  6. Pat Fisher says:

    What size serving tray did you use?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I don’t know exactly, but I am guessing mine was between 12-14 in

  7. Tamera Tergerson says:

    5 stars
    How clever! I love the look of it. I just wonder how black olives might work for the eyes? What a tasty turkey!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you! They’d work perfectly!

    2. Alex says:

      5 stars
      Perfect! I have some of those! Great idea

  8. Gail E. DILL says:

    5 stars
    I saw the Turkey veggie appetizer on a facebook post. I can’t wait to try it! Thank you!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Glad to share 🙂 Hope it’s a hit!

  9. Glenys Forrester says:

    5 stars
    saw the turkey veggie plater and had to come see, really love your site. seems very good one for me. Thank You

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! I am glad you do!! Hope you find some recipes to try 🙂

  10. Victoria says:

    I have completed my platter except for the eyeballs. How do I get them to stay on??