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    Home » Recipes » Turkey

    Published: Apr 25, 2022 · Modified: Sep 18, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

    Turkey Pasta Salad (without Mayo)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This turkey pasta salad is packed with fresh ingredients, with a creamy maple tahini dressing. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks and summer picnics, it will be a sure-fire hit with friends and family and is super easy to make!

    Check out my turkey cranberry cream cheese sandwich as another lunch option!

    turkey pasta salad in a grey bowl next to a bunch of radishes and wooden salad servers.

    Pasta salad is one of the those real crowd-pleasers of a dish. Loved by both adults and kids alike, it's the tasty and healthy side dish that is a staple of summer gatherings and works so well with both hot and cold dishes.

    If you love this type of recipe then do check out my roasted vegetable pasta salad and my cucumber dill pasta salad, both of which are tasty vegetarian options. And for another pasta idea that uses tahini sauce, my creamy tahini pasta is so good for an easy evening meal!

    This turkey pasta salad is made without mayo, and instead has a creamy tahini dressing making it suitable as a dairy-free salad. It's packed with healthy vegetables, herbs and of course the best comfort food that is pasta!

    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why this recipe is so good
    • 🦃 Ingredients
    • 📖 Variations to the recipe
    • 🔪 Step by step instructions
    • 💭 Recipe tips
    • 📋 Frequently asked questions
    • ⏲️ Freezing guidance
    • 🥗 More tasty salad recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why this recipe is so good

    The best side for summer gatherings. Pasta salad always goes down well with a crowd! Take to summer BBQs, cook outs and potlucks.

    A Thanksgiving buffet idea. Have a packet of turkey left over in the fridge? Then this salad is perfect for a Thanksgiving buffet!

    Dairy-free. This pasta salad uses a tahini dressing so it is dairy-free, and it can also be gluten free if you use alternative pasta.

    Fresh ingredients. We cook and shred the turkey so it is fresh, making it more suitable for my low histamine readers. Plus lots of vegetables and herbs for crunch and flavour!

    🦃 Ingredients

    all the ingredients for turkey pasta salad in small bowls.

    All the ingredients are set out in the recipe card below, but some notes on a few of them:

    • Turkey breast fillets. We use turkey breast in this recipe, which we cook and then shred ourselves. If pre-prepared shredded turkey works for you, then you can of course skip these steps.
    • Pasta. You can use any type of pasta you prefer, but I suggest fusilli is best for a pasta salad as it picks up the dressing so well.
    • Tahini. To make the dressing. I suggest using light tahini (sometimes called pale tahini) which is made of hulled sesame as it has a lighter taste.

    📖 Variations to the recipe

    For the pasta, you can easily swap out for gluten free pasta if you are on a gluten free diet.

    If tahini isn't your thing, and mayo works for you (perhaps not for my low histamine readers), then use in place of the tahini.

    If lemon is suitable for you, then you can swap out in place of the apple cider vinegar.

    🔪 Step by step instructions

    Just four simple steps to make your turkey pasta salad recipe!

    cooked turkey fillets in a frying pan.
    cooked pasta in a saucepan.

    Step 1

    Fry the turkey in a little olive oil until cooked through. You may wish to cut the turkey breasts into smaller pieces first for ease of cooking. Check for an internal temperature of 165F and that the meat is white throughout. Set aside to cool.

    Step 2

    Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Once cooked, place in a colander to drain, and drizzle a little olive oil on it to help prevent it sticking together.

    shredded turkey on a white plate with two forks on it.
    tahini dressing with herbs in a pale brown bowl.

    Step 3

    Once the turkey is cooled, shred using two forks (or a mixer if you have the suitable attachment). Hold the turkey with one fork then shred with the other.

    Step 4

    Make the tahini dressing by combining the tahini and water and stirring well until it becomes creamy. Adjust with more water if required. Then add the remaining dressing ingredients and stir well to combine.

    Step 5

    Combine the pasta, vegetables, turkey and herbs in a bowl and drizzle on the dressing. Stir well to combine.

