Easy Tuna Salad Recipe (Helpful Video)
Calling all tuna lovers! This recipe is for you. If you’re a tuna fan and like experimenting with finding the “perfect” homemade tuna salad, we think you’ll love this one. We use bold flavors and a range of spices to make this taste great and not just like straight mayonnaise.
Tuna is a versatile form of protein. It can be enjoyed on a sandwich, in a wrap, with veggies, or all on its own. It’s also really easy to throw together with pantry and kitchen staples so it’s our go-to option for last minute lunches between meetings.
About our Tuna Salad Ingredients
The ingredients below are the reason that this is the best tuna salad recipe (in our opinion):
Tuna
We like to use canned tuna, packed in water (instead of olive oil). If oil-based tuna is all you can find, consider adjusting your mayo quantity to avoid an overly heavy-tasting salad.
Check out our list of the best canned tuna for some great options!
Mayo
We opt for Primal Kitchen’s Avocado Oil Mayo. This does have a steep price tag but it has trusted ingredients and an unmatched flavor. Feel free to use your preferred mayo.
Celery
Crunch factor! Avoid a lifeless, cafeteria-esque tuna salad by adding crunchy elements (like celery) to take this up a notch. Any add-ins should be diced pretty finely to avoid an uneven bite.
White onion
This adds a sharp bite to the tuna salad. We only use ¼ onion per 3 cans of tuna. You can adjust this to meet your preferences. A little raw onion goes a long way.
You could also experiment with green, yellow, or red onion.
Pickle
We like to add finely chopped dill pickles for acid and texture. You’ll be surprised what a difference this makes! If you’ve never tried this before, take a leap of faith. We think you’ll love it.
You could also try sweet pickle relish if you prefer a sweeter flavor.
Spices and Herbs (Fresh or Dried)
Although listed at the end of the recipe, this is an imperative step. Spices and herbs can make or break a dish. When making nutritious changes in your diet, fresh herbs can be your best friend. They brighten up meals with flavor and dimension that might otherwise be rather boring.
Some options we recommend include black pepper, kosher salt, fresh dill, parsley, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, and basil.
Why Tuna Salad?
Not a huge fan of tuna? You could use this same recipe for a canned salmon salad or chicken salad. With elements of brightness, texture, and flavor, this recipe lends well to most mayo-based salads.
Though best chilled, this tuna salad can be eaten immediately after making.
Eating nutritiously doesn’t mean eating salad after salad or eating the same meal repetitively. We love to keep a recipe like this tuna salad in our repertoire for days when we’re feeling less motivated to eat nutritiously.
In just 10 minutes, this salad is ready to eat and will actually keep you full, unlike other pantry items you may grab for when feeling peckish (we’re looking at you, chips). Do, however, feel free to add chips as a side to this recipe and have the best of both worlds while still feeling satisfied.
We hope our favorite tuna salad recipe helps you fill up your belly this week. Enjoy!
Tuna Salad Recipe
Our tuna salad is a quick and easy protein-filled snack or lunch.
Ingredients
- 3 cans of white albacore tuna
- ½ cup Mayo
- 4 stalks of Celery
- ¼ of White Onion
- 1 Pickle
- Parsley
- Basil
- Dill
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- squeeze of lemon *Optional
Instructions
- Dice celery, pickle, and onion into small chunks
- Measure out herbs to taste
- Add tuna, herbs, celery, onion, mayo, and salt & pepper into a mixing bowl and mix
- Chill in refrigerator.
- Serve on lettuce cups, bread, cucumber slices, rice cakes, or crackers!
Nutrition
Calories: 296kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 24gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 562mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 48IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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