How to Garnish a Turkey Platter for Thanksgiving

A beautifully garnished turkey platter is the ultimate showstopper on your Thanksgiving table. While a perfectly roasted turkey is delicious on its own, taking the time to artfully decorate it elevates the entire meal. When your guests sit down to eat, they’ll be wowed by your creative presentation.

Garnishing a platter is easier than you might think. With a few simple ingredients from your pantry and autumn’s bounty, you can craft a gorgeous arrangement in no time. Follow these tips and tricks for making your turkey the star of your holiday spread.

Choose the Right Platter

Your platter provides the foundation for your turkey display. Look for one large enough to comfortably fit your turkey, with a little extra room for embellishments.

For a cohesive look select a platter that matches the rest of your tableware. But don’t be afraid to think outside the box. A vintage cutting board or rustic wooden platter can look just as beautiful.

If you don’t have a platter, a roasting pan also works well. Just make sure it’s presentable enough to bring to the table.

Brush the Turkey with Olive Oil

Before decorating, give your cooked turkey a final brush of olive oil. This gives it a glossy sheen that makes it look extra appetizing. The olive oil’s golden hue also enhances the turkey’s beautiful browned exterior.

Start With Greens

Fresh greens make the perfect base for your turkey platter. Leafy lettuces like romaine, spinach, arugula, or kale lend height and volume. Herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage offer texture and seasonal fragrance.

Trim greens so they lay neatly on the platter. Place them first, then set the turkey on top. Or tuck greens around the turkey after placing it on the platter. Either way, greens provide the foundation for adding other embellishments.

Embellish with Fall Fruits and Vegetables

Nothing says autumn bounty like fruits and veggies. Embellish your platter with produce in rich fall hues.

• Pomegranates offer a burst of festive color. Their ruby red seeds pop against the green base.
• Cranberries and grapes cluster nicely and repeat the red hue.
• Oranges, like tangerines and clementines, provide bright citrus cheer. Garnish with fresh leaves.
• Apples and pears balance lighter greens with mellow browns and yellows.
• Mini pumpkins or gourds make great turkey platter centerpieces. Surround with greens.
• Fresh herbs, including rosemary and thyme, infuse seasonal fragrance.

Mix in other fall veggies like squash, sweet potatoes, roasted beets or carrots. Use a variety of textures and colors for lots of visual appeal.

Embellish With Nuts

Nuts in the shell, like walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts, bring tasty crunch to your presentation. Cluster them in small piles to encircle the turkey or scatter them freely across the platter.

Roasted nuts, like chestnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts, also make flavorful turkey garnishes.

Use Both Whole and Sliced Fruits

A mix of whole fruits and sliced fruits creates an attractive platter display. Leave pomegranates and small citrus fruits whole for bold punches of color. Then slice larger fruits like apples, pears and persimmons into wedges or chunks.

Cut fruit reveals an interior burst of color and texture. Strategically slice grapes or figs in halves to artfully tuck into gaps.

Create Height

Fruits like apples and lemons can be stacked or stood up tall to provide height variations. Things like bundled herbs and greens or small vases filled with nuts create attractive upraised elements as well.

Work in Layers

After laying greens, use larger garnishes as focal points. Surround with smaller pieces like halved grapes, fresh herbs or a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds.

Step back and look for open gaps or lopsided arrangements as you layer. Fill in sparsely decorated areas with little pops of fruits, veggies or greens to complete the look.

Garnish the Turkey Cavity

If your turkey isn’t stuffed, place garnishes inside the cavity to fill it. Try sprigs of rosemary or thyme, colorful stacked citrus slices, a small bouquet of kale or chard, or mini gourds or apples.

Consider the Occasion

Tailor your turkey platter to suit your Thanksgiving meal. An intimate dinner calls for a simple polished look. For a festive family feast, embellish with abandon.

And nothing says “autumn” like fruits and gourds spilling cornucopiously across a platter.

Draw Inspiration From Fall’s Bounty

Let seasonal produce guide your garnishing selections. Shop your local farmer’s market or grocery store to see what looks best. Use unusual fruits like persimmons or pomegranates for a unique touch.

Sample Turkey Platter Garnish Ideas

• Kale, thyme, rosemary, fennel fronds with halved figs and pomegranates
• Spinach, sliced oranges and tangerines, fresh bay leaves, whole cranberries
• Chard, stacked apples and pears, dried cranberries, rosemary springs
• Arugula, sauteed leeks, roasted hazelnuts, sage leaves
• Radicchio, cubed butternut squash and carrots, thyme springs, halved strawberries
• Romaine, sliced persimmons and kumquats, halved grapes, fresh oregano

Consider Garnish Contrasts

Combine colors, textures, shapes and sizes for an eye-catching presentation. For example:

• Smooth oranges with prickly rosemary
• Round apples with spiky pine nuts
• Ruby pomegranate seeds with fuzzy sage leaves
• Cool greens with glossy nuts

Playing up contrasts helps each garnish stand out. The varied visuals give your arrangement loads of flair.

Work Quickly

Some platter embellishments can wilt, dry out or oxidize quickly. Work swiftly and use brink-of-freshness greens. Keep sliced fruits and berries chilled in water to stay crisp until showtime.

Prepare garnishes ahead of time when possible. Wash, trim, slice, roast and chill items in advance. Then when it’s time to platter, simply assemble arrangments.

Add the Turkey Last

Craft your greens base and embellishments first, then add the cooked turkey. You want it to be the crowning jewel, not an obstacle as you decorate.

Step Back and Tweak

Once your turkey is plattered, step back and look for any adjustments needed. Move garnishes to fill sparse spots or open cavities. Remove any pieces that seem out of scale or clashes in color. Add last minute herbs, nuts or greens as needed.

Work as a Team

Garnishing is more fun with helpers. Have family members pitch in choosing items and embellishing the platter. Kids can arrange sliced fruits or scatter pomegranate arils. Making it a shared activity eases your workload while getting everyone excited about the meal to come.

Capture the Beauty

Before your masterpiece gets devoured, snap some photos to preserve the memory. Your glittering turkey platter is sure to be the talk of the Thanksgiving table. Savor the artistry of your holiday presentation and inspire others with your handiwork.

Garnishing the turkey platter is the crowning touch for your Thanksgiving meal. With an abundance of natural elements, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and herbs, you can craft a seasonal cornucopia that sets a beautiful tone for the entire holiday feast. Get creative with colors, textures and arrangements. Most importantly, have fun showing off your turkey in all its glory before carving. Your guests will be thankful for both a delicious turkey dinner and a stunning platter presentation.