The BEST Leftover Turkey Salad
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This magnificently easy leftover turkey salad recipe with crisp lettuce, juicy cucumbers, and a sweet and savory Asian style dressing is perfect for a healthy weekday lunch.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
I always have leftovers after making turkey. Sometimes it’s because I roasted a whole bird for Thanksgiving. But it also happens when I make turkey breasts or turkey legs. There is always just a lot of turkey.
That’s why I love this recipe…especially right after Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. After spending 3 days cooking and eating not-so-healthy food, I want something that is both fast and nutrient-dense. And this recipe is both of those things.
- Customizable – Turkey salad is the perfect way to use up your leftovers. And you can make this one any way you want with whatever leftovers you have.
- Use up leftover turkey – Don’t throw all that hard work in the trash! This mouthwatering turkey salad recipe will help you use up those leftovers!
- Quick and easy – Despite all the work you put into the turkey in the first place, a turkey salad is ready in 10 minutes or less!
Try these other yummy salad recipes this week ; The BEST Prawn Salad Recipe, Grinder Salad (Italian Sub Salad) and Simple Tricolore Salad
Best Turkey for Turkey Salad
Can you use frozen leftover turkey?
Yes! Frozen turkey is perfect for leftover turkey salad. If you have frozen turkey, first thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Then the turkey will be ready to add to this recipe.
Should you use dark meat or light meat?
Dark meat or light meat doesn’t matter in this recipe for turkey salad! Either type will taste perfectly fine so choose your favorite.
Can you use turkey that is a week old?
When you make this turkey salad recipe, you will want to use turkey that is less than 4 days old if it has been in the refrigerator so you know it is still good to eat. However, frozen turkey is good for three months.
Ingredients
Leftover Turkey
This leftover turkey salad recipe works great if you have turkey meat and a carcass. You can also make this recipe using leftover chicken meat.
Round Lettuce
I love using a round lettuce, it’s light, crunchy and perfect for this Turkey leftover salad. Iceberg or romaine lettuce are also great options.
Mayo
You can create a deliciously creamy, slightly spicy dressing using Sriracha mixed with the mayo. Light mayo will also work if you want a lower-calorie option.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
- Try a different protein. Do you have leftover chicken, fish, or beef instead? Those work on this salad as well.
- If you don’t have cucumbers or radishes, try broccoli, cauliflower, or any other vegetable you like.
- You can also make this vegan by swapping out the honey for a vegan safe alternative and replacing the meat with chickpeas or tofu.
How to make the leftover turkey salad
- Prepare all of the salad elements by washing and slicing the lettuce (Image 1).
- Then slice the carrots and radishes (Image 2).
Meanwhile. combine the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey and olive oil into a bowl to form the dressing. Whisk to combine and optionally add some chilli flakes if you like a little heat.
3. Using a grater, thinly slice the cucumber (Image 3).
4. Add the lettuce, cucumber, carrots and turkey to a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Then plate up the salad and then top with the sliced radish, coriander, salted peanuts and a crack of black pepper. Optional serve with Sriracha mayo as a little dip (Image 4).
After this salad, to satisfy any pasta cravings and try my ; The BEST Roasted Brussels Sprout Pasta, Sausage and Fennel Pasta and Prawn and Chorizo Pasta
Tips for the best results
- Do not dress the salad until you intend to eat it. The dressing can make the lettuce soggy if added too early.
- Season generously with salt & pepper.
- Include the turkey skin for extra crunch and flavour if you have some!
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this alongside a turkey sandwich that you have also made with leftovers. It also goes well with soup, breadsticks, or a baguette. If you still have leftover turkey, consider making my Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup
Storage Instructions
Store turkey, dressing, and lettuce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The turkey will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator. The lettuce will last up to 7 days or until it starts to turns brown. The dressing will last 3-4 days in the fridge.
Only the turkey is freezer friendly in this recipe. It will keep for 3 months in an airtight container.
FAQs
If you have skin on your leftover turkey and you like it, then go ahead and add it to the turkey salad.
The turkey can be hot or cold. The lettuce and other vegetables should definitely be cold.
What is the mayonnaise and sriracha used for?
The sriracha mayonnaise is optional, but it adds a punch of flavor and makes a great dip for the turkey or the veggies.
Explore More Recipes
If you tried this Leftover Turkey Salad recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
The BEST Leftover Turkey Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads of round lettuce, washed (£1.09)
- 2 carrots, thinly sliced (£0.29)
- 1 cucumber, peeled into ribbons (£0.89)
- 100 g radishes, thinly sliced (£0.39)
- 500 g turkey leftovers/turkey steaks
- 200 g salted peanuts (£0.75)
- Bunch of fresh coriander (£0.55)
- Optional Sriracha & Mayo to serve
For the dressing
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
Method
- Prepare all of the salad elements by washing and slicing the ingredients.
- Combine the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, honey and olive oil into a bowl to form the dressing. Whisk to combine and optionally add some chilli flakes if you like a little heat.
- Add the lettuce, cucumber, carrots and turkey to a large bowl and toss with the dressing.
- Plate up the salad and then top with the sliced radish, coriander, salted peanuts and a crack of black pepper. Optional serve with Sriracha mayo as a little dip.
Notes
- Dress the salad just before serving to avoid soggy lettuce.
- Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Add turkey skin for extra crunch and flavour if you still have some left.
Nutrition
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