Leftover Turkey Recipes: Easy Turkey Salas with Cranberries and Pecans (2024)

This Turkey Salad Recipe with Cranberries and Pecans is the perfect way to use up leftover turkey. Plus, the taste and flavor of this salad are so yummy, you’ll want to make it again and again!

Turkey Salad with Cranberry and Pecans

Of all the Turkey Salad recipes, this one is my very favorite recipe to use up leftover turkey.

I’m not the best judge when it comes to knowing what size turkey to get during the holidays. (who is?!) My game plan when picking out a turkey is always to find the biggest one I can find and hope for lots of leftovers!

There are tons of great ways to use leftover turkey other than in just regular turkey sandwiches. (I even have a few on my site – Jambalaya, a lightened up Turkey Tetrazzini, and Cobb salad to name a few.)

Every time I make this turkey salad with cranberries and pecans, I remember how much we all love it!

I think what I like most about this recipe is how the sweetness of the cranberries and the crunch of the pecans go so well with the turkey and it always leaves me wanting another bite…or two.

My family might complainwhen I serve leftovers, but NO ONE complains when I make up this delicious leftover turkey salad recipe. No one. And in my book, that’s a bonafide cooking win.

Turkey Salad Recipe Variations

This recipe is great because of is how flexible it is.

-Yes, you can use chicken instead of turkey.

-Don’t have cranberries on hand? Yes, use grapes instead!

-Hate pecans? Yes, use walnuts or leave the nuts out altogether!

-Low carb? Serve it in a lettuce cup or over an avocado.

Should I use Miracle Whip or Mayo in this Turkey Salad?

Miracle Whip vs Mayo… The age-old debate.

So this is truly up to you. If you want to make the recipe taste as it is intended to taste, use Miracle Whip since this turkey salad with cranberries is intended to be on the slightly sweet side.

Now, of course, there are people out there who are all mayo all the time.

That’s fine too, use mayo. (Especially if you are trying to stay low carb/keto. If you’re sugar-free and want the sweet flavor of Miracle Whip, just add a package of your favorite sweetener when putting the salad together.)

Is Turkey Salad Keto Friendly?

The short answer? This particular recipe made with Miracle Whip and dried cranberries is not the keto friendliest recipe.

But to make this turkey salad recipe keto-friendly, switch the Miracle Whip with mayo and replace the cranberries with just a few quartered grapes and your Turkey Salad just became Keto friendly!

What Ingredients are in this Turkey Salad Recipe?

Think you might want to try this recipe? Add the following ingredients to your grocery list:

• Turkey (I recommend mostly using white meat)
• Dried cranberries or Craisins
• Miracle Whip (or mayo)
• celery
• poppy seeds
• pecans

How to Make Turkey Salad

This turkey salad is so easy to make, you’ll love it! I have given specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card below, but you should know, I don’t ever actually measure them when I make it for myself – this is one of those recipes I just add stuff in by the handful, tasting as I go.

So if you are someone who likes lots of nuts or celery or not very much Miracle Whip, feel free to go by taste as well. (All though I did make a special version today and carefully measured every ingredient just for the recipe card.)

1. To put the turkey salad together, first, dice your leftover turkey into pieces and add to a mixing bowl.
2. Add in the Miracle Whip and combine till the turkey is fully coated.
3. Then add in the celery, pecans, cranberries. Sprinkle in some poppy seeds and add salt and pepper to taste.
4. You can serve right away on sandwich rolls or lettuce cups. For best flavor though, I do recommend letting the turkey salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This will help all the flavors meld together.

How Long will Turkey Salad last in the Fridge?

Properly stored, this turkey salad recipe will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

So grab that container of leftover turkey and your favorite sandwich topping and get to work on this oh-so-yummy Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Pecans!

Have more Holiday Leftovers? Check out these recipes:

• Leftover Cranberry Sauce Hand Pies
• Leftover Pie Crust Cookies
• Leftover Sweet Potato Casserole Pancakes
• Savory Leftover Stuffing Cakes
• Leftover Mashed Potato Soup (coming soon)

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