Fun Veggie Tray Ideas (Turkey Veggie Tray for Thanksgiving!)

This turkey-shaped kids veggie platter is such a fun and healthy addition to your Thanksgiving table! Fresh veggies, a favorite dip, and a little creativity come together to make the cutest turkey veggie tray that kids love helping with. I’ll show you exactly how to transform a regular vegetable tray into a playful turkey shape you’ll want to make every year.

Healthy & Fun Turkey Shaped Kids Veggie Tray How To

Sometimes the easiest way to make healthy choices at meals is to transform food into something really fun. That’s exactly what we’re doing with this turkey veggie tray!

Way cuter than what you’d find at the grocery store, but still incredibly easy to make.

This is a fun kitchen activity to do with little kids! If you find yourself with a veggie-reluctant kid, bringing them into the kitchen to help and be involved with new foods can help with pickiness.

The more we expose kids to new foods and let them explore in a safe and fun environment, the more open and willing they may become to try the new foods.

I find that when my kids help out and take ownership, they are more excited to try something new!

So once the veggies are cut up, have fun creating this together! You’ll create memories in the process and end up with a really cute Thanksgiving appetizer!

Why you’ll love this veggie tray

Fun, festive, and kid-approved – the turkey shape makes veggies exciting, especially for little helpers.

Packed with fresh vegetables and pairs perfectly with your favorite creamy dip for an easy, healthy appetizer.

Simple to assemble using everyday ingredients, and a cute way to add color and creativity to your Thanksgiving table.

What you need for a homemade turkey veggie tray

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

• Dip of choice – Ranch, creamy dip, hummus, or any favorite veggie dip.
• Red bell pepper – Used for the turkey face and sliced for colorful “feathers.”
• Yellow bell pepper – Adds bright strips of color to the veggie tray.
• Broccoli crown – Broken into small florets for a fluffy texture on the platter.
• Cucumbers – Sliced into thin rounds for layering around the dip.
• Baby carrots – Perfect for the turkey “legs” and crunchy veggie snacking.
• Candy eyes – Brings the turkey face to life with a cute, kid-friendly touch.

How to make a turkey-shaped snack platter

Step 1: Create the turkey face by slicing the bottom of the red bell pepper off. Slice the remaining red bell pepper and the yellow pepper into thin strips.

Step 2: Separate the broccoli florets and slice the cucumber into thin slices. Make turkey legs out of carrots and the turkey’s mouth out of a carrot end, with a mouth cut out.

Step 3: Now assemble! Add the dip to a small round bowl, cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, and lastly the red bell pepper turkey face. Use a little dip on the back of the eyes to keep them in place, and then lastly the carrot mouth and carrot legs.

Watch me make a turkey veggie platter

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

Turkey veggie tray variations

• Use purple cauliflower for feathers
• Make carrot stick “legs” in different ways
• Add cherry tomatoes for more color
• Use hummus instead of ranch
• Swap cucumbers for zucchini

Best dips for veggie trays

The dip bowl can be filled with any kind of dip, but I’ll share a few of my favorites that all go really well with raw vegetables.

Ranch dressing – The most classic dip for a vegetable platter. You can use your favorite store-bought brand or opt to make your own. It’s really simple to make, and my kefir ranch dressing is super delicious!

Spinach artichoke dip – Warm and tasty, healthy homemade spinach artichoke dip pairs perfectly with crunchy veggies. Store-bought is a great option here, too!

Buffalo chicken dip – A delicious dip on its own, my buffalo chicken dip is super healthy and made with spaghetti squash in it as well!

Roasted red pepper pesto – With even more vegetables to add to the mix, this red pesto recipe adds really great flavor and a fun different color to the turkey veggie platter.

Yogurt dill sauce – A twist on tzatziki, this yogurt-based dipping sauce is a great way to change up your traditional dip while still having the overall look the same as it would with ranch dip.

French onion dip or sour cream with seasoning are easy options too!

What you need for any homemade veggie tray

Building a beautiful, fresh vegetable tray starts with choosing the right mix of colorful veggies, textures, and dips. Whether you’re making a classic veggie platter or shaping it into a fun turkey design for Thanksgiving, here’s everything you’ll want to have on hand. This expanded list also helps you customize your tray based on what’s in season or what you find at your local grocery store or farmers’ market.

Fresh Vegetables: A great veggie tray is all about variety. Include a mix of crunchy and juicy options such as broccoli florets, cauliflower, baby carrots, English cucumbers, celery sticks, bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, or green), cherry tomatoes, snap peas, and radishes. Using multiple colors not only makes the platter more eye-catching but also encourages everyone – especially kids – to try a little bit of everything.

Dips: Choose one or more delicious dips to pair with your vegetables. Ranch dressing, creamy dip, French onion dip, yogurt dill dip, tzatziki, hummus, or spinach artichoke dip all work wonderfully. If you’re making a turkey veggie tray, a small round bowl of ranch or any smooth dip makes the perfect center “turkey body.”

A  Large Platter or Board: Use a big round platter, cutting board, or even a baking sheet lined with parchment to arrange your vegetables. A large surface gives you plenty of room for organizing everything neatly, adding sections of raw veggies, and keeping your dips easily accessible.

Small Bowls for Dips: Place one large bowl in the center, or mix in several small bowls around the platter if you want to offer different dips. Using a bowl also helps anchor your design if you’re creating a turkey, rainbow, or themed veggie tray.

Optional Extras: Add pita chips, tortilla chips, olives, pickles, or chunks of cheese around the edges of your platter for more variety. These extras create a charcuterie-style feel and pair well with crunchy, fresh vegetables.

