A Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board is a fun and festive way to kick off your holiday feast. It’s the perfect mix of savory meats, flavorful cheeses, crunchy crackers, and seasonal fruits all styled to look like a turkey. Not only does it make a stunning centerpiece for your table, but it’s also an easy appetizer that guests of all ages will love to gather around and enjoy.
I love Thanksgiving and all of the delicious comfort food that comes with it. The tricky part is that the main meal usually doesn’t hit the table until late afternoon or early evening, which leaves everyone wondering what to eat the rest of the day. If you’ve ever had a house full of family and friends running on empty, you know the “hangries” are real and can set in quickly. That’s why I like to have something fun and filling ready for snacking so no one is left waiting hours with a growling stomach.
A Thanksgiving cheese board is the perfect solution for that in-between time. It’s festive, colorful, and loaded with a variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, and fruit that keep guests satisfied without spoiling their appetite for the main event. Styled in the shape of a turkey, this Thanksgiving charcuterie board adds a playful touch to the holiday spread and makes grazing throughout the day feel special. It’s just the thing to keep everyone happy while the big feast finishes cooking.
If you find yourself in the same situation at Christmas, try this Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board.
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Ingredients
- Pepper Jack Cheese – Cut into even cubes for a pop of spice and color. Swap with Monterey Jack or Colby Jack if you prefer something milder.
- Orange Cheddar Cheese – Adds bright color and sharp flavor. Reserve a small piece to cut into shapes for the turkey’s legs and beak. You can use mild cheddar or even Colby for a softer taste.
- White Cheddar Cheese – Offers a nice contrast to the orange cheddar. Gouda or mozzarella cubes would also work well here.
- Pepperoni Slices – Brings a familiar, savory flavor. Turkey pepperoni or even thinly sliced ham can be used instead.
- Salami Slices – Fold in half for extra texture and dimension on the board. Soppressata or prosciutto are tasty alternatives.
- Crackers – Choose a variety for different textures and flavors. A mix of classic water crackers, flatbreads, or flavored options like rosemary or everything-seasoned keeps things interesting.
- Green Grapes – Serve on the stem so they stay in place and look appealing. Red grapes could replace them.
- Red Apple – Thinly sliced for easy snacking. Choose a crisp variety like Honeycrisp or Gala.
- Raisins – A chewy, sweet addition. Golden raisins or even dried cherries are good substitutes.
- Dried Cranberries – A seasonal touch with tart flavor. Dried blueberries or apricots work too.
- Pear – Slice lengthwise and use as the “turkey body.” A small wheel of brie could also work as the centerpiece.
- Almonds – Add crunch and balance. Roasted or salted almonds give extra flavor, or swap with cashews.
- Pecans – Use halved pecans for texture. Candied pecans add sweetness if you’d like a mix of flavors.
- Walnuts – Shelled walnuts give earthy flavor. Swap with hazelnuts or more pecans if preferred.
- Candy Eyeballs – Create the playful turkey face. Small pieces of olives or chocolate chips can be used instead if you don’t have them.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board
- Step 1: Cut all cheese into even size cubes leaving a piece for the turkey legs and beak. Prep your turkey pear by slicing your pear length in half. Take a thin slice of cheese, cut them to make the turkeys legs and cut another small triangle for the beak.
- Step 2: Using a small paring knife, cut a small hole at the bottom of the pear, then stick in the cheese legs. Place the beak where the mouth would be and add the candy eyes.
- Step 3: Add your cheese around the pear to the charcuterie board, creating a rainbow effect up so that it looks like a turkey with its feathers. (the order white cheddar, orange cheddar, and pepper jack) Take your sliced salami and fold it in half. Add your salami after the cheese, then followed by pepperoni.
- Step 4: Add the crackers into another row past the meats. Put the raisins and dried cranberries in two small bowls. Place them on the board. Add your grapes on the stem so they don't roll off the board. Place apple slices and fill in remaining gaps with the walnuts, almonds, and pecans.
Hint: Prep all the fruit, meat and cheese the night before and assemble just before serving.
Substitutions/ Variations
- Switch up the cheeses – Try smoked gouda, Havarti, or a creamy brie wedge in place of one of the cheddars. This adds variety in both flavor and texture.