    💭 Recipe tips

    • You can either shred the turkey with two forks (as I do) or if you have a mixer with the suitable attachment, that is an alternative way to do it.
    • Drizzle the cooked pasta, once cooled, with a little olive oil to help prevent it from sticking together.
    • Adjust the tahini dressing to taste and texture preference. Add more water to thin, and more tahini to thicken.

    📋 Frequently asked questions

    Can I use leftover turkey for this turkey pasta salad?

    Yes, if it it works for you then this is a great way to use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey or from holiday celebrations!

    Mayo works for me, can I use it instead or tahini?

    Of course, simply swap out for mayo if you like.

    Can you meal prep this turkey pasta salad for picnics or BBQs?

    If meal prep works for you (likely not my low histamine readers), then this is such a good recipe to make ahead for summer picnics, BBQs or holiday get-togethers.

    ⏲️ Freezing guidance

    This turkey pasta salad doesn't work well in terms of freezing and is best eaten on the day it is made.

    half a plate of turkey pasta salad next to basil and radishes.

    🥗 More tasty salad recipes

    Salads are perfect for summer, and for taking to enjoy alongside BBQ food, or with picnic recipes. There are many to choose from on my salads page, but a few recent recipes to try out:

    • Pesto Orzo Salad
    • Mango Cucumber Salad
    • Cucumber Beetroot Salad
    • Tahini Kale Salad

    I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating if you tried the recipe!

    📖 Recipe

    turkey pasta salad in a grey bowl with a brown rim next to a bunch of radishes.

    Turkey Pasta Salad

    Claire
    This turkey pasta salad is the perfect side dish, whether it's for summer picnics or Thanksgiving buffet-style meals!
    5 from 7 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 408 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups pasta uncooked weight
    • 2 cups turkey breast
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 celery stick diced
    • 6 radishes sliced
    • 1 carrot grated
    • 2 green onion diced, optional
    • 1 cup basil leaves loosely packed, torn
    • ⅛ cup mint leaves loosely packed, torn

    For the tahini dressing

    • 3 tablespoon tahini
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • pinch salt
    • pinch black pepper optional
    • 5 tablespoon water adjust as needed

    Instructions
     

    • Lightly drizzle a pan with olive oil and fry the turkey for 5-6 minutes each side, or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165F. Set aside to cool.
    • Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Set aside, and drizzle with a little olive oil to help prevent it from sticking together.
    • Shred the turkey with two forks or use a mixer to do so.
    • Make the tahini dressing by combining the tahini and water and stirring until it forms a creamy dressing. Then add the other dressing ingredients and stir again. Adjust with more water to thin, or more tahini to thicken, to taste preference.
    • Combine the turkey, pasta, vegetables and herbs in your bowl and stir through the tahini dressing. Season with salt, and black pepper, if using.

    Notes

    • If pre-cooked turkey or leftovers works for you, then this can used in place of cooking and shredding the turkey yourself. This would likely not be suitable for my low histamine readers.
    • Most varieties of pasta work well. I use fusilli, but macaroni and others are good too!
    • Thin the tahini dressing with more water, or thicken with more tahini to taste preference.
    • If regular wheat pasta isn't suitable for you, then swap out for an alternative such as brown rice pasta.
    • Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
     
    Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine
    All ingredients score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
    • green onion isn't rated on the SIGHI list.
    • tahini (sesame), which scores 1. Only use if you know you tolerate well as sesame is a potential allergen.
    • apple cider vinegar, which scores 1.
    • black pepper, which scores 2.
    • pasta (wheat), which scores 1.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 408kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 38gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 78mgPotassium: 265mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2996IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @lowhistaminekitchen or tag #lowhistaminekitchen!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara says

      May 29, 2022 at 11:36 pm

      5 stars
      This is super tasty. The veggies really bring the flavors together nicely. I had to use chicken instead of turkey bc I just couldn’t find it but it worked out nicely anyway. I also doubled the ACV for slightly more tang. Yummy!

      Reply
      • Claire says

        May 30, 2022 at 7:32 am

        Sounds good as a chicken pasta salad! So glad you like it Sara 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

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