A Really Good Tuna Salad
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This deli-style tuna salad is crisp, creamy, and full of flavor—perfect in a sandwich, over greens, or straight from the bowl. It’s as versatile as it is delicious.
Sometimes you just want a really good, old-school tuna salad. There are endless variations out there, but this tuna salad recipe is the one I always come back to. I start by draining the tuna well so it’s not watery—this is crucial!—then I mix in a generous scoop of mayo and lots of seasoning. Next, I stir in a spoonful of pickle relish for that tangy sweetness, celery for crunch, and scallions for a bit of onion flavor. I finish it off with a squeeze of lemon juice and some fresh parsley to brighten everything up. The result is a tuna salad that’s fresh, flavorful, and super easy to make.
It’s perfect on a sandwich, scooped onto greens, or as part of a classic deli-style salad trio plate with chicken salad and egg salad. These staples are quick to prepare and great for easy lunches, potlucks, or summer picnics.
“Just like the title describes – this is a really good tuna salad recipe. The perfect level of sweetness, creaminess, and crunchiness.”
What You’ll Need To Make A Really Good Tuna Salad
- Canned chunk or solid white tuna: Be sure to opt for water-packed canned tuna.
- Mayonnaise: Acts as a binder and adds creaminess. Use a good-quality brand, such as Hellmann’s or Duke’s.
- Celery: Adds a crisp, fresh crunch and a slight peppery flavor, contributing to the salad’s texture contrast.
- Scallions: Provide a mild, slightly sweet onion flavor that complements the tuna and adds freshness and color. Minced red onion can be substituted for a stronger onion flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice: Brings acidity and brightness to balance the richness of the mayonnaise and tuna.
- Dijon mustard: Adds tanginess and depth, contributing a subtle sharpness that pairs well with the creamy elements.
- Sweet pickle relish: Adds sweetness, tanginess, and a bit more crunch to the salad.
- Parsley: Adds a burst of color and a light, herby flavor that brightens up the salad.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Drain the tuna in a fine-mesh strainer, then pat it completely dry with paper towels. Drying the tuna ensures the salad isn’t watery and helps the mayo adhere better, for a creamier texture.
Transfer to a medium bowl and flake with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients.
Stir the tuna salad until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, if necessary.
Now, for how to enjoy…If you’re looking for a low-carb option, try it in lettuce wraps—romaine and butter lettuce work especially well—or serve it over lettuce leaves or thick slices of ripe beefsteak tomatoes.
For something more filling, spoon it onto crackers, stuff it into a tortilla for a quick lunch, or make a tuna melt if you’re in the mood for something warm and toasty. Of course, you can always go classic with a sandwich and some dill pickles and chips on the side. The tuna will keep nicely in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video Tutorial
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A Really Good Tuna Salad
Whether you pile it on a sandwich or scoop it onto a bed of greens, this tuna salad recipe is a classic that always satisfies.
Ingredients
- 2 (5-ounce) cans chunk or solid white tuna packed in water
- ½ cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's or Duke's
- 2 ribs celery, finely diced
- 2 scallions, light and dark green parts, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Drain the tuna in a fine mesh strainer. With the tuna in the strainer, use paper towels to pat and blot the tuna until completely dry. Transfer the tuna to a medium bowl and flake with a fork. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Use immediately or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 288
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Sugar: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Cholesterol: 41 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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The cans of tuna I have are packed in olive oil and I like the taste better than water, but should I drain for this recipe? Thanks.
Hi Mark, Yes, I would drain. Hope you enjoy!
This tuna salad is amazing! I tasted it before the relish, salt and pepper and it was amazing like that too- zesty and fresh from the parsley and lemon. Long ago I swore off parsley. But I trust Jenn so I used half the amount, realized I don’t in fact hate parsley and put the full amount in and it was perfect. My 7year old and I made this tuna salad, the deviled eggs with candied bacon from Jenn’s first cookbook, her sun dried tomato dip with veggies, and Ariel’s seashell pasta salad (from my daughter’s Disney Princess cookbook). We wanted to have lots of different things we could snack on if we lost power during winter storm #Elliott (which we did, but we had fun making the food together and having super yummy food to share makes being stuck inside during a storm feel like a super special evening.
Loved that this was so easy! I adjusted the ingredients for one can of tuna – delicious.
Delicious!!! Thanks Jenn!
I detest sweet relish, so added dill pickle relish, and less scallions. Sometimes I use capers instead of scallions. Never thought to use Dijon, but it’s a great recipe, as are all of your recipes. Haven’t found one I didn’t like. You are the bomb! The first place I look for recipes!
💗
Amazing! Made a second portion today ^^
What a wonderful tuna salad recipe. I love the flavors of all the ingredients but never imagined them together and the end result was an amazing tasting sandwich. Thanks, Jenn
This is my mom’s recipe w/out the mustard. I don’t think I could put mustard in my tuna salad, that just seems wrong. LOL! I might give it a try though, just to see. Thyme is my favorite herb for tuna salad. I also like a boiled egg in the salad. But that is the beauty of salads you can do what you want. I love tuna salad, especially w/crackers.
I have been making tuna salad with these same ingredients for years. But your tip about draining it in a fine mesh sieve was very helpful. I also use tuna from Whole Foods called skip Jack tuna and it is very good. I don’t want to support Starkist although I am old enough to remember LUNA the StarKist Tuna advertising in the 50’s. 😂
Just wanted to compliment you on all your recipes. Whenever I get them and there is not one that I have tried that has not been a big hit at family dinners. You are my go to for potlucks and my number one fan of websites.
Ann, Canada
❤️