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
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published April 2020, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
Wonderful!
Happy to hear you’re loving this tuna salad, Lauren!
I’m following your Whole 30 meal plan for the month of January and gave this recipe a try. It’s not just a bland tuna salad! The addition of fresh herbs truly makes the biggest difference, and the celery gives a nice crunch that’s very satisfying! I can eat it on its own but I truly enjoyed eating it on an avocado “bowl”.
The supporting ingredients really make this salad! Happy to hear you’re loving this, Suleika!
excellent and very easy to make!
Hi Kim – I’m so glad you love this tuna salad, enjoy!
I have made tuna salad like this for many years. I add grated carrots to mine, and curry powder instead of herbs if I’m in the mood for a bit different flavor.
Carrots and curry powder are always such a great addition!
The salad is fabulous! I am really impressed, easy, healthy and delicious! Thank you Lisa! I really enjoy using your website and following you for great recipes, advices on cooking, healthy lifestyle and everything in between! I very much appreciate you and your work. Your book is on my nightstand, another source of inspiration. Grateful!
Aw, thanks so much for your kind words, Daniela! I’m so happy you enjoy my recipes and thanks so much for purchasing my cookbook. :) I hope you continue to enjoy those recipes for years to come!
I have made MANY of the recipes on your website. All of them are fabulous. I made this one twice this week. My 17 year old daughter decided to try my first batch of it and devoured it, so we had to make a second. We love all of your recipes.
Hi Beth – so happy both you and your daughter love this tuna salad (and my other recipes as well)! :)
Delicious! So easy to make and refreshing! Always looking for healthy and light lunches. I love your site, thank you!
Happy to hear you’re loving this tuna salad, Linda!
So quick, healthy and refreshing. Celery gives it a wonderful taste (and even my dad who hates celery liked it ;)) It was the first time that I made it, but it came out perfect. I served it on a slice of toasted bread, so I didn’t have to cook anything on a hot summer day.
Hi Gaia – Happy to hear your first try at tuna salad was a success!
Hi, how many grams per serving?
I added shredded carrots to mine. Delicious! Thank you for another great recipe!
Shredded carrots are a great addition!
I have made twice since finding Downshiftology a few weeks ago. I needed a healthy tuna salad and this is it. Simple, fresh, and a staple recipe for me now.
Hi Jeanne – Thrilled to hear you’re loving this tuna salad recipe!
Great recipe. I added one tablespoon of pickle relish
I’m glad you enjoyed this tuna salad, Karen!
My family loves this recipe… thank you for sharing… will totally check out the other recipes on this site too.
Happy to hear the whole family loves this tuna salad!
One addition – dill pickle relish. About 3 TBSP made it better.
Great idea on adding dill pickle!
Delicious! We eat this a couple of times a month on our summer Romaine from our garden.
Thrilled to hear you love this tuna salad, Mary!
Used what was available for a quick lunch. Came out delicious! Used regular mustard, carrots instead of celery and diced dill pickles.
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this tuna salad, Dana!
Very good & very fast.
This is definitely a winner for a delicious and quick meal!
Excellent Tuna Salad! Added eggs & sweet pickles! Try it!
Hi Brian – Love the idea of adding eggs and sweet pickles!
What a delightful summer salad! Thank you for the additional ingredient suggestions, it helps make it taste fresh!
Hi Judi – I’m so glad you enjoyed this tuna salad!
delicious on a hard roll
Hi Mary – Glad you love this tuna salad!
This is simple and delish. We add capers. And it’s perfect. Thank you!!! Haven’t tried wild planet but will do so.
I’ve got a Tuscan twist on this recipe coming soon with capers and olives. I think you’ll like that one! ;)
Instead of mayonnaise I use hummus. It’s healthier.
Wow! Just wow! This is by far the best tuna salad I’ve ever had. Thank you so much!
Hi Aisha – Happy to hear you love this tuna salad!
Great recipe thank you. I added a chopped green mango, chopped baby cucumber and used mashed avocado with lime juice in lieu of mayo. Very tasty and healthy.
Love those additions, Paul!
I have made this several times for my book club and ladies’ church group, and they all seem to love this and your chicken salad and your deviled eggs. They were big hits thanks so much for posting them.
