This leftover turkey salad is the perfect way to give your holiday leftovers a new life. With a refreshing combination of sweet grapes, crunchy pecans, and the zesty kick of curry, this salad one of my favorite ways to put leftover roasted turkey to good use. Whether you’re looking for a light meal, an appetizer, or a satisfying sandwich filling, this recipe will quickly become a favorite for making the most of your leftover meat.
While Thanksgiving dinner is always a highlight of the holiday season, I’ve come to appreciate the Thanksgiving leftovers almost as much as the main meal itself. I start thinking about how to use the leftovers even before the table is cleared. One recipe that’s always at the top of my list is this turkey salad with grapes. It's a great way to turn those extra servings of turkey into something fresh and exciting. The combination of tender turkey, crunchy pecans, and sweet grapes is the perfect balance, and the subtle kick of curry adds just the right touch of flavor. After all the indulgent, carb-heavy dishes from the holiday spread, this salad feels like a refreshing change.
What I love most about this leftover Thanksgiving turkey salad is how versatile it is. It’s just as easy to serve on a bed of lettuce for a perfect lunch as it is to spread on a sandwich or pair with crackers for a more casual snack. The best part is that it’s hearty enough to serve as a simple, satisfying dinner. I’m always looking for a little break from the kitchen once the big meals are behind me, and this easy leftover turkey salad gives me just that. It’s a go-to for keeping things deliciously simple.
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Ingredients
- Leftover Turkey – Use any leftover juicy turkey (such as my Dutch Oven Turkey Breast) chopped into bite-sized pieces. You can substitute leftover chicken if preferred.
- Grapes – Choose seedless red or green grapes. Cut them in half for easy mixing.
- Pecans – Use raw or toasted pecans for crunch. Toast them in a dry skillet for a few minutes if desired.
- Celery – Fresh, crisp celery adds crunch. Chop into small pieces.
- Mayonnaise – Use high-quality mayonnaise, or substitute with Greek yogurt for a tangy twist.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice brightens the flavors and is preferred over bottled lemon juice.
- Curry Powder – Use mild curry powder or substitute with paprika for a different flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Turkey Salad with Grapes
- Step 1: Add chopped turkey, grapes, pecans, chopped celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder to a large bowl.
- Step 2: Mix well then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Hint: If you're not a fan of curry, leave it out or try substituting with paprika or even a little dijon mustard for a different flavor profile.
Variations
- Add Dried Cranberries – For a tart, sweet contrast to the grapes, swap in dried cranberries.
- Swap Mayonnaise for Greek Yogurt – For a lighter option, use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a creamy, tangy twist.
- Use Roasted Chicken – If you don’t have turkey leftovers, roasted or rotisserie chicken makes a great substitute.
- Try Different Nuts – Swap pecans for walnuts, almonds, or cashews for a different flavor and texture.
- Add Onions and Fresh Herbs - Chopped green onions or red onion and fresh herbs like parsley add a crunchy and flavorful zip to the salad.
- Add Chopped Apples – For extra crunch and sweetness, mix in some chopped apples along with the grapes.
- Use a Vinaigrette – Replace the mayonnaise with a light vinaigrette for a fresher, lighter dressing.
- Spicy Kick – Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder for a little heat to balance the sweetness.
If you like this recipe, also try my Chicken and Quinoa Salad or Rainbow Greek Chicken Salad.
Storage
Store leftover turkey salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Top Tips
- Cut the turkey meat into uniform pieces for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Adjust the amount of grapes and pecans to get the perfect mix of sweet and crunchy.
- Season with salt, pepper, and curry powder gradually, tasting after each addition to ensure the flavors are balanced.
- This salad can be made a day ahead; just keep it refrigerated until ready to serve.
- For a refreshing taste, chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this turkey salad in lettuce cups, with crackers or on slices of multigrain bread or leftover dinner rolls for a delicious sandwich.
When I serve turkey salad sandwiches, I pair it with air fryer sweet potato fries or breaded oven fried zucchini for a delicious lunch or dinner.
FAQ
Yes, leftover chicken breast can be used as a substitute for turkey in this salad.
Yes, the homemade turkey salad itself is gluten-free. Just be mindful of the bread or crackers you serve it with to ensure they are gluten-free if needed.
Related
Looking for more recipes using leftover turkey or chicken? Try these:
If you like this Leftover Turkey Salad recipe, please leave a 5-star rating.
RECIPE
Leftover Turkey Salad with Grapes
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover chopped turkey
- 1 ½ cups red or green seedless grapes cut in half
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 2 medium stalks of celery chopped
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix toegether chopped turkey, grapes, pecans, chopped celery, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder. Mix well then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Mary says
Another nice recipe, Lisa. This would make a wonderful lunch.
Leslie says
EIGHT pounds of turkey????My word girl!!
Love the turkey salad
Stacey Snacks says
Lis,
I haven't thought about my herb turkey breast since the winter.
Can't wait to make it again!
and the sandwiches the next day are the BEST! Ask Marie from Proud Italian Cook, I think they had enough turkey for a week!
Glad your hubby got on the turkey breast train!
That Girl says
Turkey salad is good - but turkey soup is my favorite way to use up a leftover roast.
The Japanese Redneck says
Looks good. I need to try that turkey breast recipe too.
Ramona
Juliana says
Wow, this turkey salad looks yummie! Like the idea of using turkey. Nice pictures!
teresa says
this looks so good, i'm going to pull this one out the day after thanksgiving!
Chef Jeena says
This is great Lisa I love a good tasty salad like this.
The Blonde Duck says
That looks awesome!
lisaiscooking says
Two great inspirations for a delicious salad! I have to try Stacey's roasting method.
Jerri says
Great recipe. This looks delicious!
Adam says
Great job on the turkey salad. Turkey is my favorite protein, and I think your version works great with it. 8 lbs is a serious amount of bird 🙂 Thanks for the shout out, I hope your summer is going awesome.
John says
This really looks good...I can't wait to taste it!
Debbie says
I've made a Curried Chicken salad but not turkey. I love turkey and will have to try this. It sounds great Lisa!
Clumbsy Cookie says
That's a gorgeous turkey breast! And using the leftovers in a salad is great, I do the same often!
Aggie says
This looks great Lisa!! You've got me wanting to roast a turkey breast now (when I get back from vacation). What an awesome salad, love curry!
Emily says
Good idea. I've been thinking all night about how good curry sounded. I would need help cooking the turkey breast though.
Bridgett says
I love the flavor of curry and it goes perfectly with the chicken. I like the addition of the grapes to balance out the spice. Great recipe!
Bridgett says
oops, I meant turkey! Sorry Lisa!
EAT! says
When I was working at a gourmet market, we made a curry chicken salad similar to this recipe. I haven't made it in a few years so I will be giving your recipe a try!
Lauren says
This sounds like a great and simple Chicken Salad Recipe. I am always on the go so simple recipes like this that i can prepare for a quick dinner and even bring for lunch the next day are so convenient. I work with Better Recipes but its always great to just browse around for new ideas to spice up the usually chicken salad.