Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer

Amaze your family and friends with this Thanksgiving Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer with Creamy Spinach Ranch Dip. He's super easy to recreate, and Mr. Tom Turkey's tail feathers play double duty as the dippers. What could be more fun?

This Thanksgiving Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer with Creamy Spinach Ranch Dip is a fun starter to get the festivities off on the right foot.

Jump to:

• The ingredient list:
• Kitchen tools and equipment:
• Why this recipe works?
• Can this be made in advance?
• What to do with the bread that is removed to make the bread bowl?
• How to prevent the bread bowl from slipping around on the platter?
• Tips and tricks for making a Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer:
• Tail feather tips and tricks:
• How to transport a turkey bread bowl?
• The easy instructions:
• Printable Recipe Card
• Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer with Creamy Spinach Ranch Dip

The ingredient list:

**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned

• Cream Cheese
• Diced Pimentos
• Mayonnaise
• Shallots
• Scallions
• Frozen Spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• Prepared Horseradish Sauce
• Dry Ranch Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper
• Bread Bowl (from the bakery section of the supermarket)
• Cloves
• Carrots
• Red Bell Pepper
• Assorted vegetables, breadsticks, and pretzels for the tail feathers (get creative)

Kitchen tools and equipment:

• Chef's Knife
• Serrated Knife
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowls
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
• Vegetable Peeler
• Skewers or toothpicks (to attach the wings)
• Spatula
• Large Spoon
• Serving Platter

Why this recipe works?

What you'll love about this turkey bread bowl appetizer, besides how festive and cute he is, is how yummy the spinach ranch dip is. After all, how can you go wrong with cream cheese, pimentos, spinach, horseradish, and shallots?

You simply can't.

Of course, if you'd like to alter the ingredients for the dip, I encourage you to play around with your favorite flavors.

As long as the texture of the dip remains a bit firm and not too soft (so the dippers stand up and don't fall over), you'll be ready to show off your tail feathers in a big way. 🙂

Can this be made in advance?

I can recommend making only the dip in advance. The flavor will actually improve if it sits in the fridge for a couple of days before serving.

However, the assembling of the turkey bread bowl should be done the day you're serving so the bread doesn't get soggy and the vegetables remain fresh and firm.

Remember, nobody likes droopy tail feathers!

What to do with the bread that is removed to make the bread bowl?

Save it!!

You can use it as a dipper for this particular appetizer, or you can freeze it and use it another time for making bread crumbs, croutons, etc.

How to prevent the bread bowl from slipping around on the platter?

Add a medium-sized dollop of dip onto the platter itself and then press the bread bowl onto the dip.

The dip will act as glue and keep the bread bowl from skidding around the platter.

Tips and tricks for making a Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer:

• Feel free to make the dip a day or two in advance of when you're going to serve the turkey bowl.
• Keep it in a covered container in the fridge until you're ready to assemble.
• Make sure to mark the container with a note, so nobody sneaks in and eats the dip while you're not looking.
• This dip is seriously so good that I don't want you to be shocked when you go to assemble your turkey bread bowl, and you find that your family has eaten all the dip, unbeknownst to you!  😉

Tail feather tips and tricks:

• When choosing (and inserting) the tail feathers, always go for eye-catching colors and textures, and remember to place the tallest feathers in the back, and then work the smaller feather ingredients into the front.
• Feel free to play around with your favorite dippers. You can easily go with all pretzels and breadsticks, or you can go with all the vegetables.
• Just make sure that your ingredients vary in size, and when you insert them into the dip that you splay them outwards, like a fan.

How to transport a turkey bread bowl?

• If you're planning on transporting your turkey bread bowl appetizer already assembled, make sure to place him on a serving platter, and then find a box that is only slightly larger than the platter dimensions, so he won't slide from side to side while being transported. But, make sure the box is still tall enough to protect the tail feathers.
• Or, you can bring all the components to your destination and then assemble him on-site. Of course, the wow factor won't be the same as arriving with him already assembled, but if you're putting him together on-site, then maybe this can become a fun project for your family and friends to do together. Either way, you and your family and friends will be very Thankful when you see (and eat) the results!

The easy instructions:

• Prepare the long carrot sticks and celery ribs by washing, peeling, and slicing.
• Thaw, and thoroughly squeeze and drain 1 bag of frozen spinach.
• In a medium bowl, add cream cheese, drained pimentos, mayonnaise, minced shallots, sliced scallions, one package of dry ranch dressing and dip, prepared horseradish, salt, and pepper.
• Blend until creamy.

• Stir the drained and dried spinach into the cream cheese mixture until thoroughly mixed.
• At this point, you can refrigerate the dip until you're ready to prepare the turkey bread bowl.
• To prepare the turkey, use a round, rustic loaf of bread. I used a store-bought boule (found in the bakery section).

• Use a serrated knife to evenly slice the top off the bread and then hallow the loaf by picking out the interior of the bread, leaving only a bread bowl. *Note - the pieces of bread that have been removed can be used as dippers, or save and use for stuffing, bread crumbs, or meatballs.
• Freezing the bread pieces can also be done.
• Do NOT discard the top that you've sliced off as that will be used to make the wings and head of the turkey.

• Wash, seed, and slice a red bell pepper.
• Once your tail feathers are prepared (breadsticks and pretzel rods too), you're ready to begin assembling the turkey.
• Mound the chilled spinach ranch dip into the turkey bread bowl.
• Determine which side will the tail end and begin inserting the "feathers" making sure to start with the longest items in the back and work your way forward with the shorter items.

• When you're adding the "feathers" make sure to splay them as a fan.
• Using the top of the loaf that was sliced off, cut two shapes to resemble his wings.
• Use toothpicks to attach the turkey wings to his body.

• Once the wings are in place cut a long, rounded piece to resemble his neck and head.
• Attach it using toothpicks and insert a small bit of carrot for the beak, and two whole cloves for the eyes.
• The final step is to trim the toothpicks with scissors.
• Place the turkey on a large serving platter and surround him with additional types of dippers (veggies, pretzels, breadsticks, and crackers).
• Serve and ENJOY!

For many more delicious appetizer recipes from all around the web, please check out my popular Thanksgiving and Fall Appetizer Roundup.

Here's another party appetizer that will wow your friends and family! This recipe for Gruyere Cheese Fondue is the best! It's creamy and rich with just the right amount of white wine and a splash of nutty amaretto to keep things extra flavorful.

Printable Recipe Card

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's Showstopper Thanksgiving Turkey Bread Bowl Appetizer as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!