Tuna Salad Recipe

I never get tired of a great tuna salad recipe. Out of the many versions I’ve tried, this one is my favorite when I want the best. It’s delicious served on a bed of greens or piled high between slices of your favorite bread, making it perfect for tuna melts, too.

No matter how you mix it, making tuna salad at home is one of the easiest and most satisfying meals you can prepare using pantry ingredients.

Start with my recipe and enjoy it as is, or add your own favorite ingredients. It’s ready in just a few minutes and is always a go-to option when hunger strikes.

Need tuna sandwiches for a crowd? Just adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below, and it will calculate the right amounts for you—it’s that simple!

How to Make Tuna Salad

Open the Can: Start by opening the can of tuna and draining the liquid. I find it easiest to hold the lid over the sink to let the brine drain out.
Combine Ingredients: Place the drained tuna in a bowl. Add the mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickle relish, minced garlic, and lemon juice.
Mix and Season: Stir everything together until well combined, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Chill or Enjoy: It tastes even better if you let it chill for a couple of hours, but I often dig in right away—I can’t resist!

What Kind of Tuna Should I Use?

For this recipe, I prefer solid-pack tuna in water with a dolphin-safe label.

Tuna in Oil vs. Tuna in Water

Tuna packed in oil is rich and works well in dishes like Niçoise salads. A squeeze of lemon is all you need to enhance the flavor. However, since we’re adding mayonnaise to this salad, water-packed tuna is the better choice.

If you only have oil-packed tuna, you can rinse it in a fine-mesh sieve under cold water and press it with a spatula to remove excess liquid.

How to Make a Tuna Sandwich

Once your tuna salad is ready, spread it generously on your choice of bread—be it sandwich bread, rye, a baguette, or ciabatta. Add some lettuce, tomato, sprouts, or pickles for extra flavor and crunch. It’s also great served on crackers!

How to Make a Tuna Melt

Ready to elevate your tuna salad? Make it a tuna melt!

A tuna melt is like a grilled cheese sandwich but with added tuna (and you can add tomato or even bacon if you like).

Prepare the Skillet: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Butter one side of two slices of bread. I recommend using a white or wheat bread that toasts well.
Assemble the Melt: Place one slice of bread in the skillet, butter-side down. Add a generous layer of your tuna salad on top, then place a slice of cheese (American cheese works best) and the second slice of bread on top, butter-side up.
Cook and Flip: Once the bottom slice is golden brown, carefully flip the entire melt to toast the other side until it’s golden as well. Remove from the skillet and enjoy!

Making Tuna Salad Healthier

To make your tuna salad healthier but still tasty, reduce the amount of mayo or swap it out for plain yogurt. Load up on fresh veggies and herbs, and don’t forget the lemon juice for brightness!

Creative Ideas for Tuna Salad

What can you add to tuna salad? Almost anything! There’s no wrong way to make it, and you can customize it to your liking. Here are some ideas:

With Relish: Sweet pickle relish adds a nice crunch and sweetness.
With Apples: Diced Granny Smith apples bring a refreshing crunch.
With Celery: The classic addition for extra crunch.
With Pasta: Mixing in cooked pasta like orzo or farfallini adds texture and stretches the salad.
With Peas: Fresh or frozen peas brighten the salad with color and texture.
With Egg: Chopped hard-boiled eggs add protein and creaminess.
With Capers: A spoonful of capers adds a briny flavor.
Without Mayo: For a mayo-free version, use plain yogurt or whipped silken tofu. A simple vinaigrette with lemon juice, olive oil, and Dijon mustard also works well.

Healthy Ways to Enjoy Tuna Salad

You don’t have to stick to bread! Here are some fun ways to enjoy tuna salad while incorporating more veggies:

Tuna Salad Wrap: Use sturdy lettuce like Romaine or kale for a low-carb wrap.
Stuffed Tomatoes: Hollow out summer tomatoes and fill them with tuna salad for a tasty lunch.
Tuna Salad Niçoise: Create a lovely composed salad with oil-packed flaked tuna, boiled potatoes, green beans, roasted red peppers, capers, olives, a hard-boiled egg, and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice for a French-inspired dish.

Enjoy your tuna salad in whatever way you like best!

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