Southern Turkey Salad Recipe – (15 minute meal!) Lauren’s Newest

October 3, 2023

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Southern Turkey Salad sandwiches are certainly one of my favourite methods to make use of up Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. This simple recipe is prepared in quarter-hour or much less! Roasted turkey paired with inexperienced onion, crunchy celery, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, mayo together with some herbs and spices is a refreshing and attractive lunch or afternoon snack. Different household favorites for Thanksgiving turkey leftovers are my Leftover Turkey Casserole and Turkey a la King.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This do-it-yourself Turkey Salad Recipe is a tasty manner to make use of up leftover turkey, particularly leftover Thanksgiving turkey! Whether or not you’re staring down a mound of turkey from an enormous meal like Thanksgiving, or simply an extraordinary dinner, this salad has a distinction in nice texture and flavors. It’s a comforting and satisfying strategy to get pleasure from leftover turkey in a refreshing new mild!

What’s in Southern Turkey Salad?

Southern Turkey Salad has leftover roasted turkey, celery, dried cranberries, and the delicate chunk of inexperienced onions. Seasoned with a mix of spices and recent herbs. That is the perfect leftover turkey salad and is a very customizable creation served as turkey salad sandwiches, a topping for a mattress of lettuce, or a standalone salad – it’s the right lunch!

Methods to Make Southern Turkey Salad

This recipe comes collectively in quarter-hour or much less! Gotta love that! For full recipe particulars, together with components and measurements wanted, see the printable recipe card down under.

Prep Components

Begin out by dicing celery, inexperienced onions (or pink onion), and chives. Chop turkey into uniform items. Some individuals like to make use of simply the turkey breast, however I like to make use of each white and darkish meat turkey in my salad. For the pecans, calmly toast them in a small skillet on the range over medium warmth, stirring often. Toast till brown and aromatic, about 2-5 minutes. Do NOT stroll away throughout this course of…pecans can burn fairly shortly and you then’ll have to begin throughout.

Professional Tip: I discover it simpler to toast pecans in entire items or halved. This fashion they don’t burn as simply (nonetheless must hold your eye on them!). You can too toast them within the oven by putting the pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer, drizzle a little bit salt and oil, (if desired) for 7-10 minutes at 350° F. After they’re toasted, you may chop them into smaller items.

Turkey Salad sandwich on a plate close up view

Mix All Components

In a big bowl mix all components – turkey, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, celery, onion, chives, dried cranberries (Craisins), pecans, sage, salt and pepper. Combine effectively.

Professional Tip: Leftover rotisserie hen would additionally work with this salad and different components.

Serve!

One of the best ways I prefer to serve that is as a sandwich with toasted bread. You may additionally make lettuce cups, or eat as-is with some crackers!

Storing Leftover Turkey Salad

Retailer any leftover turkey salad in an hermetic container and within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days.

Make Forward– This salad is nice to organize just a few hours earlier than you wish to serve it. Simply prep and assemble as traditional, and retailer coated within the fridge.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Can I take advantage of grapes in turkey salad?

Sure! Candy grapes can be an excellent addition to this scrumptious recipe. I used cranberries on this turkey salad recipe as a result of the flavour profile goes so effectively with turkey (howdy, cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving!). You may even add grapes and cranberries for much more taste!

What can I take advantage of as an alternative of mayo in turkey salad?

You may substitute plain greek yogurt or whipped cottage cheese instead of the mayonnaise on this turkey salad. Each can be related choices. Dijon mustard goes effectively with this salad as effectively, and can give it a little bit kick.

Can I take advantage of a meals processor for turkey salad?

Sure, you need to use a meals processor to make turkey salad. A meals processor generally is a handy instrument for shortly and evenly chopping or shredding components on your salad. You may even use it to grind the turkey meat down in the event you don’t like huge chunks.

Are you able to freeze turkey salad?

I’d suggest having fun with this turkey salad recent and never freezing any dish with mayo in it. Mayonnaise separates when thawed and by no means actually reconstitutes the identical once more.

Turkey Salad sandwich on a plate and tablescape

Extra Salad Recipes to Attempt!

I hope this refreshing spin on mundane leftovers is simply what you’ve been on the lookout for! Such a scrumptious manner to make use of up leftover turkey. The printable recipe card is under. Have an excellent day, associates! 🙂

In the event you make this recipe, I’d actually respect it in the event you would give it a star ranking and go away your evaluate within the feedback! You probably have an image of your completed dish, submit it on Instagram utilizing the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.