This quick and easy Classic Tuna Salad recipe is light and fresh, packed with protein, flavor, and texture thanks to tender tuna, crunchy dill pickles, celery, and chopped boiled eggs. Make it once for meal prep, and you will enjoy tasty lunches for days.
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Helpful Reader Review
“I can’t tell you how many times I have made this tuna sandwich recipe since discovering it. I love it. So simple and so good. Thank you so much.” – Monica ★★★★★
Tuna Salad Video
Make the best tuna salad in minutes with only 7 ingredients, so try this recipe the next time you’re looking for make-ahead meal ideas.
The Best Tuna Salad Recipe
I grew up eating tuna salad for lunch since tuna is one of the less expensive ways to enjoy seafood, and it’s a crowd-pleaser. Tuna salad is packed with protein, quick to throw together, and made from pantry and refrigerator staples. When we’re anticipating a full week, we’ll double the recipe a day or two ahead to have it on hand for quick homemade lunches. I’m especially happy that my daughter loves my tuna salad sandwiches!
Serve in a kid-friendly tuna sandwich or stuffed inside a toasted Croissant, or fresh Pita pocket. Toast it on a piece of Sourdough Bread with a slice of cheese on top for the best Tuna Melt, or you can serve it over mixed greens or in lettuce cups for a low-carb option. The versatility makes this tuna salad recipe one of my favorite meal prep ideas.
Ingredients
My favorite tuna salad recipe calls for just a handful of pantry staples.
- Tuna – I like to use the tuna flakes or chunks that come in water for a lighter salad (see below for details). Remember to fully drain the water from canned tuna or your tuna salad will turn out wet, which dilutes the dressing.
- Hard-boiled Eggs – Check out my tutorial for how to cook Hard Boiled Eggs.
- Dill Pickles – We love the salty crunch that pickles bring to this salad. If you aren’t a fan, feel free to leave them out.
- Celery and Onion – Diced celery and onion for added flavor and texture.
- Mayonnaise – Use the real stuff for the best flavor, or as a lower-calorie option, use plain Greek yogurt or avocado as in my Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe
- Sour Cream – I add this to mayo for extra tang.
- Salt and Pepper – add these to taste since there is plenty of flavor from the pickles and dressing.
What is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?
- Canned – When making my tuna salad recipe, we prefer albacore tuna in water as it’s healthier and has a fresh, light flavor, but oil-packed works too (consider reducing the mayo a bit). I prefer wild-caught tuna.
- Packets – Another option is tuna in tear-open packets, which doesn’t require any draining, with 17g of protein per package.
How to Make Classic Tuna Salad
It couldn’t be easier to make this creamy tuna salad recipe. Once you have everything chopped, it comes together fast.
- Combine all the ingredients on the list and then mix gently until all the ingredients are coated in dressing. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
Pro Tip
Tuna salad tastes even better the next day, since the flavors have had a chance to mingle together. See further on for make-ahead and storage tips.
Tuna Salad Recipe Variations
Tuna salad tastes the best when it brings you back to your childhood, so the recipe is easily customizable to make the salad your own.
- Swap the tuna for chicken instead (or, see my recipe for Chicken Salad)
- Stir in cooked macaroni for a tuna pasta salad
- Add spices, like dill, paprika, garlic powder, and curry powder to fit your taste.
- Stir in a spoonful of Dijon mustard or squeeze in fresh lemon juice
- Shake in some crushed chili flakes for a spicy kick.
- Add fruits, nuts, or veggies to the ingredients, like Avocado, Crumbled Bacon, cherry tomatoes, chives, capers, green apples, toasted nuts, raisins, or craisins.
How to Serve Tuna Salad
My tuna salad recipe is the ultimate make-ahead meal, because one easy recipe makes 5 or more exciting lunches.
- Lettuce Cups – scooped onto Bibb lettuce, butter lettuce, or Romaine hearts or leaves.
- Sandwiches – Choose toasted whole wheat slices for a healthier option, or roll them into Homemade Tortillas or Pita Bread.
- Tuna Salad – Add mixed greens to a bowl, scoop tuna salad over top, and enjoy as a gluten-free option.
- Croissant – Fill a Croissant and then toast it in the air fryer or toaster oven until it’s just crisp on the outside. It tastes like it’s fresh from the bakery!
- As a Dip – Serve this tuna salad with your favorite crackers (we love Sourdough Discard Crackers, Ritz crackers, Pita Chips, or artisan crackers).
Helpful Reader Review
“I grew up enjoying tuna salad “stuffed” home-grown tomatoes, with a bit of lettuce underneath. Especially best during summer tomato season! Vinegar tip sounds perfect!” – Tracy ★★★★★
Make-Ahead
Fresh or refrigerated, this tuna salad recipe tastes amazing! Here’s how to store it:
- To Refrigerate: Spoon into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing the tuna salad since mayo can separate and change textures.
- Serve: drain off any accumulated liquid and stir chilled just out of the fridge.
I grew up eating creamy tuna salad, and it’s still one of my favorite classic comfort foods. We’ll never run out of ways to turn it into a healthy weekday lunch packed with protein and veggies.
