Our kid-friendly Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board features a playful spread of crackers, cheeses, and more. Get ready for a gobble-worthy celebration the kids will love!
Creating fun charcuterie boards for my kids has become one of my hobbies!
We had some friends over last week and I decided charcuterie would be the easiest thing for me to do since everyone is bound to find something they like.
I created this Thanksgiving turkey charcuterie board with mainly kid food so the kids felt like they had something just for them.
And wouldn’t you know? The adults ate lots of food from this board too!
This recipe works because it:
- Is easy to assemble: This recipe is so easy to put together, making it the perfect choice for both seasoned hosts and those new to entertaining. Quick and straightforward steps ensure a stress-free preparation process, perfect for the busy holiday season.
- Requires no cooking: The beauty of this charcuterie board is its no-cook nature. This recipe features a variety of ready-to-eat items, saving time and effort while still delivering a gourmet feel.
- Is completely customizable: Whether you need to accommodate dietary preferences or tailor it to personal tastes, the Turkey Charcuterie Board is highly customizable. You can easily adapt the ingredients to include gluten-free, nut-free, or vegetarian options, ensuring everyone can enjoy the meal.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Wash all produce.
Cut 1 pear in half and place it in the center at the bottom of your board.
Cut 4 ounces of Colby Jack cheese into cubes and arrange them around the pear.
Place 20 pepperoni on top of each other around the cheese cubes to create the next layer.
Peel 3 mandarin oranges and separate the mandarin segments. Arrange them next to the pepperoni.
Repeat the process with the 24 bagel chips, 28 baby carrots, and 15 Ritz crackers.
Cut a small triangle from the cheese for the turkey beak. Cut a baby carrot in half for the legs and use whole cloves for the turkey eyes.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
I provided amounts for how much of each food I used on the board, but you can also have more of each ingredient ready to go when the amounts get low.
It will save time if you have all of the extra food prepped (produce washed and cheese cut) before you serve the charcuterie board so you can easily refill it during your party.
This recipe is completely customizable. So you can change out any of the ingredients to your taste.
I chose to stick with orange and brown foods (to mimic a turkey) but you could use any colored foods. Here are some other options to try:
- Red grapes
- Pretzels
- Caramel popcorn
- Veggie straws
- Apples
- Pears
- Salami
- Nuts
- Dried fruits
- White cheeses
Serve This With
This Thanksgiving turkey charcuterie board goes great with these other holiday-themed recipes. Serve them at a Friendsgiving celebration or even on the big Turkey Day!
Appetizers
- Toasted Almond and Swiss Cheese Dip
- Artichoke Parmesan Dip
- Cheese and Cracker Pumpkin Pie Bites
- Thanksgiving Deviled Eggs
Sides
- Honey Butter Skillet Corn
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Carrots
- Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- Pink Fluff
Rolls
Desserts
FAQs
We had a nut allergy at the dinner I created this board for, so I didn’t include any nuts on this board. You can opt for nut-free trail mix or pretzels, and ensure that any store-bought items are labeled as nut-free.
For other dietary restrictions you can swap in gluten-free crackers, include dairy-free cheese options, and add fruits and veggies that accommodate various dietary needs.
A few elements can be prepped a day in advance, like cutting the cheeses. However, it’s recommended to assemble the board shortly before serving to keep everything fresh. You wouldn’t want to cut any fruit until right before serving.
Use leaf, turkey, and pumpkin-shaped cookie cutters to shape cheese, fruits, or even sandwiches into fun Thanksgiving-themed figures.
It’s best to limit the time the board spends at room temperature to no more than 2 hours to ensure the freshness and safety of the food.
If you’re worried about disrupting conversations while you have guests over, keep any extra food in the refrigerator and only put out what you think will be eaten at once.
Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board (for kids!)
Ingredients
- 1 bosc pear
- 4 ounces Colby Jack cheese
- 20 pepperoni
- 3 mandarin oranges, or enough for 24 segments
- 24 bagel chips
- 28 baby carrots
- 15 Ritz crackers
- whole cloves, piece of Colby Jack cheese, baby carrot, for decorating
Instructions
- Wash all produce.
- Cut pear in half and place it in the center at the bottom of your board.
- Cut cheese into cubes and arrange them around the pear.
- Place pepperoni on top of each other around the cheese cubes to create the next layer.
- Peel mandarin oranges and separate the mandarin segments. Arrange them next to the pepperoni.
- Repeat the process with the bagel chips, baby carrots, and Ritz crackers.
- Cut a small triangle from the cheese for the turkey beak. Cut a baby carrot in half for the legs and use whole cloves for the turkey eyes.
Notes
- Red grapes
- Pretzels
- Caramel popcorn
- Veggie straws
- Apples
- Pears
- Salami
- Nuts
- Dried fruits
- White cheeses