Easy Tuna Salad
- PREP 10min
- TOTAL 10min
We use canned Albacore tuna and a short list of simple ingredients in our favorite tuna salad recipe. It is so quick and easy. If you cannot find sustainably caught canned tuna, substitute the tuna with flaked salmon or mashed chickpeas (use about 2 cups). Tips for buying tuna for tuna salad are in the tips section below.
You Will Need
2 (5 ounce) cans of tuna, see tips below
3 to 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, try homemade mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
1 scallion, finely chopped, or use 1 tablespoon of chopped onion
1 to 2 dill pickles, finely chopped, try homemade pickles
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice, optional
Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Prepare the tuna: Whether you drain the liquid in the can depends on the brand of tuna you have. If you have purchased tuna cooked in the can, you do not need to drain it. Draining it would remove the natural juices and fats, including omega-3 fats. If the can of tuna says “packed in water” or “packed in oil,” we prefer to drain it.
Make the salad: Place the tuna in a medium bowl and break it up with a fork. Add 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, the chopped celery, scallion, pickles, 1 tablespoon of pickle juice, and a generous pinch of fresh ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
Taste and adjust: Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with salt, or add another tablespoon of mayonnaise if needed.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Store tuna salad in airtight, food-safe containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. We do not recommend freezing the salad.
- Do I need to drain tuna cans? The answer depends on the brand of tuna you have. If you have purchased tuna cooked in the can, then no, you do not want to drain it. Draining it would remove the natural juices and fats, including omega-3 fats. Alternatively, if the can of tuna says “packed in water” or “packed in oil,” we prefer to drain it. That tuna was likely cooked before being canned, so those natural juices have already been lost. Generally, most brands that cook the tuna can indicate this on the packaging or mention there is no need to drain.
- Best tuna to buy for tuna salad: We look for the little blue logo with MSC on it (Marine Stewardship Council Certified) as well as key terms like “hand-operated pole-and-lines” or “pole and line caught.” Albacore tuna caught with trolling lines can also be a good option (be careful not to confuse trolling lines with trawling, which is very different).
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.