The Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad brings together tender turkey and crispy bacon with creamy avocado and fresh greens, topped off with the most amazing balsamic dressing!
Use deli or leftover Thanksgiving turkey for this salad. If you’ve got even more leftover turkey, check out our Turkey Tetrazzini, Turkey Salad, or Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich.
Reasons To Love This Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad:
- Flavorful: The mix of savory turkey, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado with a balsamic vinaigrette is unbeatable!
- Nutritious: Packed with lean protein, healthy fats, and fresh greens.
- Versatile Meal: Works as a lunch, side, or main.
- Easy to Prepare: Simple to assemble, especially with pre-cooked proteins.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable to include your favorites!
Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad Ingredients
- Turkey: Use leftover turkey or roast chicken.
- Romaine: Be sure to dry well after washing. We love this Salad Spinner!
- Red Onion: Slice thinly; soak in cold water for milder flavor.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Adds sweetness and juiciness.
- Cucumbers: Use salad or Persian cucumbers for crunch.
- Avocado: Opt for ripe but still slightly firm avocados.
- Bacon: Crisp it up and chop!
Salad Dressing
- Balsamic Vinegar: Choose a good quality balsamic for depth.
- Garlic Powder, Pepper: Adjust these seasonings to taste. The pepper makes all the difference!
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin for the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar: A little sweetness to balance the sharpness.
Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad Recipe Tips
- Prep your veggies and cook the bacon ahead of time for quicker assembly.
- Taste and adjust the dressing to your liking.
- Add avocado just before serving to prevent browning; a bit of lemon juice helps too.
- Keep the dressing on the side if not serving immediately to keep greens crisp.
- Feel free to add extras like cheese or nuts for added texture and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Rolls or Crusty Bread: For a nice hearty component.
- Light Soup: Like tomato basil or vegetable minestrone.
- Quiche or Frittata: Offers a warm, savory complement.
- Fresh Fruit: For a sweet, refreshing side.
- Chips or Fries: For some nice crunch & saltiness.
Storage
Toss Just Before Serving: To keep your Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad fresh, dress it with the balsamic dressing just before serving. If you expect leftovers, store the salad, avocado, and dressing separately.
More Favorite Salads:
- Sweet Potato Salad
- Coconut Shrimp Salad
- Costco Kale Salad
- Turkey Taco Salad
- Kale Cranberry Pecan Salad
Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad
The Turkey Bacon Avocado Salad brings together tender turkey and crispy bacon with creamy avocado and fresh greens, topped off with the most amazing balsamic dressing!
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups leftover pulled/shredded turkey (or rotisserie chicken)
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (Note 1)
- 1/4 of 1 red onion, thinly sliced (1/2 cup) (Note 2)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (5 oz)
- 1 cup salad cucumbers, cut to half moons (2 small)
- 1 large avocado, cut to bite-sized pieces
- 2.5 oz bacon, cooked until crisp & chopped or use microwave bacon (optional)
Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 teaspoons light brown sugar, not packed
- 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Fine sea salt & pepper
Instructions
- PREP: If using bacon, cook it until crisp and then chop it. Prepare the romaine (chop, wash, very thoroughly dry). Prep veggies by slicing the red onion, halving the tomatoes, and cutting the cucumbers into half-moons. Also, chop the avocado into bite-sized pieces.
- DRESSING: Combine all of the ingredients into a small blender jar/bottle. Season to taste (I add 1/2 tsp salt & 3/4 tsp pepper). Blend until smooth and emulsified. Transfer to mason jar and refrigerate until ready to use. Shake well again before using.
- ASSEMBLE: Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
- ENJOY: If you anticipate having leftovers, store the salad and dressing separately. Right before serving, add dressing to salad. Add dressing gradually and to personal preference; you may not need/want to use it all at once.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: If washing the lettuce, be sure to thoroughly dry lettuce before using.
Note 2: To remove the "bite" of red onion, soak it in cold water for about 10 minutes, then drain and use as desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 519kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.4g | Protein: 14.1g | Fat: 46.3g | Cholesterol: 43.5mg | Sodium: 180.5mg | Fiber: 6.2g | Sugar: 7.6g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
