Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts

This Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts is a vibrant and flavourful way to transform holiday leftovers into something new and delicious. Combining tender roasted turkey, caramelized onions, chestnuts, and cranberries, this holiday leftover turkey salad is savoury, slightly sweet, and wonderfully festive – perfect for an easy post-holiday meal.

Hey, folks – I hope you are doing well!

After all the holiday feasts, it’s always nice to have a simple recipe that uses up what’s left in the fridge but still feels special. This Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts does just that – cozy, quick, and bursting with seasonal flavour. So, let’s dive into this holiday leftover turkey salad.

Why You’ll Love This Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts

• Perfect for leftovers: A creative, delicious way to use extra roasted turkey from the holidays.
• Festive and flavourful: Cranberries, herbs, and chestnuts add warmth and a seasonal twist.
• Quick and easy: Ready in about 20 minutes, using one pan and simple ingredients.
• Flexible: Great warm or at room temperature, served on salad greens or as a light main.

Flavour and Texture Profile

This salad is all about contrasts – tender turkey, buttery chestnuts, tart cranberries, and a touch of sweetness from balsamic glaze or honey. The caramelized onions add depth, while rosemary, thyme, and a hint of chipotle bring balance and gentle warmth. The result is a dish that tastes festive yet feels light and fresh, ideal for those cozy days between Christmas and New Year.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Holiday Leftover Cranberry Turkey Salad

To make this holiday turkey salad, you’ll need a handful of simple, seasonal ingredients that balance savoury and sweet flavours beautifully:

• Turkey: Use leftover roasted or smoked turkey breast, shredded.
• Cranberries: Both fresh and dried add tartness and textural contrast.
• Chestnuts: Add buttery, nutty texture and festive warmth. I used cooked, vacuumed-packed chestnuts.
• Red onions: Provide a sweet and savoury base for the salad.
• Butter (or olive oil): Adds richness and helps caramelize the onions.
• Balsamic glaze or honey: Brings gentle sweetness and shine.
• Herbs (rosemary and thyme): Infuse aromatic depth and seasonal flavour.
• Smoked paprika and chipotle: Add subtle warmth and smoky depth.
• Cointreau (optional): Enhances cranberry and chestnut flavours with a bright orange note.

How to Make Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts

Making this holiday leftover turkey salad is quick and easy – just one pan and a few simple steps bring all the festive flavours together.

Cook onions in butter over medium heat until soft and lightly caramelized. Stir in the turkey, chestnuts, herbs, and spices, and cook for a few minutes. Add cranberries, balsamic glaze (or honey), and remaining butter, and simmer briefly until the mixture turns juicy and rich. Optionally, stir in Cointreau for a bright finish. Serve warm over a bed of fresh salad greens.

Try More Festive Holiday Starters Ideas

Are you looking for more fun, holiday starters, just like this festive salad recipe? Be sure to check more exciting recipes:

• Festive Pear Chestnut Bruschetta with Prosciutto and Pomegranate
• Persimmon Pomegranate Walnut Salad with Honey Dressing
• Brie Lingonberry Jam Crostini – A Festive Holiday Appetizer
• Christmas Lingonberry Brie Naan Pizza: A Festive Appetizer
• Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites – A Festive Holiday Appetizer

I’d love for you to try this Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts. If you give this holiday appetizer recipe a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts!

Cheers!

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Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Festive Cheese and Appetizers, Slaws and All-Season Salads, Chestnut RecipesDifficulty: Easy

This Holiday Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Chestnuts is savoury, bright, and festive – perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Servings

2-6

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. butter, divided (or olive oil for a healthy version)

• 2 medium red onions, thinly sliced

• 150-200 gr. cooked and peeled chestnuts, roughly crumbled

• 200-250 gr. roasted turkey breasts (See notes), shredded

• 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary

• 1 tsp. fresh thyme

• 2/3 to 1 cup fresh (or frozen) cranberries

• 1/4 cup dried cranberries

• salt, if necessary and per your taste

• 1 tsp. balsamic glaze or honey

• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

• 1/4 tsp. chipotle powder

• 1-2 tbsp. Cointreau or other orange liquor (optional)

• spinach, arugula or other salad of your choice

Directions

• Into a medium-large pan add 2 tbsp. of butter and cook the onions over medium heat for about 7-10 minutes until soft and translucent and just starting to caramelize.
• Stir in the turkey, chestnuts, herbs, and seasonings and cook 2-3 minutes.
• Add the cranberries, balsamic glaze (or honey), and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Cook for about 5 minutes, until juicy and rich, trying not to mix the mixture too often (The turkey could break into flakes.)
• Optionally add 1-2 tbsp. of orange liquor and turn the heat off after 20-30 seconds.
• Serve the salad warm with salad leaves of your choice.

Notes

• You can definitely use other parts of turkey. You will need to discard the skin and I would also suggest decreasing the amount of butter.