This tuna salad recipe is easy and delicious! The chunks of fish are mixed with a combination of creamy mayonnaise and fresh vegetables, and herbs. A protein-packed dish that’s versatile to add to vegetables, sandwiches, and pasta for a quick lunch or dinner.
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Every home cook should have a delicious go-to tuna salad recipe. It’s a great quick, affordable, protein-packed meal when you don’t feel like cooking. You only need canned albacore tuna, creamy pantry staples, and fresh mix-ins for a tasty meal.
Tuna salad is versatile and convenient, from making tuna salad sandwiches for lunch, adding to crisp vegetables, or incorporating it into a hot or cold pasta dish. It’s perfect for meal prepping, as you can transform it into various dishes throughout the week.
Key ingredients
- Canned Tuna: Use packed in water for a lighter taste or oil for a bolder fish flavor. Use four 5-ounce cans of tuna in water. Selecting light or white tuna impacts the taste and texture. I prefer light tuna for its softer texture. It mixes easily into a salad. Tuna in pouches can be used and do not need draining.
- Mayonaise: The egg and oil emulsified sauce adds characteristic creaminess to the salad. Adds richness to prevent a dry taste from the fish.
- Vegetables: Chopped celery and red onions for crunch and depth of flavor.
- Relish: Sweet pickle relish, dill pickle relish, or chopped pickles for tanginess.
- Herbs: Chopped parsley and green onions for a delicate herbaceous note.
- Mustard and Citrus: Smooth Dijon mustard and lemon juice for pungency and tartness to balance the creamy mayonnaise.
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper to enhance the savory taste.
The difference between light and white tuna
White tuna is solely from albacore and has lighter-colored flesh. It may also be labeled as chunk white or solid white albacore. It has a more firm, steak-like texture, drier, with a mild flavor.
Light or chunk light tuna is darker in color, more flavorful, slightly saltier, lower in protein, and softer in texture. It’s made mainly from Skipjack but can also include Yellowfin tuna, big eye, or tongol.
Make the salad
If using white tuna, use a fork to break it down into smaller flakes. I prefer a more cohesive, scoopable salad with smaller fish pieces. However, leave it chunkier if you like bigger bites. Add in the mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickle relish, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine, mixing until the desired texture is reached. This makes about three cups of tuna salad.
A stand mixer can make the tuna salad faster, with a smoother consistency. This method works well for preparing a larger batch.
Flavor variations
There are endless ways to customize tuna salad. Try these tasty options to make the dish even more flavorful.
- Eggs: Chopped hardboiled eggs for richness and more protein.
- Vegetables: Chopped bell peppers, carrots, corn, or cucumber for crunch.
- Fruit: Add diced red or green apples, cranberries, and golden or regular raisins.
- Alliums: Minced garlic or dried garlic powder, onion powder, pickled onions.
- Nuts: Crunchy sliced almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
- Avocado: Mash or dice avocado and mix it into the salad.
- Beans: Black beans, pinto, garbanzo, or white beans for fiber and protein.
- Herbs: Parsley, cilantro, dill, tarragon, basil, chives, green onions, or oregano.
- Spiciness: Make it spicy with cajun seasoning or diced jalapenos.
- Cheese: Mozzarella, smoked gouda, cheddar, pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or Gruyere.
Serving suggestions
- Tuna salad sandwiches with dill pickles
- Tuna melt
- Serve in avocado halves or stuff in tomatoes
- Tuna pasta salad or tuna casserole
- Serve tuna salad with fresh lettuce and tomatoes for a low-carb option
Frequently asked questions
Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt are suitable creamy substitutes. The flavor will be tangier. If desired, stir in olive oil or chopped hardboiled eggs to add more richness to the tuna salad.
Make it low-carb and serve it in lettuce wraps instead of bread. I like to use bibb or butter lettuce leaves. Slice up cucumbers, carrots, and sweet peppers to dip. Serve with avocado or tomatoes—whole grain or gluten-free crackers, or plantain chips.
You don’t need to rinse the canned tuna before adding it to the salad. However, you can press out the excess moisture so it doesn’t taste soggy. Rinsing and draining can remove some sodium if the product has added salt.
What’s the difference between canned tuna packed in oil vs. water?
Tuna packed in water contains fewer calories since there is no added fat. However, it will have a drier texture and a more diluted fish flavor, which some may prefer. Tuna packed in oil is slightly higher in calories. The fat retains more omega-3 fatty acids from the fish and vitamin D, moisture, and flavor. Excess oil can be drained before use.
Best Tuna Salad
Ingredients
- 20 ounces canned tuna packed in water, drained
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup diced celery, ⅛" dice
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons dill relish, or sweet
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon sliced green onions
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the Salad – In a large bowl, use a fork to break up the tuna into smaller pieces. Add the mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickle relish, mustard, green onions, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, mixing well until the desired consistency is reached.
- To Serve – Season with more salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
- Short Video: Watch this recipe come together.
- Recipe Yield: About 3 cups
- Serving Size: About ½ cup
- Storing: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Light Tuna: Flavorful, softer, darker in color, and easier to mix.
- White Tuna: Albacore is firmer, lighter in color, and milder in taste.
- Pouched Tuna: Does not require draining.
- Tuna Packed in Oil: Drain well.
- Using Freshly Cooked Tuna: Use 2 cups.
JJ says
Excellent! Try this tuna salad on fresh croissants topped with alfalfa sprouts. WOW!
Jessica Gavin says
Ok, I’ll have to try your sandwich suggestions, love a croissant!
Yules says
I made this salad, added eggs, served on salad leaves. Amazingly delicious , fresh and will stay in our menu for sure!
Jessica Gavin says
I love the addition of the eggs!