Making this cute turkey veggie tray for Thanksgiving is a great way to incorporate fresh vegetables into your bountiful dinner spread! Try it alongside this smoked spatchcock turkey!
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You could make a boring old Thanksgiving vegetable tray, but why? It's easy and fun to make this turkey veggie tray, perfect for kids of all ages!
For a smaller gathering, serve this adorable turkey veggie tray with a Traeger smoked turkey breast.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- No Thanksgiving feast would be complete without a helping of fresh vegetables!
- Veggie platters are a much cheaper alternative to charcuterie boards.
- Your kids can help make a turkey veggie tray!
- You can prepare this turkey veggie tray in advance, covering it in plastic wrap and keeping it in the fridge until it's time to serve!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ranch dip: You can use homemade ranch, purslane dip, peanut dipping sauce, tzatziki, or your favorite dip. Ranch dressing is also fine.
- Bok choy: You can also use lettuce.
- Carrots: Plain old carrots are fine, but I recommend using rainbow carrots as they mimic the colors in a turkey's tail feathers. You can use either full-size or baby carrots.
- Cucumber: Persian cucumbers are best, but you can use any variety.
- Bell peppers: Red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, or orange bell peppers will all stand out best against the greenery.
- Broccoli: I recommend getting pre-cut broccoli florets to save time. You can also use cauliflower.
- Thyme: This garnish adds a delicate touch, but you can also use rosemary, dill, or other fresh herbs.
- Other veggies to consider: Sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes.
*See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.
How To Make A Turkey Veggie Tray
Step 1: Begin by laying down the bok choy leaves on the top of a round platter. Thinly slice bell pepper and cucumber into strips, then lay across the bottom of bok choy leaves, alternating with chopped celery stalks. Add a handful of broccoli on each side.
Step 2: Place a small bowl of ranch in the bottom center of the platter with black olives on either side of it. Slice rainbow carrots in half and arrange around the top of the bowl, below and in between the celery and cucumbers. Finally, thinly slice radishes into medallions and arrange above the carrots.
Step 3: Fill in any gaps with additional veggies and garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme. Just before serving, slice of radish as the head of the turkey, by placing it at the top of the ranch bowl, adding candy eyes. Cut a piece of bell pepper into a triangle for the beak, an upside-down heart shape for the wattle, and broccoli for the feet.
Pro Tip: The reason you want to wait until just before serving to add the face and the feet is that they have a tendency to sink!
More Thanksgiving Dishes
- Jiffy cornbread with cream corn
- No-bake pumpkin pie
- Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
- Chestnut dressing
- Traeger smoked turkey without brine
- Cornucopia Cups
Recipe FAQs
If your veggies are looking a little lackluster, you can try spritzing them with cold water. You can also try soaking them in ice water for 15 minutes to an hour before using them.
While you may be able to find pre-made veggie trays for a reasonable price, I recommend making your own, as you will ultimately get more bang for your buck, plus it allows you to control the quality of the veggies, as well as the presentation.
You can prepare a veggie tray a day or two in advance as long as you cover it with cling wrap and keep it in the refrigerator. Any longer than that, and your veggies may begin to wilt.
Pro Tips
- Note that the quantities of the veggies may vary based on the size and shape of your tray!
- Most grocery stores sell vegetable medleys in bags, which can make for even less prep time. You may even be able to find a pre-made mixed vegetable tray, so all you have to do is rearrange the contents into the shape of a turkey!
- Feel free to make your Thanksgiving veggie tray your own by using whatever vegetables you prefer, but try to pick ones that offer a variety of colors.
- Make sure you don't let the candy eyes sink into the ranch! No one wants sweet ranch!
- If the veggies start to look a little drab after sitting out a while, you can spray them with a little water to revive them.
- Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
If you enjoy this veggie tray for Thanksgiving, be sure to try these related recipes, or browse my full round-up of Thanksgiving recipes!
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Begin by laying down the bok choy leaves at the top of the platter. Thinly slice bell pepper and cucumber, then lay across bottom of bok choy leaves, alternating along with chopped celery stalks. Add a handful of broccoli on each side.
- Place a small bowl of ranch in the bottom center of the platter with black olives on either side of it. Slice rainbow carrots in half and arrange around the top of the bowl, below and in-between the celery and cucumbers. Finally, thinly slice radishes into medallions and arrange above the carrots.
- Fill in any gaps with additional veggies and garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme. Just before serving, slice of radish as the head of the turkey, by placing it at the top of the ranch bowl, adding candy eyes. Cut a piece of bell pepper into a triangle for the beak, an upside-down heart shape for the wattle, and broccoli for the feet.
Nutrition
Notes
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- The reason you want to wait until just before serving to add the face and the feet is that they have a tendency to sink!
- Note that the quantities of the veggies may vary based on the size and shape of your tray!
- Most grocery stores sell vegetable medleys in bags, which can make for even less prep time. You may even be able to find a pre-made mixed vegetable tray, so all you have to do is rearrange the contents into the shape of a turkey!
- Feel free to make your Thanksgiving veggie tray your own by using whatever vegetables you prefer, but try to pick ones that offer a variety of colors.
- If the veggies start to look a little drab after sitting out a while, you can spray them with a little water to revive them.
- Make sure you don't let the candy eyes sink into the ranch! No one wants sweet ranch!
- Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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