Have leftovers from Thanksgiving and don’t know what to do with them? I love to repurpose all that Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into brand new recipes — like turkey casserole, turkey soup, and this turkey salad recipe. It’s similar to a chicken salad, but with shredded turkey and a fall flavor profile instead. With juicy leftover turkey, tangy dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and a creamy dressing, this is a quick, easy dish that will keep in the fridge all week… if it lasts that long!
Ingredients For Turkey Salad
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this turkey salad recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Salad:
Turkey – Use leftover Thanksgiving turkey, or any leftover turkey breast will work. You can also start fresh whenever you see turkey or turkey breast on sale throughout the year, or make the salad with shredded chicken (or rotisserie chicken) instead.Vegetables – Fresh celery and green onions add crunch, but other veggies like diced bell peppers, shredded carrots, or chopped kale will work, too. Dried Cranberries – Add a pop of color to this turkey salad recipe. I make my own dried cranberries without sugar, but store bought will work, too. You can also try chopped apples, raisins, and grapes if cranberries aren’t available.Nuts – Pecans are a popular choice in recipes for turkey salad. Other nuts, like walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or pine nuts, are also good. For a nut-free option that still adds crunch, try sunflower seeds. Chop nuts before using.
Dressing:
Mayonnaise – Homemade mayo is easy to make, but any store brand works. If you want to lighten it up, you can swap this with plain Greek yogurt.Dijon mustard – Pungent and a little bit spicy, Dijon compliments the mayonnaise.Fresh Herbs and Seasonings – Fresh thyme, sea salt, and black pepper round out this dressing. Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for a deeper flavor.
How To Make Turkey Salad
This section shows how to make this recipe for turkey salad, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
Keep the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing turkey salad recipes with mayonnaise is not recommended, because the dressing will separate.
How To Serve Turkey Salad
This versatile turkey salad recipe can be used in so many tasty ways!
Sandwiches – Piled high with lettuce leaves, tomato, and red onion, turkey salad sandwich recipes are everyone’s favorite.Lettuce Wraps – Lighten up your sandwich by wrapping the salad in lettuce instead.Salads – Add big scoops on top of your favorite greens mixture for a healthy protein salad.Appetizers – Spread over crackers or crostini for a fun holiday appetizer.
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