This tossed turkey salad with roasted sweet potatoes is so refreshing, satisfying, and delicious.
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the turkey…or the leftovers! Really, no matter how many family members and friends crowd around the table or how much we eat, I’ve never been to a Thanksgiving feast where there weren’t lots of leftovers for the next day (or even the whole week!).
But you can only eat so many turkey sandwiches. 😉 Here’s a healthier and more fun way to enjoy those Turkey Day leftovers: a beautiful turkey kale salad with roasted sweet potatoes and carrots.
Pro tips and recipe notes
If you prefer iceberg lettuce, romaine, or other greens go ahead. This recipe is flexible.
Topped with a light vinaigrette and bursting with fall colors, this makes an absolutely lovely lunch or a side salad for dinner.
The main star of this salad is your Thanksgiving turkey. Next, comes the roasted sweet potatoes. I usually make these rosemary sweet potatoes and mushrooms for Thanksgiving dinner.
The leftover sweet potatoes will taste wonderfully in the salad. Next, I’ll add some roasted carrots for another root veggie. Then a few slices of red onion. So pretty on a bed of crispy kale. Read more about the health benefits of kale here.
For the vinaigrette, I whisk together extra virgin olive oil and a sweet balsamic vinegar with a little salt, pepper, and basil. You may have noticed in my other recipes that I use avocado oil and coconut oil when I am cooking at high temperatures.
However, I still love to use olive oil when making vinaigrettes. Olive oil is your tastiest choice and very healthy in its natural state.
To be sure that you’re buying a high-quality oil, look for an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO); otherwise, it has been chemically refined. Read here. Also, to make sure the olive oil is fresh, look for the harvest date on the label. It should be within one year. And always buy your oil in a dark glass bottle and store it in a cool, dark cabinet.
This Turkey Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots is so refreshing, satisfying, and delicious. A healthy way to continue feasting on the Thanksgiving leftovers. 🙂
Enjoy! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
More recipes using leftovers
Cheesy Cauliflower With Ham Casserole (Low Carb)– You’re going to love this fast and easy three-cheese casserole using ham leftovers.
Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie With Cauliflower Crust– These are loaded with chicken, sweet peas, and carrots in a creamy sauce with the most delicious cheese-flavored cauliflower crust. Yes, they are as amazing as they sound.
Healthy Tex-Mex Chicken And Rice Casserole – Fluffy beautifully seasoned rice you can stuff in corn tacos, roll up in a gluten-free tortilla, or just toss in a bowl with the homemade paleo salsa on top. Yum.
Gluten Free Hot Open Turkey Sandwich – You’re going to love this hot open turkey sandwich treat. Why wait for Thanksgiving leftovers? Make it today.
Gluten Free Ham Tetrazzini Casserole – This dish is similar to turkey tetrazzini except you’ll add organic cheddar cheese into the cream sauce.
Gluten Free Turkey Tetrazzini Make this with your leftover turkey and spaghetti in butter cream sauce (it works well with chicken too!). You’re going to love it.
Gluten Free Frittata With Ham (Keto And Low Carb) – This healthy naturally gluten free frittata with ham comes together fast and is a great way to use up ham leftovers.
Easy Minestrone Soup This quick easy-to-make soup is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Go ahead with whatever you have on hand.
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Turkey Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
Ingredients
- For salad:
- 2 cups turkey cooked and cubed
- 2 sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups chopped kale
- 2 medium carrots cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- For dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar Bionaturaeis certified gluten-free
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon basil
Instructions
- For salad: Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Toss carrots in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper, (If you don't have leftover sweet potatoes you may toss two peeled and cubed sweet potatoes along with the carrots) Then roast on parchment lined baking sheet for 20 minutes.
- Toss kale and onion in a salad bowl. Add turkey, potatoes and carrots.Toss again.
- For dressing: Whisk dressing in a separate bowl. Pour over salad. Toss and serve at room temperature
Nutrition
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GiGi Eats says
Could I actually be more excited to eat THIS salad than a Salmon Nicoise salad!! 😮
Barbara says
Ah ha! Yes. Thanks, GiGi. Enjoy your weekend. 🙂
Alana says
Beautiful – and yummy sounding.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Love all of the colors + flavors in this salad! So pretty!
Andrea Wyckoff says
This salad is just beautiful! I love the combo of hearty ingredients too! Will totally make this one for me and my hubby!
Stephanie says
This sounds like the perfect Fall salad. I’m loving the sweet potatoes with the Kale & the dressing sounds so yummy & easy to prepare.
Barbara says
Thanks so much, Stephanie. You’re sweet. And thanks for the stars. 😘
Hallen says
I really like this roasted salad recipe. This is so easy to make. I enjoy this amazing recipe and will surely try this at home. Thank you for sharing this wonderful article.
Barbara Bianchi says
Thank you. I’m so glad you like this recipe. And thanks for the stars.
jane says
This is like the perfect Fall salad. I’m loving the sweet potatoes with the Kale & so yummy & easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing.
Barbara Bianchi says
Oh, you’re so welcome. I’m so glad that you’re enjoying this salad. And thank you for the stars.
Farris says
It’s looking so tasty
Barbara Bianchi says
Thanks so much, Farris. And thanks for the stars.
Clara McMartha says
Nice recipe. One question. Can we replace the Kale with other Leafy vegetables? For example, Can we use Cabbage leaves in this salad for similar flavor?
Thanks. Waiting for your reply.
Barbara Bianchi says
Hi Clara, Sure! Recipes are just a guide. I love that you’re substituting with other greens. Cabbage sounds good to me. Enjoy. ❤︎