If you're a fan of the classic club sandwich, you will love this Turkey Club Salad. With lean turkey breast, crispy bacon, toasted walnuts and pomegranate, it's a hearty and satisfying main meal salad and it's delicious!
You can never have too many leftover turkey recipes, and this turkey club salad is ideal for using up those leftovers. Who doesn't love easy recipes after all the work of cooking a big feast?
But, even if you don't have leftover turkey, you can find oven roasted turkey in the deli department of your grocery store.
This post was originally created in partnership with Canadian Turkey. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Why This Recipe Works
- A club salad is a low carb choice if you love club sandwiches.
- Turkey breast salad is a delicious way to use up turkey leftovers.
- This turkey salad recipe is quick and easy to make with just a few ingredients.
- Turkey is a nutritious lean protein, and using it in this unique salad recipe is a great way to get back on track after big holiday feasts.
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Ingredient Notes
For the Salad
- Turkey Use leftover turkey breast, or use pre-cooked roast turkey from the deli.
- Bacon Regular bacon or turkey bacon. Cook your bacon in the oven for easy cleanup.
- Arugula Arugula has a peppery flavour that really compliments the sweet and smoky flavours in this turkey salad. However, any salad greens will work. Romaine, or spring mix are also great.
- Walnuts Toast your walnuts if yours are not purchased already toasted.
- Pomegranate Pomegranate is the special ingredient! You will use both the arils (seeds) and juice.
For the Salad Dressing
- Olive oil Extra virgin olive oil is always an excellent for salads. However, walnut oil would be another delicious choice.
- Honey
- Lime Juice You'll need the juice of one lime, or use lemon juice if that's what you have.
- Pomegranate Juice
- Seasoning Simply salt and pepper, with an optional pinch of chili flakes
Putting the Salad Together
- Toast the Walnuts and set aside.
- Cut the pomegranate in half and juice it by squeezing each half into a strainer over a bowl.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl, or shake them in a jar.
- Divide the arugula between four plates.
- Divide the turkey over each plate.
- Then the bacon.
- And the walnuts...
- Finally, top with pomegranate seeds and drizzle each salad with the dressing.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Keep ingredients separate until serving.
- Try cooking bacon in the oven for easy cleanup. Just lay the slices on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes. You'll have perfectly crisp bacon with no spattered grease.
- For this turkey salad I used turkey breast slices, but you can use dark turkey meat or a combination.
- If you can't find a fresh pomegranate, you can use dried pomegranate seeds, along with pomegranate juice.
- Pomegranate seeds really make this club salad, but you can also use dried cranberries, and cranberry juice to make an equally delicious turkey cranberry salad.
- This can easily be a chicken salad if you don't have turkey.
- Ham can be used in place of the bacon, especially if you have leftovers of that as well.
- You can substitute pecans or any other nuts for the walnuts.
- Other ingredients you can add are ripe avocado slices, fresh tomatoes or red onion.
Still Have Leftover Turkey?
You can use leftover turkey in more delicious recipes! Besides this leftover turkey salad recipe, try it in tacos: Turkey Tacos with Mango Salsa, nachos, Leftover Turkey Nachos and soups: Buckwheat Soup with Turkey, Sweet Potato & Kale. Or try a casserole like this Sweet Potato Apple Turkey Bake.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important!
Recipe
Turkey Club Salad
Turkey Club Salad with pomegranate, bacon and walnuts is an easy and nutritious whole meal salad. And it's a delicious way to use leftover turkey.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 482kcal
Ingredients
Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lime juice of
- 1 pomegranate juice of
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 4 cups arugula
- ½ lb cooked turkey breast sliced into strips
- 8 bacon strips cooked to just crisp and sliced into thin strips
- ½ cup walnuts chopped and toasted
- Seeds of one pomegranate about 1 cup
Instructions
Prep
- Toast walnuts by spreading in a non-stick pan on the stovetop over low heat for 15 - 20 minutes. Give the pan a shake every now and again for even toasting. When the nuts are very warm, fragrant, and slightly golden, remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Cook bacon until just crisp, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and allow to cool. When cooled, slice into thin strips.
- Cut the pomegranate in half, and squeeze the cut halves over a bowl, using a strainer or squeezing through your fingers to keep the seeds from falling into the juice.
- Squeeze the pomegranate seeds into another bowl, removing any pulp
Vinaigrette
- Put all ingredients into a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine, or use a blender or immersion blender to emulsify it, about thirty seconds. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Salad
- Divide arugula between 4 plates and add turkey, bacon and walnuts. Scatter pomegranate seeds over each plate and drizzle with vinaigrette.
Notes
- Keep ingredients separate until serving.
- Try cooking bacon in the oven for easy cleanup. Just lay the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes. You'll have perfectly crisp bacon with no spattered grease.
- If you can't find a fresh pomegranate, you can use dried pomegranates, along with pomegranate juice.
- Pomegranate seeds really make this cobb salad, but you can also use dried cranberries, and cranberry juice to make an equally delicious turkey cranberry salad.
- This can easily be a chicken salad if you don't have turkey.
- Ham can be used in place of the bacon, especially if you have leftovers of that as well.
- You can substitute pecans or any other nuts for the walnuts.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1117mg | Potassium: 697mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 504IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg
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Ramona
This turkey pomegranate salad looks incredible and also super flavorsome! I can't wait to try this out when I make a salad next time. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Colleen
You're welcome Ramona! Enjoy
Tammy
Such a hearty and fabulous salad for the winter! I love the bits of pomegranate seeds and bacon together too.
Colleen
I'm so happy that you love it, Tammy!
Aya
I love the idea behind this salad, and being a club sandwich fan, I had to try it. I omitted the bacon but didn't change anything else in the recipe, and it turned out really good. The pomegranate adds a beautiful texture to the salad.
Colleen
I'm so happy that you like the recipe, Aya. Thanks for letting me know!
Dennis Littley
I love the addition of the pomegranate to the salad! It was delicious!
Colleen
Colleen
That's great to hear, Dennis! I appreciate your comment.
Healing Tomato
What a fun way to use pomegranate! I have never thought of putting it into a club sandwich. This is a very healthy and colorful lunch recipe.
Colleen
😋
Kayla DiMaggio
Yum! This turkey club salad was so delicious! I am feeling all the sugar from the holidays so I am trying eat a little cleaner and this salad was perfect!
Colleen
I hear you about feeling all the holiday eats, and I'm so happy you loved the salad!
Liz
I love a delicious club salad! This recipe sounds and looks delicious with the turkey slices! I also love the coloring the pomegranate brings the dish!
Colleen
So glad you love it Liz!
Marta
I feel like arugula doesn't get enough love. I was looking for a way to use up the last of the turkey I froze after Thanksgiving and this club salad was a big hit with the family.
Colleen
The perfect way to use that turkey, Marta. I'm so happy to hear that it was a hit with your family!
Katie Crenshaw
This salad is so flavorful. The sweet and tangy dressing pair perfectly with the saltiness of the turkey and bacon. The pomegranate are delicious mixed in with it.
Colleen
So glad you loved it, Katie!
Dannii
What a great way to use up leftover turkey. So vibrant and delicious.
Colleen
Thanks, Dannii, I'm happy that you enjoyed the salad!
Caroline
Sounds like a tasty way to use leftovers and like the sound of the pomegranate in the dressing too.
Colleen
I hope you give it a try Caroline!
Jess
This is such a great way to use up that leftover turkey. So good!
Colleen
So glad you liked it, Jess!
Savita
This looks so hearty and delicious, perfect family dinner.
Colleen
It's a great way to use leftover turkey, and avoid cooking, too, Savita!