How to make a veggie tray

• Use a large platter or wooden board
• Choose in-season vegetables
• Add a variety of colors + textures
• Keep the dip in a center bowl
• Arrange vegetables in sections
• Add crunchy options (pita chips, tortilla chips)

More veggie tray ideas (fun & easy shapes!)

If you’re looking for fresh inspiration beyond a classic vegetable tray, these fun shapes bring excitement to the table – especially for kids! They’re all simple to put together, use everyday fresh vegetables, and pair perfectly with your favorite creamy dip, ranch dressing, French onion dip, or any delicious dip you love. Whether you’re hosting a party, bringing something to a gathering, or just want a creative way to serve veggies at home, these veggie platter ideas make healthy eating feel extra special.

Classic Veggie Platter with Multiple Dips: A traditional vegetable tray is always a crowd-pleaser. Fill a large platter with fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and cherry tomatoes, then serve with a trio of dips – think creamy ranch, French onion dip, and a yogurt-based dill sauce. It’s simple, customizable, and perfect for last-minute hosting.

Rainbow Veggie Tray: Arrange your vegetables by color to make a beautiful rainbow pattern across your platter. Use red bell peppers, orange carrots, yellow peppers, green cucumbers, blue-hued purple cauliflower, and juicy grape tomatoes. Kids especially love this one, and it’s a fun way to encourage them to try new veggies.

Flower Veggie Platter: Turn your vegetable tray into a giant flower! Use cucumber slices as the petals, a pile of cherry tomatoes or a bell pepper bowl as the center, and build out leafy “greens” with broccoli or snap peas. It looks stunning but takes minimal effort.

Fruit + Veggie Combo Tray: Pair fresh vegetables with naturally sweet fruit for the best of both worlds. Think cucumbers and strawberries, carrots and grapes, bell peppers and pineapple. Add a creamy dip on one side and a fruit-friendly yogurt dip on the other for a delicious balance.

Crudité Platter with Seasonal Vegetables: For a more elevated presentation, build a crudité platter using in-season vegetables from your grocery store or local farmers’ market. Mix raw veggies with lightly blanched options for an impressive look and texture variety. This style is especially great for holiday entertaining.

Christmas Tree Veggie Platter: Shape your fresh vegetables into a festive Christmas tree. Use rows of broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes to create colorful “ornaments,” and finish with a yellow bell pepper star on top. Place your dip at the base to act as the tree stump – such a fun holiday appetizer.

Football or Sports-Themed Veggie Tray: Perfect for game day! Arrange veggies into the shape of a football using baby carrots or cucumbers, and use strips of mozzarella or sliced jicama for the laces. Serve with a creamy ranch or your favorite game-day dip.

How to store

You can prepare this kids veggie tray on a large serving tray and have it ready to go a couple of days in advance.

Be sure to wrap plastic wrap around the entire thing to keep it fresh and refrigerated and not stored at room temperature if you have any dip involved.

After serving this, you can store any leftover vegetables in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy healthy food all week!

Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this crudite platter recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Dip of choice – Our go-to is kefir ranch dressing, but go with what you like! Many of our favorite veggie dips are listed above, but almost anything will work here.

Bell peppers – Any color of bell peppers will work for the face of the turkey. The sliced bell pepper sticks can be replaced with other stick-shaped veggies – try green beans, celery sticks, or snap peas.

Cucumber – Thinly sliced fresh zucchini is a really good substitute for cucumber. You can also use mini cucumbers here. For a different color, use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes around the edge of the platter.

Baby carrots – Instead of baby carrots you can use whole carrots that are cut into carrot sticks. If you have rainbow carrots available, those would be a fun addition to this platter!

Broccoli – Cauliflower would be a great alternative to broccoli as it gives that fluffy look from the florets.

FAQ

How far ahead can I make a veggie tray?

​You can prep a veggie tray 1–2 days in advance as long as the vegetables are stored properly. Cut your veggies, pat them dry to remove extra moisture, and store them in airtight containers in the fridge. Assemble the tray the day you plan to serve, or build it ahead of time and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to keep everything fresh.

What are the best vegetables for a veggie tray?

​The most popular (and kid-friendly!) options include broccoli florets, cauliflower, baby carrots, cucumber slices, celery sticks, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, and radishes. For extra color and variety, add purple cauliflower, mini cucumbers, or rainbow carrots. Using a mix of crunchy, juicy, and mild-flavored veggies creates the best vegetable combo.

How do I keep vegetables fresh on a platter?

​Keep everything cold and dry. Pat vegetables dry after washing, place dips in chilled bowls, and store the platter in the refrigerator until serving time. If it will be out for a while, set your platter over a chilled tray or rotate fresh veggies from the fridge throughout your gathering.

How much veggie tray per person?
A good rule of thumb is about 1–1½ cups of vegetables per person. For a small gathering, one standard veggie tray serves 8–10 people. For larger parties, scaling up with additional veggies and multiple dips ensures everyone has plenty to snack on.

What dip goes best with a veggie tray?

Classic creamy dips are always a hit – ranch dressing, French onion dip, and sour-cream-based dips are the most universal. Hummus, yogurt dill dip, tzatziki, and spinach artichoke dip are delicious alternatives if you want something lighter or more flavorful.

More festive recipes you’ll love

• Turkey fruit tray
• Maple glaze roasted carrots
• Crack green beans with bacon
• Christmas tree charcuterie board

If you try this kids veggie platter recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published November 2023. Updated November 2025.