Turkey Salad Recipe

A simple Turkey Salad Recipe perfect for sandwiches, spreading on crackers, or topping off a bed full of mixed greens! It's easy to make at home, even if you don't have leftover Thanksgiving turkey on hand — however, if you do, now you're talking really easy!

Today, we'll cover how to bake perfectly juicy turkey tenderloins for your salad, talk about that two-minute dressing and exactly how to make it, and why Turkey Salad with dried cranberries is extra delicious!

Why You'll Love this Turkey Salad

Quick and Easy | This easy Southern turkey salad recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and comes together fast. It works for both fresh-baked turkey and Thanksgiving leftovers.

Balanced Flavor | This easy turkey salad recipe is the perfect mix of savory and sweet. The turkey, celery, onion, and Dijon bring in salty, aromatic notes, while the cranberries add the perfect pop of sweetness for balance.

Comforting Flavors with a Gourmet Twist | If you enjoy a traditional Southern-style chicken salad, you'll absolutely love this turkey salad! It's got juicy bites of turkey, crisp bits of celery and onion throughout, and a creamy dressing with a little zing that feels just a touch elevated.

Texture | Tender turkey, crunchy veggies, and chewy cranberries keep every bite interested whether you're scooping it onto crackers, spooning over lettuce cups, or piling it high in turkey salad sandwich form.

Ingredients for Turkey Salad

• Turkey | You can use leftover turkey or roasted turkey tenderloins for this Southern-style turkey salad. Its mild flavor makes it the perfect canvas for creamy dressing and bright pops of flavor.
• Finely diced veggies | Celery and onion are classic turkey salad ingredients that provide the crisp, crunchy bits everyone expects from a traditional chicken salad. The onion adds a sharp, subtle spice while the celery adds a crisp, refreshing note.
• Dried cranberries | Cranberry sauce and turkey is a classic pairing that just works. And, this turkey salad is further proof — the dried cranberries add color, sweetness, and texture to this otherwise savory salad.
• Dressing | The creamy dressing starts with mayonnaise, balanced by a spoonful of tangy Dijon mustard. Seasoned with Kosher salt, black pepper, and a pinch of sugar, this dressing brings out the best in both turkey and chicken salad.

No Leftover Turkey? Use Turkey Tenders.

You could also use up your leftover holiday turkey. You will need about 1-1-½ pounds of leftover turkey for this salad. That will come out to about three cups when cut into a ½" dice.

If you want to make this without leftover at hand, you'll want to start with turkey tenderloins. Turkey tenderloins are part of the turkey breast, and you'll find them in the poultry section of most grocery stores labeled "Turkey Breasts Tenders." They are much smaller than the breast itself, and just the right amount of meat for this salad.

Two-Minute Turkey Salad Dressing

Turkey Salad Dressing is shockingly quick and easy to make and shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to whip up. It's made up of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a simple seasoning mix of granulated sugar, salt, and pepper. The sugar might come as a surprise ingredient, but it is an essential component to the dressing.

Dried Cranberries (or Grapes) for a Southern Touch

Most Southerners wouldn't dream of making chicken or turkey salad without a little sweetness in the mix. Dried cranberries are the perfect addition, bringing just the right touch of sweetness to an otherwise savory mix. Not a cranberry fan? No big. Substitute sliced grapes or leave them out completely.

How to Make Turkey Salad

1. Season and bake the turkey (if not using leftover turkey).
2. Cut the turkey into cubes about the size of a ½" dice.
3. Make the dressing.
4. Add onions, celery, cranberries, and diced turkey to the dressing and stir to coat.

Season and Bake Turkey Tenderloins (If Using)

If using leftover Thanksgiving Turkey, you can omit this step completely. If you're not used to baking turkey tenderloins, no problem -- it's just as easy (and tasty) as baked chicken breasts in the oven!

• Prep the Meat | Pat the turkey tenderloins dry with a paper towel. This removes excess moisture, allowing the oil and seasoning to better adhere to the turkey. Next, drizzle the turkey tenderloins with olive oil, season it with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, and rub it all over the tenderloins.
• Bake | Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350° for 35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Cut | Once the turkey has rested, cut into a ½-inch dice and set aside.

Make the Dressing

Mix | Add the mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper to a medium mixing bowl and stir until combined.

Add Turkey, Cranberries, Onion + Celery

Assemble | Add the cubed turkey, finely minced onion and celery, and cranberries to the bowl. Stir until evenly coated in the dressing. Serve right away or cover and transfer to the refrigerator to chill.

Serving Suggestions: Turkey Salad for Sandwiches (and More!)

• In a Sandwich | This turkey salad makes the perfect turkey salad sandwich. We love croissants with just about anything — stuffed with eggs in our croissant sandwiches and, of course, stuffed with chocolate in a classic chocolate croissants. But you'll also find this turkey salad completely divine as a wrap or between two slices of white, wheat, or oat bread.
• On Crackers | You can also use it as a topper for crackers or over greens.
• With Lettuce | Tuck this turkey salad into lettuce cups or add a serving on a bed of Romaine lettuce or spring mix for something lighter.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead | Turkey salad with celery and onion is an excellent make-ahead dish. Store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Turkey salad does not freeze well — the mayonnaise-based dressing leads to separation.

Store | How long your turkey salad lasts depends on the turkey you use. If it's made with freshly baked tenderloins, it will keep for up to 4 days. If you're using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, go by the original cook date. You'll have about 3 days beyond when the turkey's original cook date.

Turkey Salad FAQs

5 More Salads You'll Love

• Chicken Salad with Grapes and Almonds is a traditional chicken salad recipe with the perfect spreadable consistency, thanks to a little kitchen technology.
• Bruschetta Chicken Salad is an exciting Italian chicken salad loaded with easy tomato bruschetta and a quick balsamic dressing!
• Panera Fuji Apple Salad is easy to make at home, and you’ll have no trouble at all throwing it together in your very own kitchen!
• Leftover Chopped Turkey Salad is a fun alternative to the Turkey Salad featured above. Goat cheese is incorporated into the dressing, and walnuts are added for a little extra crunch. Perfect for entertaining and serving with crackers!
• Southwest Chopped Chicken Salad Tacos is a healthy taco recipe featuring Southwest chopped chicken, black beans, corn, crisp lettuce, and more. Plus, a creamy cilantro lime dressing to top it all off!

Source: The Kitch'n | What the Heck is Chicken Tender?