This Smoked Turkey and Egg Salad with Creamy Mayo Dressing is a delicious way to upgrade your lunch or dinner routine. It’s loaded with savory smoked turkey, protein-rich eggs, and nutritious crispy vegetables. The creamy mayo dressing brings it all together. The salad is quick to throw together and incredibly satisfying. It's perfect for using up leftovers or prepping ahead.
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I originally made this salad for my son’s birthday party, and like my 5-Ingredient Tuna Salad Deviled Eggs and Pesto Orzo Salad with Grilled Corn, it was a huge hit with everyone. I prepared a large bowl of the salad, thinking we’d have leftovers, but by the end of the party, it was completely gone. The combination of smoky turkey, creamy dressing, and crunchy veggies is super satisfying. If you give this salad a try (and I hope you do :)), let me know how you like it!
Recipe Overview
⏱️ Ready in: 20 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 4-6
💪 Diet-Friendly: Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Meal-Prep Friendly
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It's Packed with Flavor: Smoky turkey, tangy red onion, juicy cucumber, and creamy mayo create so much flavor!
- Quick & Easy: Made with just 7 ingredients and ready in 20 minutes.
- It's Great for Meal Prep: Like this One-Pot Vegetable Pasta Salad with Ribbon-Style Veggies, this salad holds up well in the fridge!
- Crowd-Pleaser: This salad disappears fast (trust me, it didn’t last long at my son’s birthday party!).
- Low-Carb & Gluten-Free: It's naturally low-carb and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- Smoked Turkey: Adds rich, smoky flavor to the salad. You can use store-bought deli-style smoked turkey or leftovers from a homemade roast. I used a store-bought turkey leg and diced it into small cubes.
- Eggs: We’ll be hard-boiling the eggs for the salad. Choosing the right eggs can make a difference! Here’s how to choose the best eggs based on yolk color and labels.
- Cabbage: Adds crunch and a mild, earthy flavor. You can use green cabbage, like in this Sautéed Cabbage with Mushrooms and Bacon, or savoy cabbage. I used Savoy, which has a softer texture and slightly sweeter taste. Thinly slicing it and then chopping it into smaller pieces helps it blend nicely with the other ingredients.
- Cucumber: Adds freshness, crunch, and a touch of juiciness. You can use any type of cucumber.
- Red Onion: Adds sharpness and color without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Mayo: It ties everything together with its creamy, tangy richness. You can use store-bought mayo, or make this Homemade Mayonnaise with Avocado Oil.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Smoked Turkey: Smoked ham, or regular ham like I use in this Cabbage and Ham Salad, would also work great.
- Dressing: Replace part of the mayo with sour cream for a lighter version. You can also add a bit of Dijon mustard.
- Add more ingredients: Add some diced celery, bell pepper, or even some chopped pickles for extra flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is a quick summary of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed quantities and instructions in the full recipe card at the end of the post.
STEP 1: Boil the Eggs
Hard-boil eggs, place them under cool running water to cool them down, then peel and finely chop them. For a quicker method, you can mash them gently with a potato masher.
STEP 2: Prepare the Cabbage
While the eggs are cooking, add the shredded cabbage and a pinch of salt to a mixing bowl. Massage it with your hands a bit, until it softens slightly.
STEP 3: Add Remaining Ingredients
Add the smoked turkey, cucumber, red onion, chopped eggs, and mayonnaise to the bowl with the cabbage.
STEP 4: Mix Well
Stir everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Top Tips
- Massage the cabbage with a pinch of salt before mixing (especially if you're using green cabbage). This softens the texture slightly but still keeps a crunch.
- Finely chop or mash the eggs. It makes the texture creamier.
- Start with a smaller amount of mayo and add more as needed to reach your preferred level of creaminess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can even use leftover Thanksgiving turkey, like I do in my Leftover Turkey Salad (with Gnocchi). But it will have a milder flavor, without that smokiness.
Yes, red cabbage works too, but it does have a firmer texture and a slightly more peppery flavor. Leftovers made with red cabbage and mayo can develop a slight bitter taste over time, so it’s best to enjoy the salad fresh if you're using red cabbage.
Serving suggestions
Serve the salad as a quick, satisfying lunch, spoon it over a bed of mixed greens, spinach, or arugula, or use the salad in a bread, pita, or wrap. You can also make these Easy Cottage Cheese Wraps and enjoy them with the salad, for a low-carb option.
Serve the salad alongside other dishes, such as this Honey Garlic Eggplant and Shrimp dish or these 3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Chicken (3 ways!).
Other delicious salad recipes
If you tried this Creamy Smoked Turkey and Egg Salad with Mayo Dressing recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And feel free to tag me on Instagram @cre8athome so I can see your creations! Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Creamy Smoked Turkey and Egg Salad with Mayo Dressing
Equipment
- Small Saucepan to cook the eggs
- Potato Masher to mash the eggs
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups cabbage Savoy or green, shredded
- ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1.5 cups smoked turkey cut into small cubes
- ½ English cucumber or two regular cucumbers
- ¼ red onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise adjust to taste
Instructions
- Place eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 10-12 minutes. Drain and cool under cold running water. Peel and finely chop (or mash gently with a potato masher).2 large eggs
- While the eggs are cooking, add shredded cabbage and salt to a large mixing bowl. Massage the cabbage until it's slightly softened.2 cups cabbage, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add the chopped eggs, smoked turkey, cucumber, red onion and mayo to the bowl with the cabbage.1.5 cups smoked turkey, ½ English cucumber, ¼ red onion, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Stir until everything is well combined. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
Notes
- Massage the cabbage with a pinch of salt before mixing (especially if you're using green cabbage). This softens the texture slightly but still keeps a crunch.
- Finely chop or mash the eggs. It makes the texture creamier.
- Start with a smaller amount of mayo and add more as needed to reach your preferred level of creaminess.
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