• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Kitchen Prep Blog

Easy Recipes with a Fresh Twist

  • Home
  • About Dianna
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Dianna
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Appetizers

    Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board

    Published: Nov 18, 2013 · Modified: Feb 3, 2020 by thekitchenprep · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Does the thought of Thanksgiving cooking bring you exhilaration and joy? Or are you on the verge of a meltdown just thinking about having to step foot in the kitchen?

    Though I'm obviously a fan of a full fledged, homemade Thanksgiving, I know that not everyone enjoys the cooking aspect of turkey day. I've got plenty of friends who are pretty impressed with themselves if they can manage to pop open a can of biscuits and successfully bake them without setting off the fire alarm. It takes all kinds! 
    With cooking-phobes in mind, I thought it would be fun to create a little something that anyone can put together using just a handful of inexpensive ingredients. Everyone deserves to have that moment of pride around the Thanksgiving table, and I've got just the thing that will elicit "oohs" and "ahhs" from guests without even having to turn on the oven...
    It's a turkey-tizer platter!
    Isn't this little fella cute?
    I made him in just a few minutes from bits and pieces I found in my fridge. His body is made from half a pear and his plumage is an assortment of crackers, cheeses, meats and greens that can be put together as an easy {but impressive} appetizer tray. This design is pretty simple, but you could get as elaborate as you want!
    So don't panic if you've been asked to contribute to dinner this year and you don't know the difference between the dressing you serve with a turkey and the one your pour over your salad. Whether you're running short on time or patience, you'll have one of the prettiest dishes on the table!
    Thanksgiving Turkey-tizer Platter
    {This "recipe" is a guideline, but feel free to get creative with your turkey!}
    Assorted green leaves {I used 3 pieces of Swiss chard}
    Assorted cheese {I used 4 pieces of muenster cut with a leaf-shaped cookie cutter}
    Assorted meat {I used a few slices of prosciutto}
    Assorted crackers
    ½ a pear, cut in half vertically
    2 peppercorns 
    1 small piece of baby carrot, preferably a pointy piece
    1 small piece of walnut
    1 pretzel stick, broken in half
    Assembly:
    Arrange leaves on platter in a fanned out fashion to form the back of the turkey's plumage. 
    Place meats in desired pattern, then do the same with the cheese slices. Fan crackers out so you can still see the cheese and meats behind it.
    Place pear in the center. To make the turkey's face, press 2 peppercorns into the pear for eyes. Press a small piece of carrot in place for the beak. Press a piece of walnut under the beak for the turkey's "gobbler" {it's actually called a wattle!}. Insert pretzel stick pieces into the bottom of the pear for the turkey's legs.
    Serve with condiments such as spicy mustard and jam so guests can "dress" their crackers. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    « Prosciutto, Brie & Jam "Pop Tarts"
    Miami Culinary Tours | Miami, Florida »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. bmayer says

      November 18, 2013 at 9:58 pm

      Cute! but looks like more work than "cooking"!

      Reply
    2. thekitchenprep says

      November 20, 2013 at 2:01 am

      @bmayer - I promise it was easy! I don't have patience for fussy kinds of assembly. 😉 But I'm with you, I don't mind spending the time cooking!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Dianna. I used to think cooking had to be complicated to be good, so I never considered it "my thing." Now I know that's far from true, and my mission is to create & share easy, mouthwatering recipes - from weeknight dinners to simple bites for entertaining - that anyone can make! Join me in my South Florida kitchen and let's get cooking!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Fork and knife cutting into a stuffed cubanelle pepper.
      Stuffed Italian-Style Cubanelle Peppers
    • Benedictine Spread for Kentucky Derby in a white bowl with a piece of pumpernickel toast in the foreground slathered with spread.
      Benedictine Spread - A Derby Classic
    • Close up of Italian Easter Cookies on a light blue platter.
      Italian Love Knot Cookies
    • A large skillet filled with Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta with a yellow and white striped dish towel underneath.
      Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta

    As Seen In

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! and get recipes delivered to your inbox.

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    Copyright © 2023 · The Kitchen Prep ·