This turkey cranberry salad is a meaty, creamy, delicious version of chicken salad loaded with tender shredded turkey, crunchy onions, celery, and pecans, apple cider vinegar, and cranberries. It’s a rich, creamy taste of the holidays in every bite!
I love cooking with turkey. From roasted turkey with crispy skin to better-for-me turkey BBQ turkey meatloaf, turkey is always at the top of my list when it comes to proteins. One of my favorite ways of using turkey is creating new, delicious dishes with leftovers.
Over the years, I’ve made all kinds of dishes, but one that I always love and that everyone always asks for is my turkey cranberry salad. It’s a twist on traditional chicken salad with tons of holiday flavor, and it’s just as easy to make!
Turkey and cranberry salad is a classic combination that is perfect for using up leftover turkey after holidays like Thanksgiving. The tart cranberries pair beautifully with the savory turkey meat to create a flavorful and hearty salad. In this article, we’ll explore some tips for making turkey cranberry salad as well as provide a few recipe ideas to try.
Why Turkey and Cranberries Make a Great Salad
Turkey and cranberries are a natural pairing because their flavors complement each other so well. The mild flavor of turkey is enhanced by the tangy sweet-tartness of cranberries. Here are some of the reasons this combination works so well:
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Flavor contrast – The savory meatiness of turkey balances out the tartness of the berries. Neither flavor overpowers the other
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Texture – Diced turkey provides chewiness while cranberries add juicy pops of sweetness. Toasted nuts can be added for crunch.
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Color – The red of cranberries looks festive against the beige turkey meat. Adding in some green herbs brightens it up even more.
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Nutrition – Turkey provides lean protein while cranberries offer antioxidants like vitamin C. Together they make a nutrient-dense salad.
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Leftover use – Turkey cranberry salad is the perfect way to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers into something new.
Tips for Making Turkey Cranberry Salad
Making a great turkey cranberry salad is easy to do. Here are some tips:
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Use both white and dark turkey meat for balance. The white meat is milder while the dark adds more flavor.
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Toast the nuts before adding for extra crunch and flavor. Almonds, walnuts and pecans all pair well.
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Add celery or apple for extra crunch and nutrition. Diced celery or apple chunks add pleasant texture.
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Use fresh herbs like parsley, thyme or sage to lend bright, aromatic flavors. Dried herbs also work in a pinch.
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Make a creamy dressing with mayo, Greek yogurt or avocado. This coats the salad and adds moisture.
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Sweeten with a little honey if the cranberries are very tart. The honey rounds out the flavors.
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Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to heighten the flavors. Acidic lemon brightens up the salad.
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Chop the ingredients into bite-size pieces for an evenly distributed salad.
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Chill the salad before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
3 Tasty Turkey Cranberry Salad Recipes
Here are a few favorite turkey cranberry salad recipes to try:
1. Classic Turkey Cranberry Salad
The traditional version pairs leftover turkey with dried cranberries, celery, toasted nuts and a creamy dressing. It makes the perfect sandwich filling or light meal.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups chopped cooked turkey (mix of white and dark meat)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup toasted almonds or pecans, chopped
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together the turkey, cranberries, nuts and celery.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Add the dressing to the turkey mixture and stir to coat evenly.
- Chill salad for 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
2. Harvest Turkey Cranberry Salad
This version includes fresh herbs, green apple, red onion and a tangy yogurt dressing for extra flavor.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 1 Granny Smith apple, diced
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp chopped red onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together the turkey, cranberries, pecans, apple and parsley.
- In a small bowl, make the dressing by whisking together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey and onion. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over salad and stir to coat evenly.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
3. Curry Turkey Cranberry Salad
For exotic flavor, add mild curry powder and golden raisins to the mix.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup roasted unsalted cashews, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp mild curry powder
- 1 Tbsp honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together the turkey, cranberries, raisins, cashews and celery.
- In a small bowl, make the dressing by whisking together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder and honey. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add dressing to the turkey mixture and stir to coat evenly.
- Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Enjoy Your Turkey Cranberry Creation
Turkey cranberry salad is endlessly adaptable, so feel free to get creative with ingredients. The tart cranberries paired with savory turkey never disappoints. Making good use of leftover turkey has never tasted so good. Now that you’ve got some tips and recipes, you’re all set to create your own perfect turkey cranberry salad masterpiece.
Try This Turkey Cranberry Salad Today
With its rich, creamy dressing and all the flavors of the holidays, this delicious turkey cranberry salad is a great way to use up Thanksgiving and Christmas leftovers. BUT it’s also perfect for leftover turkey breast. While synonymous with the holidays, the cranberries and nuts in this dressing make for a tasty flavor profile you can enjoy all year long. Give this one a try, and I know you’ll love it.
