Turkey Cranberry and Walnut Pasta Salad Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful Turkey Cranberry and Walnut Pasta Salad featuring tender turkey breast, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and zesty green onions tossed in a light mayonnaise and Greek yogurt dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a festive side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta Salad
- 4 cups uncooked bowtie or rotini pasta, cooked to al dente then cooled
- 2 cups diced or shredded turkey breast
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- 1 (8-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
- 1/2 cup California walnuts
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the light mayonnaise, plain low-fat Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Set the dressing aside to let the flavors meld.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook 4 cups of bowtie or rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool and stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, diced or shredded turkey breast, dried cranberries, thinly sliced green onions, celery, drained mandarin oranges, and California walnuts, mixing gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad and stir gently to coat all ingredients completely with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate it until ready to serve to allow flavors to blend. Before serving, optionally garnish with extra sliced green onions or walnuts for added texture and presentation.
Notes
- For best texture, ensure the pasta is fully cooled before adding the dressing to prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Substitute plain Greek yogurt with sour cream if preferred, although yogurt lightens the dressing.
- Turkey breast can be fresh cooked, leftover roasted, or deli sliced turkey.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated to enhance flavor melding.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the dressing for extra brightness if desired.
Keywords: turkey pasta salad, cranberry walnut salad, healthy pasta salad, light turkey salad, holiday pasta salad