Tuna Salad
Ingredients
- 2 (5 oz) cans tuna in water, well drained
- 2 boiled eggs, peeled and diced
- 3 baby dill pickles, finely chopped
- 1 celery stick, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise*
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- fine sea salt, to taste
- cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and gently mix until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy Salad Recipes
My tuna salad recipe is one of our favorite lunches. Once you try it, you’ll want to check out these other delicious salad recipes:
- Avocado Chicken Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Panzanella Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Egg Salad
- Chickpea Salad
- Maroulosalata
Hi Natasha
Love your recipes was wondering what can I use instraseof sour cream it’s a little hard to access or limited in Livingstone ZAMBIA
Hi! Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy my recipes. You could try greek yogurt. It wouldn’t have the same taste but it would be the next best thing to use that is similar to sour cream.
Love all of your recipes, I have made this one so many times it is always delicious. Thank you so much.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Dave!
Thank you so much appreciate the help also in some of your baking videos what can you use to substitute for heavy and double cream?
You’re welcome. That depends on the recipe. You can read through my recipe notes and tips to see if I recommend any substitutions. Also, read through the comments of the recipe because sometimes my readers will share their experiences if they make any substitutions.
Hello, I’m sorry to ask the same question that a lot of people have already asked but I was also wondering how many oz of tuna is needed? I looked at the pictures and read the section that talked about it but it doesn’t say anywhere on the can in the pictures how many oz it is. Starkist has a 5 oz can and a 12 oz can. I went to wildplanet.com and it looks like they only offer a 5 oz can option. Would it be 10 oz total for this recipe? Thank you so much for your help with this. I love all your recipes, keep up the great work 🙂
Hi Michelle! No worries. I actually updated the recipe card to be more specific since I was getting this question a lot. I used 5 ounce cans (10 ounces total). I hope you love the recipe! 🙂
I cant make out the size of the tuna in the cans. What size are they?
Hi Monica, I recommend looking at the “What Is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?” section of the recipe. We have photos of the packaging we used and the type of tuna that’s best.
This is absolutely delicious! Added a little fresh chopped parsley I had on hand for color. Next time I will make a double batch. Thanks for the recipe!
That sounds like a great plan. I hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes that you will try!
Hi Natasha,
I love all your of your recipes. I wanted to know what size tuna cans that you used in this recipe .
I look forward to trying it with the eggs add in.
Thank you, Denise, for your good comments. I recommend looking at the “What Is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?” section of the recipe. We have photos of the packaging we used and the type of tuna that’s best.
Love how quick & easy this salad was to whip up. It truly was delicious! We had it on lettuce and loved how refreshing it was 😋😋 Thank too Natasha for always sharing such fabulous recipes 💗
You’re so welcome, Amy! So glad you enjoyed our tuna salad.
Can I used sweet pickles instead of dill? This is very similar to my Mom’s recipe except she added sweet relish but I would like to try gherkins!! Thank you.
Hello Carol, I haven’t tested that to advise but feel free to experiment! We’d love to know how it goes.
WHAT SIZE CANS OF TUNA DO YOU USE? I ONLY KNOW OF ONE SIZE BUT SINCE PAM ASKED THE QUESTION I THOUGHT THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT SIZES.
Hi Betty, I recommend looking at the “What Is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?” section of the recipe. We have photos of the packaging we used and the type of tuna that’s best.
I add a cup of cooked quinoa and serve it on the romaine; no bread required.
My husband wasn’t sure about me adding the eggs into the salad, but I did anyways and we both absolutely loved it! He said it was the best tuna salad sandwich he’s ever had. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hi Yuliya! That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you for trying my recipe. I’m so glad it was enjoyed.
Looks delicious! What brand of mayo do you prefer? Miracle Whip? Hellmans?
Hi Rick! I linked it in the recipe card, I used Hellman’s Real Mayonnaise. 🙂
Just wondering what size cans of tuna are used in this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Kathy, I recommend looking at the “What Is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?” section of the recipe. We have photos of the packaging we used and the type of tuna that’s best.
Very similar to what I do. The only difference is I don’t use sour cream because I like to use a squeeze of lemon. Also as a serving suggestion use pocket and stuff them full. Goes great with white wine
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Joseph!
Looks very tasty and is fast to make. Tomorrow will be my……breakfast!!!
I hope you love it, Elzbieta!
Similar to my recipe except I prefer tuna in olive oil, most of which gets drained, but adds flavor. Will have to try adding sour cream!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Valli!
I would love to try this. What size cans of tuna? I missed that in the recipe. Thanks!
Hi Pam, I recommend looking at the “What Is the Best Tuna for Tuna Salad?” section of the recipe. We have photos of the packaging we used and the type of tuna that’s best.
I have made your tuna salad & it is delicious!! It’s been a while, but thanks for reminding me that I need to make it again!!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you love this recipe. 🙂
The sour cream added a nice tang, and the boiled eggs were a tasty addition. So good!
Thank you for trying my recipe, Kara! So glad you love it.
I’ve never had eggs in my tuna salad before, but it was a surprisingly great addition! Loved it!
That’s great to hear, April. Thank you for trying my recipe. 🙂