Turkey Veggie Tray

A Turkey Veggie Tray is a fun and festive way to celebrate Thanksgiving while keeping things healthy and colorful. This creative platter arranges fresh vegetables to resemble a turkey, making it perfect as a holiday appetizer or centerpiece. It’s a delightful way to get kids and adults alike excited about eating their veggies.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This veggie tray is easy to assemble, visually appealing, and packed with a variety of fresh, crisp vegetables. It’s customizable to suit your favorite veggies, and it adds a burst of color to your Thanksgiving table. Plus, it’s a healthy option to balance out heavier holiday dishes.

Key Ingredients

• Vegetables: Bell peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli make a vibrant and delicious selection.
• Dip: Ranch, hummus, or your favorite vegetable dip serves as the centerpiece and the turkey’s “body.”
• Decorative Elements: Black olives, pretzels, or edible candy eyes can be used to create the turkey’s face and features.

How to Make a Turkey Veggie Tray

1. Prepare the Vegetables: Wash, peel, and cut the vegetables into sticks, slices, or florets.
2. Assemble the Turkey Shape: Place a small bowl of dip in the center of a large platter. Arrange the vegetables around the bowl in fan-like layers to resemble turkey feathers.
3. Create the Turkey Face: Use a bell pepper slice for the turkey’s head, with olives or candy eyes for the eyes, and a small carrot slice for the beak. Add a strip of red bell pepper for the wattle.
4. Add Final Touches: Use pretzel sticks or celery stalks for the turkey’s legs. Adjust the arrangement for balance and presentation.

Tips & Tricks

• Keep It Fresh: Assemble the tray close to serving time to maintain the vegetables’ crispness.
• Customize: Use seasonal or favorite veggies that you know your guests will enjoy.
• Make It Kid-Friendly: Include milder vegetables like cucumbers and carrots to appeal to younger palates.

Serving Suggestions

Pair the turkey veggie tray with a variety of dips, such as guacamole, spinach-artichoke dip, or a tangy yogurt-based dressing. This tray can be a healthy starter before the Thanksgiving feast or a snack to keep everyone happy while the turkey finishes cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I make this tray ahead of time? Yes, prep the vegetables a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. Assemble the tray just before serving.
• What if I don’t have a large platter? Use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup and presentation.

A Turkey Veggie Tray is an entertaining and wholesome addition to your Thanksgiving spread. With its cheerful turkey design and a variety of fresh vegetables, it’s sure to delight your guests. Give it a try this holiday season, and let us know how you customized your turkey!

looking for more thanksgiving recipes ideas ?

• Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs
• Green Bean Casserole
• Scalloped Potatoes

Turkey Veggie Tray

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 60

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Vegetables for the “feathers”:

• 1 cup baby carrots
• 1 cup celery sticks
• 1 cup cucumber slices
• 1 cup bell pepper strips red, yellow, and orange
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

For the turkey’s “body”:

• 1 small round bowl of hummus ranch dip, or guacamole
• 1 whole pear or small round bread roll for a non-veggie option

For decoration:

• 2 candy eyes or small slices of olives
• 1 slice of red bell pepper for the wattle
• 1 slice of yellow bell pepper or cheese for the beak

Method

 

Assemble the feathers:

1. Arrange the carrots, celery, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, and cherry tomatoes in rows around the edge of a large platter to resemble turkey feathers. Start with larger pieces (like celery) on the outer edges and smaller ones (like tomatoes) closer to the center.

Create the body:

1. Place the bowl of dip at the bottom center of the platter to act as the turkey’s body.
2. Position the pear (or bread roll) above the dip as the turkey’s head.

Decorate the turkey’s face:

1. Attach candy eyes or olive slices to the pear using a small dab of hummus or dip as glue.
2. Add the red bell pepper slice below the “beak” for the wattle.

Serve:

1. Pair the veggie tray with your dip of choice for a fun and festive Thanksgiving appetizer!

Notes

This Turkey Veggie Tray is a colorful and healthy centerpiece for your Thanksgiving spread! 🦃🥕🥒