Thanksgiving Veggie Tray
Sep 28, 2023 Updated Sep 24, 2025
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A turkey-shaped veggie tray is a great way to incorporate fresh, colorful veggies into your Thanksgiving spread. You know I love a holiday theme, so I turned this veggie platter into an adorable veggie turkey! It’s a fun snack for kids to eat, but it’s also a great edible craft activity – you can pre-cut the pepper “feathers”, then help your kiddos arrange them however they like!
For other Thanksgiving feast ideas, try my Cheesegiving Meal Board, Thanksgiving Cheese and Dessert Board, Pumpkin Cheese Ball, Thanksgiving Kids Snack Board, and Mashed Potato Toppings Board. Plus, find more autumnal inspiration with my Fall Recipes.
Thanksgiving Fun Facts
Thanksgiving was officially declared a national holiday in 1863, just after our country suffered great division and huge loss during the Civil War. The holiday was a way to remind everyone of all that they had to be grateful for and what they shared in common.
The most well-known commercial turkey purveyor in the US, Butterball, has a Turkey-Talk hotline you can call the day of if you’re having turkey trouble. Just know they probably won’t help much with this cute turkey-shaped vegetable appetizer!
One of the biggest reasons we eat turkey on Thanksgiving is that it’s a native bird to the US. Plus, its size is best to feed a crowd (bigger than a chicken, smaller than other livestock). But the first few Thanksgivings that were held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, did not have turkey on the menu!
Turkey Veggie Tray Ingredients
For this board, you can use your favorite veggie dip, just make sure it’s thick enough to hold up the fun turkey face decorations!
Produce
- Rainbow carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise
- Mini sweet peppers, halved lengthwise (plus a waddle cut-out)
- Snap peas, halved lengthwise
- Purple cauliflower, cut into florets
- Radishes, very thinly sliced
Dairy
- Veggie dip, I like Heluva Good! French Onion Dip or hummus
- Cheddar cheese beak cut-out
Carbs
- Savory Thin Crackers or crackers of your choice (optional)
- Pretzel sticks
Accoutrements
Pro tip: You can skip the crackers or opt for a fun autumnal option, like Trader Joe’s Fall Leaf Tortilla Chips.
How To Make This Thanksgiving Veggie Tray
- Working from the top of the board, fan the carrots around the outer edger, alternating the colors. Add a layer of peppers and snap peas, overlapping the carrots.
- Next, add a layer of cauliflower, then add another row of peppers. Place the bowl of dip in the center of the board in front of the peppers.
- Insert a row of the snap peas into the back of the dip. Add a row of alternating peppers in front.
- Add the eyes, beak, and waddle on top of the dip to create the face.
- Add the radishes on the sides under the veggie feathers, then fill in the space in front of the bowl with chips. Finish by adding the pretzel legs in front of the bowl.
Turkey Veggie Tray Step-by-Step Instructions
- Fan the carrots around the outer edge, then add a layer of peppers, alternating the colors.
- Add the snap peas on top of the peppers, then add a layer of cauliflower.
- Continue to add veggies, then place the bowl in the center. Add snap peas into the dip.
- Finish by adding a row of peppers, edible eyes, cheese nose, pepper waddle. Add pretzels for the legs and radish slices to the sides.
Veggie Dip Options
I usually go for a yogurt-based dip here because it goes well with everything on this board and it’s a little healthier, but, as always, the best dip is what you like! Just try to go for a thicker dip if you can.
- Marie’s Creamy Ranch Dip
- Marzetti Dill Veggie Dip
- Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
- La Terra Fina Dill Pickle Dip & Spread
- Dean’s French Onion Dip
Dairy-Free Dips
- Boursin Dairy-Free Garlic & Herbs Cheese Spread
- Hidden Valley Plant Powered Ranch
- Bitchin’ Sauce Original Almond Dip
- Primal Kitchen Ranch Dip
Video Tutorial: How-To Make A Turkey Vegetable Tray
FAQs
When it comes to cut veggies, I like to serve them ultra-fresh! Cutting veggies exposes them to the air, which makes them deteriorate faster. If you are in a time crunch and can’t prepare it all right before serving, you can cut the veggies a few hours before and store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. If you prepare them the night before, include damp paper towels in each container to keep the veggies moist.
If you’re making this as an appetizer, it will serve 8 to 12 people. As a grazing snack, it will serve more!
Feel free to swap in whatever veggies you like! Just stick to the color scheme: orange, red, purple, and yellow are my go-to Thanksgiving colors and they make the perfect turkey feathers!
Since we’re working with cut veggies and a yogurt dip, this board can’t stay out forever. At room temp, it can sit out for no more than two hours.
The board in these photos is 14.5-inch diameter and no longer available; however, you can check out my favorite round boards for alternatives.
Show Me Your Veggie Turkey Trays
I hope this post inspires you to make this Thanksgiving veggie platter. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!
And, if you liked this recipe, please rate and review.
Turkey Veggie Tray for Thanksgiving
Ingredients
Produce
- Rainbow carrots peeled and halved lengthwise
- Mini sweet peppers halved lengthwise (plus a waddle cut-out)
- Snap Peas halved crosswise
- Purple cauliflower cut into florets
- Radishes thinly sliced
Dairy
- Veggie dip (I like Heluva Good! French Onion Dip or hummus)
- Cheddar cheese beak cut-out
Carbs
- Savory Thin Crackers or crackers of your choice (optional)
Accoutrements
- Edible Eyes
Instructions
- Working from the top of the board, fan the carrots around the outer edger, alternating the colors. Add a layer of peppers and snap peas, overlapping the carrots.
- Next, add a layer of cauliflower, then add another row of peppers. Place the bowl of dip in the center of the board in front of the peppers.
- Insert a row of the snap peas into the back of the dip. Add a row of alternating peppers in front.
- Add the eyes, beak, and waddle on top of the dip to create the face.
- Add the radishes on the sides under the veggie feathers, then fill in the space in front of the bowl with chips. Finish by adding the pretzel legs in front of the bowl.
This came out so cute!
I made this and it was so festive!
This board was perfect for Thanksgiving snacks.
Great instructions and easy to follow.
This was such a hit on Thanksgiving! Adorable!
Yummy
The best!
So cute! My 2 year old nephew loved munching on the tail feathers! We also liked that it was a lighter appetizer on a day when we over indulge!
So cute!
I am a small business owner who sells charcuterie graze boxes. I give back a portion of my sales to local animal shelters and rescues. When I was nervous about starting this business it was Meg who gave me the confidence with all of her video tutorials, recipes, and blog posts! I love all of her recipes and they have helped Inspire my boards.
this is amazing! thank you so much for the kind words! continued love and success to you and your business!
This board was a huge hit for our Friendsgiving! Everyone loved it so much! I can’t wait for our Christmas and Hanukkah parties. Meg’s boards are always amazing. Her decks and hoodies make great gifts too!