Delicious and easy to make leftover Turkey Salad is the perfect way to use up any of your leftover roasted turkey from a holiday meal. Made with a few simple ingredients, this protein-packed salad is absolutely delicious!
Turkey salad is a classic way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays or any time you have extra roasted turkey on hand But not all turkey salads are created equal The ingredients you choose to mix in with your turkey can take your salad from bland and boring to fresh and delicious, Here’s a guide to making a turkey salad with maximum flavor,
The Turkey
- Use roasted or smoked turkey, either white or dark meat. For the best texture, shred the turkey into bite-size pieces rather than chopping it.
- Leftover turkey works great, so this is an excellent way to repurpose your Thanksgiving or Christmas bird. Rotissere turkey from the store also works perfectly.
- You’ll want around 4 cups of shredded turkey for a generous salad. Adjust the other ingredients to your liking based on how much turkey you’re working with.
The Vegetables
Adding vegetables to your turkey salad provides crunch and texture contrast as well as extra flavor. Some good veggie choices include:
- Celery – Finely chop 2-3 stalks per salad. This is a turkey salad essential for the fresh, crisp crunch.
- Green onions – Thinly slice 2-4 green onions and scatter throughout the salad.
- Bell peppers – Dice 1/2 to 1 whole pepper per salad. Red, yellow, orange or green are all tasty options.
- Radishes – Thinly slice 4-5 radishes for color and bite.
- Cucumber – Dice 1/4 to 1/2 cucumber for cool freshness.
- Grape tomatoes – Halve 10-12 grape tomatoes for bursts of brightness.
The Herbs
Fresh herbs are key for bringing vibrance. Parsley dill, basil tarragon, chives and cilantro all pair wonderfully with turkey. Chop 2-4 tablespoons of your chosen herbs and mix them in.
The Cheese
Crumbled cheese adds rich flavor and texture. Good melty options include cheddar, Monterey Jack, feta or blue cheese. Add as much or as little cheese as you like.
The Nuts or Seeds
For crunch and protein, add some nuts or seeds. Chopped walnuts, pecan or almonds work well, as do sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
The Fruit
For sweetness, dried or fresh fruits make tasty additions. Try raisins, cranberries, apples, grapes, mandarin oranges, pears or pineapple. Chop the fruit small so it incorporates nicely.
The Crunchies
Croutons crackers, crispy wonton strips, bacon bits or roasted chickpeas can be tossed in for extra texture.
The Creamy Binder
The dressing is what binds everything together. Mayo and Greek yogurt are common creamy bases. For more flavor, try mixing in:
- Dijon or whole-grain mustard
- Lemon juice
- Vinegars like red wine, sherry, rice wine or cider
- Honey or maple syrup for subtle sweetness
- Spices like curry powder, smoked paprika or cumin
- Chopped pickles or pickle brine
Seasonings
Don’t forget to season your turkey salad! Add salt, pepper and other spices to taste. Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, chili powder and cayenne are all tasty options.
Putting It All Together
There are endless combinations of ingredients you can add to your turkey salad. Use the suggestions above as inspiration, and choose a selection of 5-8 components to mix together.
Aim for balance – crunchy and creamy textures, bright colors, sweet and savory flavors. Tailor the proportions to your preferences. Mix everything together gently but thoroughly.
Chill the finished salad in the fridge before serving to let the flavors meld. Scoop it onto bread, lettuce or crackers, or simply enjoy it with a fork.
With so many tasty add-ins to choose from, you can reinvent your turkey salad every time and create a completely customized flavor profile. So don’t settle for boring leftovers – turn them into a fresh masterpiece with these salad ideas!
Watch How to Make This Recipe
Mayonnaise: this is the classic base for turkey salad and I personally like the flavor it gives the salad. Don’t worry, I’ve provided an alternative below if you don’t love mayo.
Greek Yogurt: instead of all mayonnaise for the salad base, we’re keeping things a bit lighter by using plain greek yogurt as well. This helps to add a bit more protein to the turkey salad as well.
Dijon Mustard: a bit of mustard is a requirement in any turkey salad. Dijon mustard is always my go-to choice. You could also use a whole grain dijon if you prefer.
Leftover Turkey: if you’ve made my simple spatchcock turkey or citrus herb turkey breast recipes for a holiday meal then you likely have a bit of turkey leftover. You’ll need around three cups of leftover chopped turkey for this recipe.
Veggies: fresh celery and onion help to give this turkey salad the perfect crunch.
Pecans: speaking of crunch, chopped pecans provide a bit of extra texture and flavor.
Dried Cranberries: these help to give the turkey salad just a bit of extra sweetness.
Herbs and Spices: a simple combination of fresh dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper give the salad the perfect flavor.
Mayonnaise: swap all of the mayo for greek yogurt if you prefer!
Turkey: have leftover roasted chicken instead of turkey? feel free to use that instead.
Veggies: this turkey salad is easy to customize by adding in your favorite veggies. Diced carrot or bell pepper would most be delicious in this salad.
Nuts: you can swap the chopped pecans for walnuts, almonds, or even pumpkin seeds or leave them out altogether.
Dried Fruit: don’t love dried cranberries? use dried cherries or even dried blueberries instead!
Why You’ll Love This Leftover Turkey Salad
- It’s easy way to use leftover turkey! Not only does this recipe use up your leftovers it also repurposes them in a new way for exciting new dish.
- It uses simple ingredients! You likely have all of the ingredients you need to make this salad in your pantry or fridge.
- It’s customizable! Make this recipe your own by using the helpful ingredient substitutions I provide in this post.
What to do with leftover turkey | Simple recipe for turkey salad
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