Turkey Salad is a simple, dairy-free recipe for a creamy deli classic and a terrific way to repurpose leftover moist turkey with basic pantry ingredients.
This turkey salad is budget-friendly and quick and easy to make. It's a great light meal for kids and adults alike.
And it's versatile. Eat it alone on a plate, in a sandwich, in a wrap, or with a leafy salad. It's terrific on rye bread, white bread, in a roll, on a bagel...you name it.
It's customizable, so you can add whichever chopped veggies, herbs, or seasonings you like.
And you decide the texture. Make it with small chunks of turkey, chop it fine, or blend it in the blender.
Whether you bought too large of a bird for Thanksgiving, had fewer guests than expected for the holidays, or people didn't make it for the family weekend, if you have leftover moist turkey that you don't know what to do with, this recipe is a terrific solution!
Figuring out what to do with leftover turkey is an age-old problem. In fact, recipes for turkey salad started appearing in cookbooks at least as far back as the beginning of the 1900s!
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What is needed to make this turkey salad recipe?
moist cooked turkey (preferably breast)
mayonnaise
celery
onion
white granulated sugar
Dijon mustard, or yellow mustard, optional for a little tang
salt
granulated garlic
white or black ground pepper
herbs or chopped vegetables, as desired
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What kind of leftover turkey works best for turkey salad?
This recipe works best with moist leftover turkey, whether it's from Thanksgiving, another holiday meal, or roasted turkey breast. Cut the turkey into small chunks, chop it finely, or pulse it briefly in a blender, depending on the texture you prefer.
Is this turkey salad dairy-free?
Yes. This recipe is made without milk, butter, or other dairy ingredients, making it a good choice for anyone avoiding dairy.
How should I serve turkey salad?
It's incredibly versatile. Serve it piled high on white, rye, or whole-grain bread, in a roll, wrap, or bagel, or alongside a leafy salad. You can also serve it with crackers or simply enjoy it on its own.
Can I customize this turkey salad?
Absolutely. Add chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, or your favorite seasonings to suit your taste. You can also leave out ingredients you don't like and keep it as simple as turkey and mayonnaise.
What kind of mayonnaise should I use?
You can use whichever mayonnaise you like, including low-calorie mayonnaise. My favorite is Hellmann's, also sold as Best Foods in some parts of the United States. They're the same mayonnaise, with the name varying by region.
herbs or chopped vegetables, as desired
Want sides for your turkey salad sandwich? Try these!
Want another way to use up your moist leftover turkey?
Turkey Salad
Simple and flavorful, dairy-free turkey salad that's a perfect way to repurpose your leftover turkey.
Ingredients
- 1 ½- 2 pounds cooked turkey (preferably breast), diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise*
- ½ cup celery, diced or chopped small
- ¼ cup onion, chopped or diced small
- 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar or to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard or yellow mustard, for slightly tangy flavor (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ¼ teaspoon white or black ground pepper
- additional herbs or chopped vegetables, as desired
Instructions
- Put turkey cubes in a bowl**
- Mix in celery, onion, and mayonnaise.
- Mix in sugar, salt, garlic, and pepper.
- Add mustard, herbs, and/or chopped vegetables, as desired.
- Chill for at least an hour or so (chilled salad tastes better than warm).
Notes
*The best mayonnaise to use is Best Foods or Hellman's (they're the same, just with different names depending on where you live in the US).
**How you prepare yours depends on how fine you want your turkey. This recipe calls for diced, but if you just want less chunky use a fork to mash the pieces, and if you want the pieces fine, put the turkey in the blender.
Additional notes:
1) This recipe is very much "to taste." If you like more or less mayo, more or less spices, or more or less veggies, feel free to adapt.
2) If liquids seep out, mix before use or drain and add a little more mayo to keep salad creamy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 776Total Fat: 60gSaturated Fat: 11gUnsaturated Fat: 49gCholesterol: 214mgSodium: 1133mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 50g
