How to Make Turkey Salad: Easy Leftover Turkey Salad Recipe

Turkey salad is a dish consisting of leftover turkey, vegetables, and dressing. The components are simple, and the possibilities are endless. Traditional versions use mayonnaise as a binder, which provides a creamy texture to the salad while serving as a blank canvas for a variety of flavors. Vinaigrette-based salads are refreshing and bright, and best served as soon as they are mixed so that nothing gets wilted. Turkey salad can be taken around the world when it comes to flavors and applications, and leftover thanksgiving turkey is versatile enough to be paired with just about any bold flavors as long as the balance is right.

There are endless ways to turn leftover turkey into a satisfying salad. Try these seven favorites.

1. 1. Niçoise: This composed salad will transport you straight to an elegant French bistro. Arrange the turkey (in lieu of tuna) on a bed of butter lettuce leaves with a mélange of steamed and cooled vegetables like green beans and new potatoes along with olives, boiled eggs, and a dijon vinaigrette.
2. 2. Sesame ginger: This Asian-inspired version of a chopped salad works beautifully with turkey. Shredded carrots, cabbage, green onions, and crispy wonton chips provide crunch, while the dressing ties everything together with nutty sesame oil, savory soy sauce, spicy ginger, and tangy rice vinegar.
3. 3. Greek: The crisp texture of cucumbers and red onions, juicy tomatoes, bracing saltiness of olives and feta, and a refreshing, herb-laden lemon vinaigrette is perfectly paired with leftover turkey.
4. 4. Larb: This popular Thai meat salad typically features ground meat, but shredded turkey is an easy substitution. Make a bright dressing of lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, and sriracha for the turkey; sliced shallots, romaine, and fistfuls of fresh herbs like cilantro and mint serve as garnish.
5. 5. Waldorf: Pecans, grapes, apples, celery, and a tangy sour cream dressing are all it takes to make a thanksgiving edition of this New York classic. Serve with bagel chips for some extra crunch.
6. 6. Curry: Curry chicken salad, made with a bright-yellow mayo, raisins, and cashews, is a classic. Try it with leftover turkey for even more flavor.
7. 7. Caesar: Parmesan cheese, croutons, Caesar dressing, and a crisp bed of romaine are a simple and nostalgic way to use leftover turkey. Make this easy recipe tableside for an homage to the salad’s origins.
8. 8. Turkey salad sandwich: Turkey salad is the perfect filling for a not-so-basic turkey sandwich. Nestle the salad between a split croissant or two slices of hearty bread, butter lettuce, and a swipe or two of extra mustard for a hearty lunch. Or, use your Thanksgiving leftovers to make a main-dish sandwich with cranberry sauce, gravy, and turkey meat.

Turkey salad is a delicious way to use up leftover turkey meat. Here’s how to make the best version at home.

1. 1. Dice or shred the meat carefully. A good salad is thoughtfully prepared, and the size of the components really matters. Make sure the pieces of turkey are uniform in size and in balance with the other ingredients so you get a bit of everything in each bite. Whether you’re shredding or dicing, think about which texture and size will work best for your salad.
2. 2. Taste as you go. Seasoning is a crucial part of any dish, and a salad is no exception. Since this is a no-cook recipe, you can taste as you go and balance the flavors to your liking. Even a little pinch of salt or cracked black pepper can take your salad from boring to perfectly balanced.
3. 3. Consider the crunch. Adding texture can take a salad from boring to crave-worthy. If there are a lot of tender lettuces in your salad, consider adding a crunchier green veggie such as cabbage or romaine. If you have something really crunchy like a crouton, add something creamy such as cheese or avocado to counter it.