Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (2024)

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What could be a better Thanksgiving appetizer than a turkey-shaped cheese platter? See how quickly this turkey will be dismantled and only crumbs left :)

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (1)

This delicious turkey cheese platter is made out of Cheddar and Swiss cheese slices, salami and Ritz crackers! Such simple ingredients become remarkable with just a little creativity :) People love stuff like that, and everyone will stampede to take a piece of that turkey! This easy turkey cheese tray will be gone before anyfancy appetizers!

I also have a recipe for turkey fruit tray that uses the same logic to arrange fruits in a shape of a Thanksgiving turkey! So the question of the day is: turkey cheese platter or turkey fruit platter? I say go for both :) On Thanksgiving, there can never be too much turkey!

Feel free to use different types of cheese and crackers – you can really be creative with this turkey! Maybe you can even make a combination of fruit and cheese platter by alternative the layers of cheese and salami with layers of grapes – yum yum!

This genius turkey cheese platter is super easy to make, it only took me 10 minutes! If you make this cheese trayin advance, make sure you carefully wrap it with multiple layers of plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator, otherwise the salami and cheese will dry out. The finished turkeyis about 16 inches wide by 13 inches deep, so you need a large plate, tray or cheese board to assemble and serve this (at least 16 inches in diameter).

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (2)

How To Make Thanksgiving Turkey Cheese Platter Step By Step

Step 1: Make Turkey Head and Body

Cut out the shapes for the turkey head, body and legs out of cheddar cheese and arrange on the bottom of a large platter as shown on the picture. Use the chocolate chips, raisins or peppercorns for the eyes, and a piece of Swiss cheese for the turkey beak.

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (3)

Step 2: Arrange A Layer Of Salami

Add a layer of salami around the turkey as shown on the picture below. Salami slices should overlap and partially go under the turkey (just lift the edges of the turkey body cheese slices and place the edges of salami under them).

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (4)

Step 3: Add A Layer Of Swiss Cheese

In the same manner as the step above, add a layer of Swiss cheese slices around the turkey.

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (5)

Step 4: Add Another Layer Of Salami

Now is the time for another delicious layer of overlapping circle salami slices!

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (6)

Step 5: Add A Layer Of Cheddar Cheese

Now it’s time for the yellow Cheddar cheese slices! Arrange them in the same way as other layers around the turkey.

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (7)

Step 6: Add A Layer Of Ritz Crackers

Add a layer of Ritz crackers under the turkey, making them partially go under the cheddar cheese slices.

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (8)

Step 7: Add A Final Layer Of Ritz Crackers

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (9)

Yay! Your picture-perfect turkey-shaped cheese platter is ready! Now if you’d like, add some silly creative final touch :) I added a turkey beard made out of salami – I think it makes the turkey even cuter :)

Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (10)

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Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (11)

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Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer

This awesome cheese platter is shaped like a Thanksgiving turkey :) The turkey head and body is made out of cheese, and the feathers are made out of the alternating layers of cheese, salami and crackers! This is a perfect Thanksgiving appetizer!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16 servings

Author: MelanieCooks.com

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prepare a large plate or a tray, at least 16 inches in diameter.

  • Cut out the turkey head, body and feet from the cheddar cheese slice and arrange on the bottom of the tray as shown on the picture. Add the chocolate chips for the eyes. Cut out the small triangle for the beak out of the Swiss cheese and add to the turkey head. Cut out of the small stripe for the beard from the salami slice and add to the turkey head.

  • If your cheese slices are large size, cut them into quarters.

  • Arrange the Salami slices around the turkey head and body as shown on the picture. The Salami slices should partially go under the turkey and should overlap each other.

  • Arrange the Swiss cheese slices in an overlapping manner around the turkey, and have them partially go under the Salami slices as shown on the picture.

  • Arrange another layer of Salami slices to go partially under the Swiss slices and overlap each other.

  • Arrange the Cheddar cheese slices around Salami, to go partially under the Salami slices and overlap each other.

  • Arrange the Ritz crackers around the Cheddar cheese slices, putting them partially under the Cheddar cheese as shown on the picture.

  • Arrange the 2nd overlapping layer of Ritz crackers around the turkey.

Notes

If refrigerating for later, wrap the turkey cheese platter in a plastic wrap to prevent salami and cheese from drying out.

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Thanksgiving Turkey-Shaped Cheese Platter Appetizer Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a turkey platter? ›

For the body: Place a stack of round cheese slices at the bottom of the fan for the body of the turkey. Cut an oval from a sliced cold cut and place it on the stack of cheese for the turkey head. Cut a triangle out of cheese and place it on the oval for a beak. Make a wattle from slices of red bell pepper.

How to decorate a turkey platter for Thanksgiving? ›

Things like fresh herbs, onions, garlic, and apples. Like I showed above, these could also be roasted vegetables, fruits, and/or mushrooms. Secret #4: Greenery is a great, fresh garnish to place around the base of the turkey on a platter. Lettuces, kale, leafy herbs, and other salad greens are particularly lovely.

How do you arrange a carved turkey on a platter? ›

Pull away the turkey wings last; these are also composed of two pieces – the wing and the little drumstick. Separate the two and serve them whole. Arrange the freshly carved turkey on a large platter. Arrange the larger pieces, like the sliced turkey breast and drumsticks on the top, over any smaller cuts of turkey.

How many cheeses do you need for a cheese platter? ›

We recommend choosing at least three to five cheeses of varying milk sources, colours, textures and flavours from the five following categories: fresh, soft, blue and hard.

What three cheeses go on a cheese board? ›

Here are the best cheeses for your charcuterie board
  • Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago.
  • Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar.
  • Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.
  • Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino.
  • Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie? ›

Creating Interest with the 3-3-3-3 Rule

Choose three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accompaniments for a perfect and balanced board, every time!

How do you put a nice cheese platter together? ›

Slice semi-hard cheese, like cheddar, and fan them across a section of the board. Cut wedges of brie into slices and soft round cheeses into wedges (it's totally fine to leave portions of cheese whole). Place small bowls of tapenade, olives, honey, or jam on the board.

What do you traditionally eat with turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

At Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is served with a variety of side dishes which can vary from traditional, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, to ones that reflect regional or cultural heritage.

What do you put in the middle of the table for Thanksgiving? ›

For this Thanksgiving table decor, I combined winter greenery and velvet pumpkins. This allows for a low centerpiece where everyone can see the family and friends across from them. At the same time, however, it feels full and elegantly layered.

How many people will a 14 pound turkey feed? ›

By the same math, a 14-pound turkey will feed nine to 10 people.

What tray to use for turkey? ›

A standard 18×13-inch half sheet pan (rimmed baking sheet) is ideal. You can set a rectangular cooling rack or even the V-shaped rack that came with your roasting pan inside the sheet pan.

What size platter for 20 pound turkey? ›

Bring on that 20-pound bird! This 17 3/4-by-21½-inch platter is wider than the other options and can hold the turkey and its accompaniments.

How do you carve a turkey buffet? ›

Carving a Turkey: Step-By-Step
  1. First, slice off the legs and thighs. To do this, slice through the skin between the leg and the breast. ...
  2. Remove the breasts. ...
  3. Remove the wings. ...
  4. Separate the drumstick from the thigh. ...
  5. Remove the bone from the thigh. ...
  6. Slice up the meat. ...
  7. What goes great with turkey?
Nov 11, 2020

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