The perfect tuna salad combines flavor, creaminess, and crunch, and my recipe is loaded with crunchy extras like celery, pickles, and nuts. This tuna salad recipe is quick to make and great to eat with crackers, in a tuna salad sandwich, or stuffed in an avocado for a snack or light lunch.
Classic Tuna Salad With a Twist
After years of perfecting my tuna and chicken salad recipes, I can safely say that this is the BEST tuna salad. It starts with flaky tuna and cream mayo as the base, so it has all the classic flavors. My version includes crisp, briny pickles, crunchy celery, spicy mustard, and chopped nuts. It’s the perfect balance of savory-tangy-spicy. Tuna salad is quick to make, affordable, and meal prep-friendly, delicious between French bread slices for a tuna salad sandwich, or spread onto crackers.
What Ingredients Go in a Tuna Salad?
These are the ingredients in my favorite tuna salad recipe. For the exact measurements, refer to the recipe card below the post.
- Tuna – I like to buy canned tuna that comes in water or brine rather than oil, though canned in oil also works.
- Mayonnaise – You can cut the mayo with sour cream or substitute half with Greek yogurt for a lighter tuna salad.
- Mustard – I use spicy brown mustard, but you can swap it with Dijon or yellow mustard instead.
- Celery – Finely diced so you get little bits of celery in each bite. I’m not the biggest fan of raw onions, so I don’t include them, but you’re welcome to add diced red onions with the celery if you’d like.
- Pickles – Chopped dill pickles or butter pickles, it’s up to you.
- Almonds – Chopped or slivered almonds are an unexpected ingredient that adds tons of texture. You could also try cashews or walnuts.
- Chives – Green onions would also work nicely.
- Lemon Juice – A squeeze of fresh lemon brightens everything up and ties the flavors together.
How to Make Tuna Salad
Tuna salad is my fast solution to not only lunch in the summer when the kids are home, but even as a fast dinner option! I make a big batch and store it in the fridge for easy meals.
- Mix the ingredients. Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- Store or serve. Serve right away, or chill it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving Tuna Salad
Get creative with how you serve this salad. Pile it onto bread or crackers, or serve it in a pita or tortilla wrap. I love tuna salad stuffed in an avocado for a flavorful, high-protein lunch.
Variations
Here are more ways you can adapt this tuna salad recipe:
- Relish: If you don’t have pickles to chop up, add relish instead.
- Balsamic: Mix in a spoonful of balsamic vinegar or drizzle balsamic glaze over the finished salad.
- Spicy: If you like spice, you can add some crushed red pepper.
- Asian-style: Stir in some wasabi and a splash of soy sauce.
- Pasta: Combine this tuna salad with cooked, cooled short pasta to make a delicious tuna pasta salad!
More Easy Lunch Recipes
Tuna Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1–2 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is the best tuna salad recipe loaded with crunchy pickles, celery, spicy mustard, and chopped nuts. It’s quick to make and perfect for sandwiches and meal prep!
Ingredients
- 2 (5 ounce) cans tuna, drained well
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
- 1/3 cup small diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons chopped almonds (or cashews)
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- juice of half a lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl until combined.
- Serve immediately or chill airtight for up to 3 days.
Notes
Serve with crackers, on bread with avocado, lettuce and tomato, on a lettuce wrap, or a tortilla.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Scoop
- Calories: 334
- Sugar: 5.9 g
- Sodium: 292.2 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.9 g
- Protein: 8.4 g
- Cholesterol: 19.8 mg
Simple to put together, and Super Tasty! Really glad i found your website! Thanks
Shelly, in your description you mention carrots, but they are not included in your ingredients?
Looks like that was a typo! Meant to say celery. Although diced carrots could be great too!
Mm…I would like this. Not sure about the nuts in there ..lol..I have never heard of spicy “brown” mustard. Is it like a Dijon mustard? I always put a squirt of yellow mustard in my tuna, mayo, onions. Sometimes curry powder and dried cranberries. The curry tastes really good as well. Thanks for your version. I will give it a try!
We love tuna salad too; thanks for your version! However,while their mustard is outstanding, use it in many things, their mayo has an off taste that I just don’t care for, same base is used in their special sauce! Sorry!
You know what I love in my tuna salad, bacon!! I sometimes used raw onions sometimes cooked, caramelized peppers, yummy
such a great idea!!