This Easy Turkey Salad is the perfect way to use up holiday leftovers! It’s packed full of tender bites of turkey, crunchy celery, and tangy onion in a creamy mayonnaise dressing. It’s a light and fresh lunch that takes just 15 minutes to prep!
This Easy Turkey Salad is one of my favorite ways to enjoy turkey as a light lunch! It’s so quick and easy to make and SO TASTY!
Make one batch or double it and use the leftovers for lunches all week! This delicious recipe will soon be a go-to lunch in your kitchen.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Fresh and nutritious – This salad is protein-packed thanks to the turkey meat, and packed with the fresh crunch of celery and onion. Delicious and healthy!
- Easy to make – Just 15 minutes from start to finish.
- Whip up anytime or make using leftovers – This recipe is easy to make any time of the year, but is also a great way to use up Thanksgiving turkey leftovers.
Recipe Notes
This Turkey Salad recipe is as simple as promised! Just 15 minutes total for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this Easy Turkey Salad Recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Turkey – You’ll need 3 cups of diced turkey. This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover turkey you already have on hand OR you can get pre-cooked turkey from the store.
- Celery and Red Onion – To add color and crunch to the turkey salad.
- Dressing – mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and dill. For the dill, you can use 1/4 teaspoon of dried or 1 teaspoon of fresh; whatever you have on hand!
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Use other mix-ins – The beauty of Turkey Salad is you can customize however you like! Try adding chopped broccoli or mushrooms, bacon bits, chopped pecans, dried cranberries, diced apples or grapes…the possibilities are endless!
- Spice it up – I tend to keep the seasonings in this recipe pretty simple with salt, pepper, and dill, but feel free to play around with other spices to create a different flavor profile! Try some classics like garlic powder or onion powder, kick the heat up with cayenne pepper or paprika, or use a spice blend such as Italian seasoning, Southwest seasoning, Cajun seasoning, you name it. You can also use fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or green onions to add some bright freshness.
- Lighten it up – Swap some or all of the mayonnaise out for Greek yogurt for a lightened up version.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make this Easy Turkey Salad Recipe.
Dice the turkey into bite sized pieces, then add it to a bowl.
Top with chopped celery and onion.
Combine dressing ingredients together, then pour that over the salad mixture.
Stir to combine, then serve immediately or chill in the fridge for 20 minutes in the fridge to allow the flavors time to distribute.
Recipe Tips
- Dice the turkey evenly – Chop the turkey pieces into small, bite-sized pieces that are all pretty even in size. This ensures that your salad is uniform and that you get a little bit of everything in each bite!
- Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes (if you have time!) – While the turkey salad is delicious served immediately, I like to let it chill in the fridge for 20 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld together!
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-cooked/diced turkey – This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover turkey you have already on hand. You can also get the pre-cooked and pre-chopped stuff from the store.
- Chop your veggies in advance or use pre-chopped – Dice your celery and red onion a day or two ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. That way it’s ready to go when you need it!
What to Serve with Turkey Salad
This protein-based meal is light and versatile. You can eat it by the forkful OR serve it up any way you like. And it will pair well with so many of your favorite side dishes!
Here are some easy way to serve this Turkey Salad:
- As a dip – Serve your turkey salad in a bowl with your favorite chips or crackers!
- On a sandwich – Keep it traditional by piling this turkey salad on your favorite sandwich bread—toasted or not!
- In a wrap – Load your salad up on your favorite tortilla with chopped lettuce and any fresh veggies you love for a delicious tortilla wrap.
- On a salad – Keep your meal extra light by simply serving it over a bed of lettuce.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Italian Grinder Pasta Salad – This Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is delicious paired with a Turkey Salad Sandwich. It’s packed full of pepperoni, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, pepperoncini peppers, and pasta in a delicious, creamy dressing.
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes – If you’re making this recipe with Thanksgiving leftovers, then pair it with any of your Thanksgiving sides. These Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes are a favorite—rich, creamy, buttery, garlicky, and delicious!
- Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Soup – This Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Soup is the perfect cozy side dish. It’s made with a colorful combination of roasted veggies and spices blended together to create a velvety, creamy soup.
Turkey Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I freeze turkey salad?
I don’t recommend it. Mayonnaise and fresh veggies can become watery when frozen and thawed. For the best flavor and texture, I recommend eating this fresh or just storing in the fridge.
More EASY Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy salad recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Chicken Tender Salad
- Rotisserie Chicken Salad
- Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad
- Famous Loaded Chicken Salad
Easy Turkey Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups diced turkey
- 1 cup finely diced celery stalks
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill, or 1 teaspoon fresh
Instructions
- Dice the turkey into small bite-sized pieces. Add to a large bowl with celery and onion.
- Combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and dill.
- Pour the mayonnaise mixture over the turkey and vegetables. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve immediately, or let chill until ready to eat.I like to chill it at least 20 minutes to let the flavors distribute a little, but it is already delicious as soon as you mix it together, so feel free to serve whenever you are ready to eat it.
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