This easy turkey salad is a simple and delicious recipe to help you turn those Thanksgiving leftovers into a light lunch the next day.
It’s tossed with fresh chopped celery, seasonings, and just enough mayo to make it creamy and spreadable.
This turkey salad is seasoned with Creole seasoning and has the same great texture as my Southern Chicken Salad but slightly smokier thanks to the combination of white and dark meat turkey.
Of course, you don’t need to wait for a major holiday to make this easy lunch recipe. It’s good for any time of year.
If you want this turkey salad to have a little more spice to it, like my Spicy Chicken Salad, add a dash of hot sauce or two to really bring out the spiciness of the creole seasoning.
Turkey salad is a classic sandwich filling and potluck staple. With a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you can make tasty turkey salad at home.
Turkey salad is a great way to use up leftover roasted or smoked turkey after holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas It also works well with rotisserie chicken. The salad combines turkey or chicken with celery, onion, mayonnaise, and seasoning for a creamy, protein-packed filler for sandwiches and lettuce wraps.
Turkey salad comes together quickly and keeps well, making it an easy meal solution for busy weeknights or brown bag lunches. The steps below walk through how to make turkey salad in just 10-15 minutes active prep time With a delicious homemade turkey salad recipe like this, you’ll never go back to the store-bought variety!
Benefits of Homemade Turkey Salad
Making turkey salad at home has several advantages over premade versions you find at the deli counter:
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Ingredients You control what goes into your salad, including fresh veggies and high-quality mayo Store-bought salad often contains preservatives and stabilizers
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Flavor: Tailor the flavor exactly to your taste with ingredients like mustard, herbs, hot sauce, etc.
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Cost: Homemade costs a fraction of the price of prepared salad.
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Convenience: Make ahead and eat all week long.
How to Make Turkey Salad
With just 10-15 minutes of hands on work, you can whip up turkey salad that tastes so much better than store-bought.
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped or shredded cooked turkey or chicken
- 1⁄2 cup celery, diced
- 1⁄4 cup onion, minced
- 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
- Optional mix-ins: mustard, fresh herbs, hot sauce, nuts
Steps
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Chop the turkey and veggies: Chop or shred the cooked turkey or chicken into bite-size pieces. A food processor makes quick work of this. Dice the celery and mince the onion.
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Mix the mayo: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mayo can be light or full-fat based on preference.
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Combine everything: Add the turkey/chicken, celery, onion, and any other mix-ins to the bowl with the mayo. Stir well until combined.
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Chill: Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Mix-In Ideas
Get creative with additional mix-ins. Consider adding any of the following:
- Dijon or whole grain mustard
- Dried cranberries or raisins
- Fresh herbs like dill, parsley, chives
- Toasted nuts like pecans, walnuts or almonds
- Hot sauce or sriracha for a kick
Serving Suggestions
Now that you’ve made a batch of easy turkey salad, take your pick on how to serve it:
- Classic turkey sandwiches with lettuce and tomato
- Lettuce wraps or cabbage cups
- Scooped onto crackers or bread as an appetizer
- Stuffed into avocado halves
- As a topping for salads or grain bowls
- Inside hollowed out tomatoes or bell peppers
Turkey salad also packs well for picnic lunches, backyard gatherings, and potlucks. It travels well in sandwiches and keeps fine unrefrigerated for several hours.
Storage
Properly stored, homemade turkey salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Store in an airtight container. It does not freeze well.
For best flavor and texture, plan to enjoy your batch of turkey salad within a few days. The mayo can cause the turkey to become mushy if kept too long.
From holiday leftovers to busy weeknight dinners, turkey salad is one of the most versatile, budget-friendly options for homemade meals. With basic ingredients and just a few minutes of prep time, you can make turkey salad that’s infinitely tastier than store-bought versions.
Vary the flavor with different mix-ins like mustard, nuts, and herbs. And serve your easy homemade turkey salad in everything from sandwiches to lettuce wraps and salads. With this simple recipe approach, you may never buy prepared turkey salad again!
Prep ahead Turkey Salad
Once this batch is made, you can serve immediately or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. It will last up to 4 days in the fridge, making it an excellent lunch meal prep option for the week.
It’s also full of protein and much healthier than store-bought mayo-based salad.
I have so many recipes like this one that can be made ahead and turned into healthy meals later in the week, which you can check out in my meal prep post.
How to Make Turkey Salad
To achieve a smooth, even texture, this turkey salad is combined in a food processor. No worries, we aren’t going to puree the salad- but pulse it a few times to give the celery and shredded turkey a good chop.
Combined with a dab of mayo, it makes a creamier salad you can use as a sandwich filling or spread crackers. Here’s how to make it:
- Pulse Place the turkey meat in a food processor and pulse to roughly chop it.
- Make the dressing Whisk together the lemon juice, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and creole seasoning, until smooth.
- Combine Add the turkey and celery to the dressing and stir to combine.
Simple Turkey Salad | CHEF CARMEN ATL
FAQ
How to make turkey taste good?
How to make salad for a week?
How to make a turkey out of fruits and vegetables?