This Turkey Cranberry Salad is the BEST way to use leftover turkey! Sweet cranberries, creamy cheese and crunchy sunflower seeds make it irresistible!
author’s note
Making My Bakery Favorite Even Better At Home!
Kneaders has always been a favorite spot of ours! They’re known for their fresh bread, soups, sandwiches, salads & desserts, and everything is SO good.
My family is obsessed with their French toast, but I almost always go for a salad or sandwich. And this Turkey Cranberry Salad is one of my favorites!
I love the combination of tender turkey, sweet cranberries, crunchy sunflower seeds & that creamy poppy seed dressing. It’s seriously SO good! And while the dressing I’m sharing isn’t exactly the healthiest, it tastes just like the real deal, which is exactly what I was going for!
This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey! If you have even more to use, try my Turkey Tetrazzini or Turkey Sliders.
Turkey Cranberry Salad Ingredients
| Ingredient | Tips & swaps |
|---|---|
| Mixed greens | Grab a container of mixed greens or swap in spinach. |
| Shredded turkey | Great for Thanksgiving leftovers! Rotisserie chicken works too. |
| Dried cranberries | Add the perfect sweet and tangy bite. |
| Sunflower seeds | Give the salad a delicious crunch. |
| Red onion | Slice thinly for a little flavor and color. |
| Mozzarella cheese | Freshly grate it for the best flavor. |
| Poppyseed dressing | Blend everything first, then stir in the poppy seeds. |
How To Make This Turkey Cranberry Salad
- Prep: Mix greens, turkey, cranberries, sunflower seeds, red onion, and mozzarella in a big bowl.
- Make the Poppyseed Dressing: Blend the dressing ingredients until smooth.
- Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the Turkey Cranberry Salad.
chelsea’s recipe tips
My Top Recipe Tips
- Protein: If you don’t have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, you can use roasted or grilled turkey or chicken breast.
- Red Onion: To make red onion taste milder, soak it in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and use.
- Poppy Seed Dressing: You can change the sweetness of the dressing by adding more or less sugar to your liking.
- Customize Toppings: Make this Turkey Cranberry Salad your own by adding toppings you like, such as nuts, avocado, or different cheeses.
Storage
Toss right before serving: To keep your Turkey Cranberry Salad fresh, dress it with the Poppy Seed Dressing just before serving. If you expect leftovers, store the salad and dressing separately.
More Delicious Salad Recipes:
Salads With Meat
Coconut Shrimp Salad
Salads
Costco Kale Salad
Salads With Meat
Applebee’s Chicken Salad
Salads
Sweet Potato Farro Salad
Turkey Cranberry Salad (Kneader’s Copycat)
Equipment
- Wide-mouth Mason Jar or other sealable container
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1-1/2 cups shredded turkey or chicken
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sunflower kernels
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion 1/4th of 1 onion, see note 1
- 3/4 cup Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese 2.5 ounces
- 2-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together salad greens, turkey or chicken, sunflower kernels, dried cranberries, shredded mozzarella, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients except poppy seeds in a small blender. Season to taste (I add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper). Blend until smooth and fully emulsified. Stir through poppy seeds. Transfer to a covered jar and chill until ready to use. Shake before using. Best made a day in advance!
- Dress the salad with the Poppy Seed Dressing right before serving. If you anticipate having leftovers, store the salad and dressing separately. Add dressing gradually to personal preference; you may not need/want to use it all at once.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks, Overall I liked the recipe, just not a big fan of canola so I went with EVOO. Next time would likely play with the seasonings just a bit and go with more of a Mediterranean flavor.
Yay! So happy you were able to make this work with your preferences! Thanks so much John! 🙂
This looks so good. Definitely going to make this with my leftover turkey!!
Awe thanks Carol!! I hope you love it! <3 Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Chelsea!
Was this your first content? I just listened to your podcast with Bjork on FBP. Kudos to you. And great job on your blog. See you around online.
Jocelyn
Thanks Jocelyn! Appreciate your support! No, this wasn’t my first post published. I believe the stuffed acorn squash on the site is!
This looks divine!! I LOVE salad and this is a great way to use some of that leftover turkey!
Thanks Aubri! 🙂
I am a vegetarian so I would omit the turkey but otherwise this looks like the perfect holiday detox meal!
Thanks Mallory!