This Leftover Turkey Salad recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover roasted turkey from a holiday meal! Protein-packed and made with a few simple ingredients, it’s light and refreshing with the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors plus plenty of crunch.
Say Goodbye to Boring Leftovers with This Turkey Salad Recipe
Can we all agree that leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving? Don’t get me wrong. I love to prepare a big spread with my favorite Thanksgiving recipes like my healthy homemade cranberry sauce, cornbread sausage and herb stuffing, and pear pie.
But if I’m being honest, I look forward to not having to cook for a few days and getting to enjoy the leftovers instead. However, rather than just eating the same things, I repurpose them into new dishes to keep things exciting, and this leftover turkey salad recipe is one of my favorites!
Don’t tell anyone, but I love this recipe so much that I intentionally set turkey aside so I know I have enough make it! Unlike other turkey salads that can feel overly heavy, this version uses a combination of mayo and Greek yogurt to get just the right balance. The mayo gives you that classic turkey salad flavor, while the tangy Greek yogurt keeps everything creamy without weighing it down. Then, fresh dill adds even more brightness and freshness.
Turkey Salad Recipe Ingredients and Notes
- Mayonnaise: this is the classic base for turkey salad, and I personally like the rich flavor it gives.
- Greek Yogurt: instead of using all mayonnaise for the salad base, I use plain Greek yogurt as well. It adds a bit more protein while keeping the dressing creamy and adding a tangy flavor that balances the mayo nicely.
- Dijon Mustard: a bit of mustard is a requirement in any turkey salad. The sharp kick cuts through some of the heaviness of the mayonnaise. Dijon mustard is always my go-to choice. You could also use a whole grain Dijon if you prefer.
- Leftover Turkey: we’re using around three cups of leftover chopped turkey for this recipe. I use my simple spatchcock turkey or citrus herb turkey breast, but any cooked turkey will work. Or, if you’ve got leftover roasted chicken, like my whole roasted chicken or roasted spatchcock chicken, use that!
- Veggies: fresh celery and red onion help to give this turkey salad the perfect crunch. Diced carrot or bell pepper would also be delicious in this salad. Feel free to incorporate whatever you have on hand!
- Pecans: chopped pecans provide a bit of extra texture and flavor. You can swap the chopped pecans for walnuts, almonds, or even pumpkin seeds, or leave them out altogether.
- Dried Cranberries: these help to give the turkey salad just a bit of extra sweetness. If you don’t love dried cranberries, use dried cherries or even dried blueberries instead!
- Herbs and Spices: A simple combination of fresh dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper gives the salad plenty of flavor. The fresh dill is especially important because it adds brightness and helps keep the salad tasting fresh.
How to Make This Leftover Turkey Salad Recipe in 15 Minutes or Less
Pro-Tip: Make this recipe the day after Thanksgiving so that your turkey will be fresh and the turkey salad can last a few days in the fridge!
Ways to Serve Turkey Salad
There are so many delicious ways to use and serve this leftover turkey salad. Here are a few of my favorite options:
- Make a salad! Serve the turkey salad over a bed of fresh lettuce with tomatoes and cucumbers. I love using a bit of balsamic vinegar as the dressing.
- Enjoy with crackers! Keep things simple and serve the turkey salad with your favorite crackers.
- Make a lettuce wrap! You can use bibb lettuce leaves or even blanched collard greens to make a veggie-forward wrap.
- Make a sandwich! Use your favorite bread to make a traditional turkey salad sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and all of your favorite fixings.
More Delicious Ways to Use Holiday Leftovers
- Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
- Turkey Enchiladas
- Turkey and Cheese Sliders with Delicious Cranberry Aioli
- Turkey Pot Pie
Find even more delicious ways to use leftover turkey!
I hope you give this Leftover Turkey Salad a try! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.
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Leftover Turkey Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Leftover Turkey Salad recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover roasted turkey from a holiday meal! Protein-packed and made with a few simple ingredients, it’s light and refreshing with the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors plus plenty of crunch.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 3 cups cooked leftover chopped and cooked turkey
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 chopped cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped dill
Instructions
- Whisk together the salt, lemon juice, pepper, garlic powder, mayonnaise, greek yogurt, and dijon mustard in a small bowl.
- To a large mixing bowl add the leftover turkey, celery, red onion, pecans, cranberries, and chopped dill.
- Pour the mayo and yogurt mixture over the turkey salad ingredients. Stir until well combined.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Store: Once combined, leftover turkey salad will keep fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. I always give it a quick stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving!
Photography by: Casey Colodny
SO GOOD! I made a double batch for lunches. I really like the dill too. Great and healthy recipe for leftover turkey
This was delicious! We used our leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I didn’t have any dried cranberries, but otherwise I made this per the recipe. Really great dressing for the turkey!