Turkey Salad

This homemade leftover turkey salad recipe is a must-have after Thanksgiving!

Juicy turkey, crunchy celery, tart cranberries, and nutty pecans are mixed with a creamy Dijon dressing and ready to enjoy!

A Simple Salad

Great for leftovers: This is a great way to use leftovers.
Fast: Turkey salad is fast to make and keeps in the fridge for a few days.
Versatile: Skip the add-ins or add extras if you’d like. Stir in herbs like fresh dill or add your favorite spices like garlic powder or a hint of curry powder.

Turkey Salad Ingredients

Turkey – Use diced leftover turkey in this recipe. Other leftover meat options include diced ham or chicken.

Additions – You can add all of the additions or just a few. Celery adds crunch and freshness, dried cranberries add a little sweetness; pecans add a nutty crunch, and green onions add flavor.

Dressing – The base of the dressing is mayonnaise however, you can replace half of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt if you’d like to lighten it up. Creamy coleslaw dressing is another great option.

Variations – If cranberries aren’t available, use raisins or other dried fruits. Grapes and diced apples are great additions, and the nuts can be replaced with Walnuts, almonds, or pumpkin seeds can be swapped out for pecans.

ingredients in a bowl to make Turkey Salad

How to Make Turkey Salad

In a medium bowl, combine the ingredients in the recipe below.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this recipe as you would serve chicken salad and if you have any, cranberry sauce is a great addition!

Scoop it over lettuce or serve as a lettuce wrap for a low carb lunch.
Spoon it over crackers for a snack.
Serve it sandwich style or in a wrap.

Storing Turkey Salad

Keep leftover turkey salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Avoid freezing mayonnaise-based salads as they tend to become grainy once thawed.

Best Ways to Use Leftover Turkey

If you’ve got leftover Thanksgiving turkey, you’ll want to check out these tried and true favorites.

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Simple and creamy salad, a great way to use turkey leftovers!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

In a medium bowl, combine the turkey, mayonnaise, mustard, cranberries, pecans, celery, and green onions in a bowl.
Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Serve as a sandwich or over salad.

Replace pecans with toasted almonds if desired. Diced apples or chopped seedless can be added.
Store left over salad in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Lunch, Salad

Cuisine American

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