What to Serve with This Turkey Cranberry Salad Recipe
If you’re serving this salad on a sandwich, pair it with flavorful sides like fried onion strings, macaroni and cheese, or creamy coleslaw.
For dessert, keep the holiday flavors going with caramel apple pecan cobbler or pumpkin cheesecake.
- Warm up your turkey before shredding to make things easier. Warm meat shreds easily, while cold meat is very difficult to shred.
- Mix your dressing ingredients first, so they’re thoroughly combined when you add the solid ingredients.
- Never refrigerate constructed sandwiches. If possible, store your turkey cranberry salad in the refrigerator separate from your bread.
- Be extremely careful when chopping the cranberries. Those suckers roll!
If you’ve stored your salad, this is a normal thing. The liquid from the chopped vegetables leech into the salad over time. Just give it a good stir. If you didn’t fully defrost frozen cranberries, they could make your turkey salad watery as the finish defrosting while mixed into it.
Unless you have excellent knife skills, the safest way to chop cranberries is in a food processor or mini-chopper. Cranberries’ round shape makes them difficult to wrangle and chop at the same time.
That’s largely dependent on how old the turkey was when you made the salad. Turkey can be safely refrigerated for three days. So subtract the number of days the turkey was refrigerated before making the salad from three. That’s how long you can safely store it.
You sure can! Leftover holiday turkey works well, but so does leftover turkey breast.
How I make Cranberry, Pecan Turkey Salad
FAQ
Does cranberry go with turkey?
Cranberry Sauce Is Perfect with Thanksgiving Turkey
Something about the flavors, they’re just made for each other. Which is why the sauce is so good to spread over turkey in your leftover turkey sandwiches. The following is a simple and easy recipe for cranberry sauce, one that you can easily dress up with extras.
Can you eat raw cranberries in a salad?
The bottom line. Cranberries are more than just the makings of a sweet sauce. You can add them to smoothies or salads, or eat them whole.Jul 21, 2021
Why do people eat cranberry with turkey?
Flavor Contrast: The tartness of cranberry sauce contrasts with the savory and rich flavors of turkey, enhancing the overall taste of the meal. This balance of sweet and tart helps to cut through the richness of the meat.
What goes in turkey salad?
- Turkey: This simple recipe starts with cooked turkey meat.
- Vegetables: You’ll need celery, green onions, and a red bell pepper.
- Mayo and mustard: Mayonnaise and prepared Dijon-style mustard add creaminess and flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar lends a touch of welcome acidity.
What is turkey cranberry salad?
Turkey salad that is creamy, flavorful, with delicious bites of cranberries. It is truly that simple! Turkey cranberry salad is so versatile and there are so many ways you can serve it. If you are like me and get tired of eating the same thing the same way every time, here are some fun ways to serve this Turkey Cranberry Salad:
What goes well with cranberries in a Turkey salad?
The cranberries add a bit of a sweet and tart kick to the salad, and the walnuts and celery add a great crunch. The parsley adds speckles of green (which makes it super festive and pretty paired with the red cranberries). It’s the PERFECT turkey salad!
What to do with leftover turkey cranberries?
A turkey cranberry salad like this adds both savory and sweet flavors, which, in my opinion, is the perfect salad! This turkey salad with cranberries will use up quite a bit of your leftover turkey but will also leave plenty of turkey for all your other favorite leftover dishes.
How do you make a healthy cranberry salad?
Made this with smoked turkey, did not measure anything, added cranberry sauce with whole cranberry’s in it. Along with the celery, a sweet onion, sliced almonds and mayonnaise. It is so good ! This is a wonderful & healthy salad ! I’m so glad I came upon this recipe! The cranberries give a nice touch of sweetness to the salad.
How many calories are in turkey cranberry salad?
Heb Cranberry Pecan Turkey Salad (0.5 cup) contains 10g total carbs, 9g net carbs, 23g fat, 11g protein, and 290 calories. How many calories are in Kneaders turkey cranberry salad? 1 Salad of turkey cranberry sunflower salad (Kneaders) contains 340 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 29% carbs, 46% fat, and 25% protein.
How do you make a turkey sandwich with cranberries?
1: Mix the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Then, add the shredded turkey to the mixture and stir. 2: Add the cranberries, red onions, chopped pecans, and celery, and stir again to combine. 3: Cover and chill until ready to serve. 4: Serve on croissants or with your favorite crackers.