By Krista Teigen
Published Nov 20, 2023
I always host Thanksgiving, so I always end up with the most leftover turkey. This easy Turkey Salad Recipe is my favorite way to use up the last of it, and it’s so delicious! Turkey, cranberries, pecans, mayo, and a few other ingredients make a super creamy and flavorful mix. These turkey salad sandwiches make a quick and easy lunch idea, or eat it as a dip or side dish!
What’s in This Turkey Salad Recipe?
Finding new and exciting things to do with Thanksgiving leftovers can be daunting. But this holiday take on classic chicken salad is about to change your mind. I’ve stuffed this recipe with pecans and dried cranberries; this turkey salad recipe will knock your socks off!
- Turkey: Whatever kind of turkey you make for Thanksgiving , this recipe is the absolute best way to make use of it.
- Celery: Adds delightful crunch!
- Dried Cranberries: Add just a hint of holiday flavor without being too overpowering. These sandwiches don’t scream Thanksgiving, and that’s a good thing!
- Pecans: Add crunch and nuttiness.
- Red Onion: More crunch, plus a bit of sharpness to contrast the creaminess of the dressing.
- Mayonnaise : Makes the dressing super rich and creamy.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard adds tanginess to the dressing.
- Vinegar: I like red wine or apple cider vinegar for a good balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Dried Dill: Adds a hint of herbal flavor that makes these sandwiches taste fresh!
Variations To Try
There are lots of ways to modify this recipe. For starters, I play around with changing up the mix-ins. I always keep total add-ins to about 2 cups. I love adding cranberries, celery, pecans, and onion, but chopped walnuts, grapes, hard-boiled eggs, or avocado would be delicious additions too! You could change the flavor slightly by swapping out the dill for another fresh herb , like parsley, basil, chives, or tarragon.
How to Store
Store leftover turkey salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold for the best taste.
Serving Suggestions
This turkey salad is perfect for sandwiches–just throw it on some sandwich bread , croissants , or dinner rolls to make sliders. It’s also delicious served alone, with crackers , or on top of a kale salad . Add a side of sweet potato chips for a perfect meal!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
Thanksgiving can have me feeling weighed down, but this turkey salad is nice and light. For an even lighter dressing, I sometimes swap out the mayo for an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups chopped cooked turkey
- ▢ 2 ribs celery finely chopped
- ▢ ½ cup dried cranberries
- ▢ ½ cup chopped pecans
- ▢ ¼ cup minced red onion
- ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ▢ 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ▢ 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the turkey, celery, cranberries, pecans, and red onion to a large bowl and stir to combine. 4 cups chopped cooked turkey, 2 ribs celery, ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup chopped pecans, ¼ cup minced red onion
- In a separate bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, vinegar, dill, salt, and pepper together. ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon dried dill, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pour the dressing over the ingredients from Step 1. Toss to combine.
- Serve in a sandwich, on crackers, or on a salad with greens.
Becky’s Tips
- If your red onion is too strong, soak it in ice water for 10 minutes to take out some of the bite!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Turkey Salad Step by Step
This salad is packed with lean protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, it is also high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Enjoy it in moderation.
If you’re using leftover (day-old) turkey, this salad will stay fresh for about 3 days.
Although it is technically safe to freeze this creamy salad, I do not recommend it because it will turn out watery once thawed.
More Leftover Turkey Recipes We Love
- Turkey Croquettes
- Turkey Rice Casserole
- Thanksgiving Quesadilla
- Turkey Noodle Soup
- Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Turkey Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped cooked turkey
- 2 ribs celery finely chopped
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup minced red onion
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the turkey, celery, cranberries, pecans, and red onion to a large bowl and stir to combine. 4 cups chopped cooked turkey, 2 ribs celery, ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup chopped pecans, ¼ cup minced red onion
- In a separate bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, dijon mustard, vinegar, dill, salt, and pepper together. ¾ cup mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon dried dill, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pour the dressing over the ingredients from Step 1. Toss to combine.
- Serve in a sandwich, on crackers, or on a salad with greens.
Notes
- If your red onion is too strong, soak it in ice water for 10 minutes to take out some of the bite!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
