Tuna salad is the perfect meal when you’re craving something light, fresh, and healthy. Made with simple ingredients like canned tuna, mayonnaise, onion, celery, and fresh herbs, it comes together effortlessly. Enjoy it in a sandwich, wrapped in lettuce leaves, and more!
Why You’ll Love This Tuna Salad
Fast and easy salads have always been a staple in my meal prep routine. And I’m not talking about leafy green salads that wilt quickly. Instead, I’m referring to hearty, durable, and delicious options like chicken salad, shrimp salad, salmon salad, egg salad, and my personal favorite—this tuna salad. Not only does it come together in 15 minutes, but it’s also:
- A high-protein meal. Since tuna is low in fat and calories, it’s pretty much pure protein. One can is about 26 grams of protein!
- Great for meal prep. It will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge, which makes it great for a delicious lunch (especially for kids) or a light and fresh dinner that can be served in many ways.
- Endlessly customizable. While this classic version is delicious as is, you can get creative and make it your own, whether that’s creamier, chunkier, or spiced up. More on that below!
Tuna Salad Ingredients
- Canned Tuna: My favorite canned tuna is Wild Planet wild albacore tuna packed in water. I’ll link it in the recipe card below! For more info on why this is my go-to, check out the next section.
- Mayonnaise: Use your favorite brand or better yet, try making my homemade mayonnaise for the freshest flavor and texture. You can also use Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Dijon Mustard: This ingredient might not appear in every tuna salad recipe, but it’s a game-changer. It adds a sharp, tangy contrast to the lighter flavors, making it a must-have in my book!
- Celery and Red Onion: These add a fresh, crunchy texture to every bite.
- Parsley: Fresh herbs like parsley pair beautifully with seafood, especially tuna, adding a burst of freshness.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Best Tuna To Buy
For tuna salad, I recommend wild albacore packed in water. Albacore has a light, mild flavor that’s less strong or fishy compared to other varieties. Also, water-packed tuna allows the natural flavor to shine while giving you the flexibility to adjust the seasoning.
How To Make Tuna Salad
Prep the tuna and other ingredients. First, drain each tuna can before adding the tuna pieces into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Then, prep all the other ingredients and add them to the bowl—mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery, red onion, and parsley.
Mix and serve. Use a fork to mix everything while breaking up any large pieces of tuna for your desired texture. Then, season with salt and pepper and give it another mix.
Tuna Salad Variations
- Tuscan Tuna Salad: This is a delicious no-mayo option that’s layered with bright and fresh Tuscan flavor—from briny olives to sun-dried tomatoes and an abundance of herbs and lemon juice.
- Broccoli Tuna Salad: Give your tuna salad an extra green spin with broccoli rice, diced green onions, and extra herbs.
- Tuna Salad with Pickles: For another briny, tangy flavor, mix in chopped dill or sweet pickles and capers. The sharpness pairs wonderfully with the creamy salad.
- Curry Tuna Salad: Mix in some curry powder, diced apples, raisins, and chopped almonds for a sweet and savory twist. You could also use a bit of Greek yogurt to replace some of the mayo for a creamier consistency.
- Egg Tuna Salad: Add chopped hard-boiled eggs for extra protein and a super filling, satisfying meal.
Ways To Serve
- Tuna Sandwich: Turn it into a classic sandwich with a layer of lettuce and tomato. For a twist, try a tuna melt by preparing a grilled cheese sandwich, then gently pulling apart the bread to layer spoonfuls of tuna salad inside.
- Tuna Wrap: Wrap the salad in tortillas (like my cassava flour tortillas) or use butter lettuce leaves for a light, low-carb option.
- Layer on a salad: I love this tuna salad on a bed of mixed greens or baby spinach for an easy, throw-together lunch. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice for a fresh dressing.
- Stuffed Avocado or Tomato: Scoop the salad into avocado or tomato halves for a fresh and flavorful presentation, like my tuna stuffed avocados!
- Serve as a delicious dip: Pair it with crackers or chips for a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer or snack.
Storage Tip
Tuna salad is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Since it contains fish and mayonnaise, avoid leaving it at room temperature for extended periods.
More Easy Salad Recipes
- Classic Potato Salad: A classic side dish everyone loves.
- Broccoli Salad: Another meal prep favorite!
- Greek Salad: The best throw-together salad.
- Lentil Salad: A great protein-packed side dish.
- Or enjoy these other salad recipes and summer salads!
If you make this tuna salad recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
BEST Tuna Salad Recipe – Easy & Healthy
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 2 (5-ounce) cans tuna
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- 2 tablespoons red onion, diced
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, chives and/or other herbs
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients. Drain the liquid from the tuna cans. Then, add the tuna, mayonnaise, diced celery and red onions, herbs, Dijon mustard, salt and black pepper to a mixing bowl.
- Mix the salad. Stir all of the ingredients together until well combined.
- Enjoy the tuna salad plain out of a bowl, wrapped in lettuce, or in a sandwich. I've got more ideas above!
Lisa’s Tips
- If you’d like a creamier texture you can always add more mayonnaise.
- My favorite tuna is albacore tuna and I always purchase Wild Planet brand.
- Storage tip: Tuna salad is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Since it contains fish and mayonnaise, avoid leaving it at room temperature for extended periods.
Nutrition
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This recipe was originally published April 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
Hi Lisa. I think your tuna salad is my all time new favorite. Absolutely! Here’s a glowing review for your recipe ~
I tried this tuna salad recipe and it was an instant hit! The combination of red onion, parsley, mayo, and my home grown chives brought such a vibrant, refreshing flavor that really elevated the classic tuna salad. The red onion added a nice crunch and just the right amount of sharpness, while the parsley and chives gave it a fresh, herby twist that made it taste light and bright. The mayo tied everything together into a creamy, satisfying mix. It’s perfect on toast, crackers, or even just by the spoonful. Simple ingredients, big flavor—this is my new go to tuna !
Hi Gino – Thanks so much for this review and I’m thrilled to hear that you’re loving this tuna salad recipe!