- Change the meats – If salami and pepperoni aren’t your favorites, substitute prosciutto, turkey slices, or even summer sausage for a different taste.
- Offer cracker alternatives – Use pita chips, pretzel crisps, or breadsticks for a fun twist on the classic cracker selection.
- Add more fruit – Swap in fresh berries, figs, or dried apricots for extra color and sweetness.
- Play with the nuts – Cashews, macadamia nuts, or candied pecans can replace traditional mixed nuts and give a different crunch.
- Make it kid-friendly – Replace some of the stronger cheeses and meats with string cheese, mild cheddar cubes, or even bite-sized sandwiches.
- Try a sweet version – Create a dessert-style Thanksgiving charcuterie board with cookies, chocolate, caramel corn, and fruit arranged in the turkey design.
If you like Thanksgiving appetizers, also check out my collection of 25 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers.
Equipment
All you really need to make this Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board is a large wooden board or platter to build on. A small paring knife is helpful for cutting the cheese into cubes and shaping the turkey’s legs and beak, while a couple of small bowls work well for holding raisins or dried cranberries. That’s it—simple tools let the food and presentation shine.
Storage
You can prep much of this board in advance by cutting the cheese, slicing the fruit, and portioning out the nuts and dried fruit the day before. Keep everything stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble.
Leftovers should also be stored in airtight containers—cheese and meats in the fridge, fruit in separate containers to prevent sogginess, and crackers kept at room temperature so they stay crisp.
Top Tips
- Cut all the cheese into similar sized cubes so the board looks neat and balanced.
- Keep grapes on the stem so they don’t roll around and create a polished presentation.
- Slice apples right before serving to prevent browning, or brush lightly with lemon juice if prepping ahead.
- Fold salami and other meats for added texture and a fuller look on the board.
- Use small bowls for raisins and cranberries to keep them contained and easy to grab.
- Arrange items in a rainbow pattern around the pear “turkey body” so the design looks like feathers.
- Fill in gaps with nuts to create a fuller and more abundant board.
- Add the candy eyes and cheese beak just before serving so they stay in place.
FAQ
The size board you need will depend on the number of people you plan to serve with your Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board. This recipe is designed to serve 8, and a large wooden cutting board, platter, or even a baking sheet will work. Just choose a size that comfortably fits all your ingredients.
Olives, figs, honey, jams, dips or fresh vegetables like carrots and cucumbers all make great additions for more variety.
Brush apple or pear slices with a little lemon juice or soak them briefly in a mixture of water and lemon juice to slow oxidation.
Related
Looking for more Thanksgiving appetizer recipes? Try these:
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RECIPE
Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- 1 wooden board or large platter
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pepper jack cheese cubed
- 4 ounces orange cheddar cheese cubed (reserve a piece for your turkey’s legs and nose)
- 2 oz white cheddar cheese
- 2 ounces pepperoni slices
- 3 ounces salami slices folded in half
- 4 ounces of your favorite crackers I used three different types for variety: rosemary, entertainer crackers, sesame water crackers, and flatbread everything crackers.
- 1 cup green grapes
- 1 red apple thinly sliced
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ pear sliced long ways
- ⅓ cup almonds
- ⅓ cup halved pecans
- ¼ cup shelled walnuts
- 2 candy eyeballs
Instructions
- Cut all cheese into even size cubes leaving a piece for the turkey legs and beak. Prep your turkey pear by slicing your pear length in half. Take a thin slice of cheese, cut them to make the turkeys legs and cut another small triangle for the beak.
- Using a small paring knife, cut a small hole at the bottom of the pear, then stick in the cheese legs. Place the beak where the mouth would be and add the candy eyes.
- Add your cheese around the pear to the charcuterie board, creating a rainbow effect up so that it looks like a turkey with its feathers. (the order white cheddar, orange cheddar, and pepper jack) Take your sliced salami and fold it in half. Add your salami after the cheese, then followed by pepperoni. Add the crackers into another row past the meats.
- Put the raisins and dried cranberries in two small bowls. Place them on the board. Add your grapes on the stem so they don't roll off the board. Place apple slices and fill in remaining gaps with the walnuts, almonds, and pecans. Serve your masterpiece!
Notes
Nutrition
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