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If you’re looking for a festive, kid-approved, adorable Thanksgiving appetizer, these turkey deviled eggs are everything! They take classic deviled eggs and turn them into the cutest little deviled egg turkeys – complete with colorful bell-pepper tails and caper “eyes.” They’re easy, fun, high in protein, and a guaranteed smile-maker on your holiday table. Whether you’re prepping for Thanksgiving dinner, hosting Friendsgiving, or need a quick make-ahead option for a fall potluck, these little turkey deviled eggs are the perfect cold appetizer to serve.
Table of Contents
- Turkey Deviled Eggs (Cutest Thanksgiving Appetizer!)
- Why you’ll love this high protein Thanksgiving appetizer
- What you need for turkey deviled eggs
- How to make deviled egg cute turkeys
- Watch me make these thanksgiving egg turkeys
- Pro tips
- Variations to try
- How to store leftovers
- Can you make these ahead?
- What to serve these with
- Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments
- More easy recipes for Thanksgiving you’ll love
- Easy Turkey Deviled Eggs – Cute Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipe
Turkey Deviled Eggs (Cutest Thanksgiving Appetizer!)
These are such a fun kitchen project to make with my kids.
They help with everything from peeling the eggs (always entertaining) to mashing the yolks and spooning the filling back in. But decorating is where the magic happens.
They love choosing the pepper colors, sticking in the “feathers,” and placing the little caper eyes wherever they think they should go. Every turkey ends up looking a little different, which honestly just makes them even cuter.
Why you’ll love this high protein Thanksgiving appetizer
Cute + fun for special occasions – These adorable deviled egg turkeys bring instant joy to your Thanksgiving spread! They’re a cute way to dress up a classic egg recipe and something both kids and adults love.
Easy to make with simple ingredients – All you need are hard-boiled large eggs, mayo, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. The decorations are just thin strips of bell peppers and a few capers – easy, inexpensive, and so colorful!
High-protein, naturally gluten-free + dairy-free – Deviled eggs are always a crowd favorite because they’re delicious, filling, and packed with high-quality protein. Plus, they’re perfect for guests with dairy or gluten sensitivities.
What you need for turkey deviled eggs
Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.
- Large eggs – Hard-boiled using your preferred method. Cold water, ice water, Instant Pot – whatever gives you perfect egg whites and bright yellow yolks.
- Avocado oil mayonnaise – Gives the yolk mixture creaminess.
- Yellow mustard – Classic flavor and a little tang.
- Sea salt + black pepper – Just enough to balance the filling.
- Red + yellow bell peppers – Cut into long, thin strips to create the colorful turkey “tail feathers.”
- Capers – These become tiny “eyes” for your deviled egg turkeys – so fun!
- Small triangle of orange bell pepper – Optional, but adorable for the little beak.
How to make deviled egg cute turkeys
Step 1: Place eggs in a large pot in a single layer and cover with cold water. Bring to a gentle boil, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 10–12 minutes. Transfer eggs to ice water for easy peeling.
Step 2: Slice eggs in half and gently remove the egg yolks. Add yolks to a medium bowl with mayo, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Spoon or pipe the egg yolk mixture back into the center of the egg whites. (A piping bag tip gives a pretty swirl, but spooning works perfectly too!)
Step 4: Cut red and yellow bell peppers into long, thin strips. Insert 3–4 pieces into the top of each deviled egg so they fan out like turkey feathers. Add two capers as the eyes and a tiny triangle of orange bell pepper for the beak. Now you have the cutest deviled egg turkeys!
Step 5: Place on a serving plate and enjoy!
Watch me make these thanksgiving egg turkeys
The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!
Pro tips
- Use older eggs if possible- fresh eggs are harder to peel.
- Let your eggs chill fully in ice water. This keeps the whites smooth and helps avoid tearing.
- Cut the peppers into very thin strips so they slide easily into the filling without tipping the egg over.
- If you want a little kick, add a pinch of chili powder, paprika, or dijon mustard to the egg yolk mixture.
- Pipe the mixture using a zip-top bag with the corner snipped if you don’t have a piping bag.
Variations to try
- Spicy Turkey Deviled Eggs: Add chili powder, sriracha, or cayenne to the yolk mixture.
- Dijon Deviled Eggs: Swap yellow mustard for dijon.
- Pickle Lover Version: Add a spoonful of pickle relish for extra tang.
- Smoked Style: Sprinkle smoked paprika on top for a smoky holiday flavor.
How to store leftovers
Store deviled eggs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2–3 days.
The pepper decorations may soften slightly the next day, but the eggs stay delicious.
Can you make these ahead?
Yes! Turkey deviled eggs are perfect for make-ahead Thanksgiving prep.
- Boil your eggs up to 2 days in advance.
- Prep the yolk mixture the day before and store it separately in a small bowl.
- Assemble the pepper feathers right before serving so they stay crisp and bright.
What to serve these with
These turkey deviled eggs make a festive addition to any Thanksgiving appetizer board. Pair them with:
- Turkey shaped veggie tray
- Cranberry meatballs
- Fruit turkey
- Rice krispie turkey legs
- Festive fall bark
Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments
Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this Thanksgiving deviled eggs recipe.
If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!
Eggs – Large eggs are ideal, but medium or extra-large work – you’ll just need to adjust how much filling you use in each one.
Mayo – You can use Greek yogurt or a mix of yogurt + a little mayo if you want a lighter filling. Sour cream works too for a tangier flavor.
Yellow mustard – Dijon, spicy brown mustard, or even a tiny splash of pickle juice can step in here.
Bell peppers – Any color works – red, yellow, orange, or use a mix for the prettiest “tail feathers.” You can also use thin carrot sticks if that’s what you have or thin strips of turkey bacon!
Capers – Swap with black sesame seeds, tiny pieces of olives, or even candy eyes if you want to go extra cute.
More easy recipes for Thanksgiving you’ll love
Easy Turkey Deviled Eggs – Cute Thanksgiving Appetizer
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 3-4 tbsp avocado oil mayonnaise
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- sea salt + black pepper to taste
- red + yellow bell peppers
- capers
- small triangles of orange bell pepper
Instructions
- Place eggs in a large pot in a single layer and cover with cold water. Bring to a gentle boil, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 10–12 minutes. Transfer eggs to ice water for easy peeling.
- Slice eggs in half and gently remove the egg yolks. Add yolks to a medium bowl with mayo, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy.
- Spoon or pipe the egg yolk mixture back into the center of the egg whites. (A piping bag tip gives a pretty swirl, but spooning works perfectly too!)
- Cut red and yellow bell peppers into long, thin strips. Insert 3–4 pieces into the top of each deviled egg so they fan out like turkey feathers. Add two capers as the eyes and a tiny triangle of orange bell pepper for the beak. Now you have the cutest deviled egg turkeys!
- Place on a serving plate and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you try this deviled eggs turkey recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
