This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
When the holiday is over and your fridge is full of leftovers, this Leftover Turkey Salad is the recipe you’ll want to make first. It’s fresh, crunchy, and full of fall flavor from crisp apple, pecans, and a light, creamy dressing. Forget another heavy plate of leftovers; this salad is exactly what you’ll crave the next day.
Krissy’s Notes
I’m one of those people who’d rather have too much food than risk running out, so leftovers are basically a given at my house. Once the big meal is over, I love reinventing turkey into something completely new, and this turkey salad recipe is one of my favorites.
It reminds me of a classic Waldorf salad but heartier and a little fresher. The sweet apple, crunchy celery, and toasty pecans make every bite perfectly balanced.
If you’ve still got leftovers, you can also turn your holiday meal into something special with my Turkey and Wild Rice Soup or Turkey Pot Pie.
What You’ll Need To Make It
You can find all the exact quantities in the recipe card below, but here’s what makes this salad great.
You’ll need cooked turkey, apple, celery, green onions, pecans, parsley, and fresh thyme. For the dressing I swap the usual all-mayo dressing for Greek yogurt (or a mix of both) because it adds tang without being heavy.
The apple and celery give it that fresh crunch, while the pecans add the perfect touch of nutty sweetness.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Salad
Full instructions are in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick overview.
Chop the turkey, apple, celery, green onions, and herbs. Toss everything together in a large bowl, then mix in the yogurt or mayo until well coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. That’s it! You can eat it right away, but it tastes even better after chilling for an hour.
Serve it with crackers, on a bed of greens, or tucked into a croissant for an easy lunch.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating
To make ahead: This salad actually gets better as it sits. Make it a few hours or even a day in advance so the flavors can blend.
To store: Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.
To serve: Serve chilled or at room temperature. It’s perfect for quick lunches, picnics, or an easy post-holiday snack.
Learn From Me
I’ve made this leftover turkey salad recipe countless times, and it’s always a hit. The key is to use good-quality turkey. A combination of dark and white meat together give the best texture. And don’t skip the apple; it keeps the salad bright and fresh.
If you’re feeling creative, try using avocado instead of or in addition to mayo or yogurt. One reader asked if it would work, and the answer is yes—it’s fantastic!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the reader questions I’ve gotten about this recipe with my responses.
Yes! This recipe works beautifully with shredded rotisserie chicken or even leftover roasted chicken.
Honeycrisp is my top choice. It’s crisp, sweet, and holds up perfectly in the dressing. Pink lady is firm and flavorful but might be too tart for this recipe. Fuji or Gala both have neutral flavors and therefore also work well.
Absolutely. Either use mayonnaise or swap the Greek yogurt for mashed avocado.
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin ItLeftover Turkey Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked turkey chopped
- 3 green onions with the whites and start of the greens sliced
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 sprigs parsley stems removed, diced
- 1 small apple chopped (skin on, honey crisp recommended)
- 1/4 cup raw pecans
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme if using dried, reduce amount by half
- 1 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise or a combination of both
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the yogurt/mayonnaise in large bowl and stir to combine.4 cups cooked turkey, 3 green onions, 2 stalks celery, 2 sprigs parsley, 1 small apple, 1/4 cup raw pecans, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- Add 1 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise and mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My whole family loved this turkey salad! Perfect use of leftovers!
Such a great idea. I am saving for later. We always have so much turkey left over so this is a perfect idea.
I’m always looking for things to do with extra turkey around this time of year. Such a great recipe!
Oh my gosh this looks amazing! Thanks so much!
Mmm I’m going to save this recipe for the leftover turkey after Christmas!! I love that you added apple! Do you think this could work well with avocado instead of mayo?
Great question! Avocado would be perfect in this recipe.
This was delicious and enabled me to use up most of my leftover turkey. I had no scallions so just used some onion powder and also threw in a handful of chopped pecans.
This is amazing!!!!! Thank you so much!
Easy and delicious!!!
This was really good!! Bought turkey so I could make it again.
I just love this recipe I’m going to try with my Turkey leftovers I shared your recipes and mentioned you in the post at my blog http://countrymotheronabudget.blogspot.com/2016/11/leftover-turkey-salad.html