FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• My Turkey Salad Recipe Is The Easiest Way To Use Up Leftovers
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Turkey Salad
• My Recipe Tips
• Turkey Salad Recipe (Easy in 10 Minutes) Recipe card
• Serving Ideas
• Recipe Reviews

My Turkey Salad Recipe Is The Easiest Way To Use Up Leftovers

After Thanksgiving, I’m always looking for ways to give our leftovers a second life, and this turkey salad recipe is one of my go-tos. It’s a lot like chicken salad , but with fall flavors that just make more sense this time of year. It’s fast, flexible, and just so good. Here’s why this turkey salad one of my best, easiest ways to use leftovers from the holiday:

• Sweet, savory, and crunchy – Every bite has something different going on: juicy turkey, crisp celery, tart cranberries, and that toasty crunch from the pecans. I love the balance and it works perfectly in sandwiches, wraps, or just by the spoonful.
• Zero cooking involved – Cooking is the last thing I want to do after a big Thanksgiving meal, so I love that I can throw this leftover turkey salad together in 10 minutes without the oven or stove. I’ve also made it with a air fryer turkey breast or Instant Pot turkey breast from smaller fall dinners.
• Ingredients you probably have – After a holiday dinner, I bet you have everything you need to make this. I always do.
• Great for meal prep – I’ve stashed this in the fridge for quick healthy lunches all week and it holds up really well.

So, if you’ve got leftover turkey to use up and don’t feel like cooking, make this turkey salad recipe with me. You’ll see why it’s one of my family’s post-Thanksgiving favorites!

“This was a delicious way to use turkey breast, that often is dry the next day. Can’t wait to try this on my lunch salad tomorrow.” –Patti

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my turkey salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Turkey – I usually make this with leftover Thanksgiving turkey after a big holiday, or sometimes leftover meat from roasted turkey breast , turkey wings , or turkey legs from regular fall dinners. I’ve even made it using pre-cooked turkey from the store. Feel free to use chicken, too!
• Vegetables – I love the crunch from celery and the mild bite of green onions , but you can totally make it your own. Bell peppers, shredded carrots, or even finely chopped kale all work great. It’s one of those clean-out-the-fridge salads that still feels fresh.
• Dried Cranberries – For color and sweetness that ties everything together. You can use my homemade dried cranberries or store-bought. For other sweet options, try chopped apples, pears, raisins, or grapes.
• Nuts – Pecans are my fave in this turkey salad, but walnuts, almonds, or even hazelnuts are great, too. For a nut-free option, swap in sunflower seeds or pepitas.
• Mayonnaise – I usually make my own mayo (it’s easier than it sounds!), but any store-bought brand works just fine. If you want to lighten it up a bit, plain Greek yogurt makes a great swap and still keeps this turkey salad recipe creamy.
• Dijon Mustard – It’s tangy, slightly spicy, and balances the richness of the mayo perfectly. For extra tang, squeeze in a bit of lemon juice.
• Seasonings – I kept it simple with fresh thyme , garlic powder , sea salt , and black pepper . Feel free to use other herbs, like dill or parsley, or add Italian seasoning for a deeper flavor.

How To Make Turkey Salad

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Combine the turkey, celery, cranberries, pecans, and green onions. Toss it all together in a large bowl.
2. Whisk the dressing. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the mayo, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper, until smooth and creamy.
3. Mix it up. Pour the dressing over the turkey salad recipe and stir until everything is coated well.

My Recipe Tips

• I recommend a combination of white meat and dark meat if possible. I’ve definitely made this turkey salad recipe with just one or the other, but the flavor is better with both together.
• To shred the turkey fast, use a hand mixer . I still start with two forks, but switch to the mixer once I’ve broken it up into a few larger pieces. Shredded turkey in seconds!
• Chop the pecans, celery, and green onions very small. I aim for about pea-sized pieces, so I get a little bit of everything in each bite.
• If you have time, chill before serving. This turkey cranberry salad tastes good right away, but it’s even better after an hour in the fridge. The flavors meld and the dressing thickens slightly.

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 3 cups Leftover turkey (shredded) ▢
• 2 stalks Celery (finely diced) ▢
• 1/3 cup Dried cranberries (I used homemade dried cranberries without sugar added, but any kind works) ▢
• 1/3 cup Pecans (chopped; or sunflower seeds for nut-free) ▢
• 2 medium Green onions (chopped) ▢

Dressing:

• 2/3 cup Mayonnaise ▢
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard ▢
• 1 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 2 tsp Fresh thyme ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. In a large bowl, add the shredded turkey, celery, cranberries, pecans, and green onions. Mix until combined.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, thyme leaves, sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix together until combined. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
4. Enjoy right away, or refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop further.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor and texture, plus my favorite shortcut.
• Storage & meal prep: Keep the turkey salad recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. The flavor gets even better after the first day.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Turkey Salad Recipe

Serving Ideas

I usually serve this turkey salad recipe in lettuce wraps (shown above) most often. After a big holiday, I want something lighter… and again, no-cook. You can also:

• Make a sandwich on your favorite bread, like my flaxseed bread or 90 second bread .
• Scoop it over arugula or spinach for a meal salad .
• Spread it on crackers for a crunchy, creamy snack. Try my flax crackers or almond flour crackers !
• Eat the turkey salad right out of the bowl with a spoon . Been there, done that, and no regrets.

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Turkey Salad Recipe (Easy in 10 Minutes)

My turkey salad recipe is creamy, crunchy, and easy to toss together in just 10 minutes. One of the easiest ways to use up leftover turkey!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/turkey-salad/

Ingredients

• 3 cups Leftover turkey (shredded)
• 2 stalks Celery (finely diced)
• 1/3 cup Dried cranberries (I used homemade dried cranberries without sugar added, but any kind works)
• 1/3 cup Pecans (chopped; or sunflower seeds for nut-free)
• 2 medium Green onions (chopped)

Dressing:

• 2/3 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 2 tsp Fresh thyme
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add the shredded turkey, celery, cranberries, pecans, and green onions. Mix until combined.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, thyme leaves, sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix together until combined. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
4. Enjoy right away, or refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop further.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor and texture, plus my favorite shortcut.
• Storage & meal prep: Keep the turkey salad recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. The flavor gets even better after the first day.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)