Hi there – So happy to hear everyone has been loving the recipes you make!
Turned out great
My go to for tuna
Hi Debbie – Glad you enjoyed this tuna salad!
This is THE BEST tuna salad recipe I’ve ever tried! I have it at lead once a week. It’s light, creamy, but also packs a little punch (I like mine with extra onions). It’s so good that I pretty much use the same ingredients for chicken salad (swapping out the tuna of course).
Hi Richelle – I’m glad you love this tuna salad recipe!
I really love this recipe. The ingredients go so well together, and is creamy and tasty. There’s no other way to make tuna salad at home since I tried this one. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy you enjoy this tuna salad recipe!
this is amazing 😻
Thanks, Vivian! Happy you love this tuna salad recipe. :)
Very tasty! This will be my new go to! I’ve never put parsley in or Dijon and it really brought it to the next level!
Hi Yvette – Happy to hear you’ve found a go-to tuna salad!
This is my tuna salad recipe. The only difference is that I use the tuna in safflower oil in a pouch and I add a little bit of dill and black pepper. Eliminate the salt. Always a big hit!
Hi Bernadette – Happy to hear you’re loving this tuna salad!
Quick and delicious! It was my turn to make dinner tonight — now my girlfriend thinks I can cook!
Hi Terry – You can always depend on this tuna salad for something quick, easy, and delicious!
I added 1/4 cup diced pecans or walnuts. Can also add 1/4 cup diced peeled apple. Delicious on lettuce leaves and sandwich sautéed with a tiny bit of butter!!
Hi Christiane – Love those additions to this tuna salad! Thanks for sharing!
The metric ingredients says “2 Tuna”, what’s up with that?
Hi Jess – Thanks for letting us know! It should be just 2 (5-ounce) cans of tuna.
This is the best tuna salad recipe I’ve ever tasted. The flavors are well balanced and it’s so easy to make. I have made it multiple times and now love to substitute grated hard boiled eggs for one of the cans of tuna. So delicious! Thank you, Lisa!
Hi Tiffany – I’m so glad you love this tuna salad!
First time making your tuna salad recipe! Simple to prepare, lucky to have the all the ingredients in my fridge. I did add a touch more mayo as you suggest for a creamier mix – absolutely perfect! Stuffing some in a pita as we speak! lol 😋 Thanks!
Hi Ren – This is always my go-to quick and easy lunch! Glad you enjoyed it as well :)
Nice recipe! I didn’t have red onions on hand. I added two tablespoons of salad cubes, two chopped boiled eggs and a few dashes of paprika. My hubby said it was perfect 😇
Goes great as a topper on Everything Bagel flavored crostinis!
Hi Jacquelyn – I’m glad you love this tuna salad recipe!
My favourite fast recipe for dinner on a hot night, served over an avocado half, or bread.
It’s my favorite as well! :) Happy you loved it, Helene!
Normally I’m lazy with my tuna salad and just use everything but the bagel seasoning in it. This was way better! I skipped the celery since I’m not a fan and used chives and dill as the fresh herbs. I will be making my tuna this way from now on
Sometimes, it’s the littlest things that make all the difference!
Can have this in many ways, one of my favourite easy salads to make! Thank you! 🥗🙌🏼
It’s definitely my top go-to salad as well. Enjoy!
I will give it a try
this helped with my project: AWESOME FOOD!!! u can see it on youtube
That’s great to hear Ryan! I’ll be sure to check it out.
Also with tahini instead of mayo it is very nice! :)
Thanks for sharing, Alina!
I love this tuna salad- made it many times. Delicious 🥳
Glad you’re loving this tuna salad, Dani!
Delicious recipe!
Everyone in my family thought it was amazing.
Thank you!
Glad everyone enjoyed this tuna salad Sandra!
I love this salad! It is my favorite dinner option almost every night. I recommend adding a little lemon juice, a nice touch to the dressing. 100% Recommend
Lemon juice is definitely a nice touch!
My go to tuna salad recipe! Flavorful and perfect mixture. I like to serve it with thinly sliced cucumber and spinach on my sandwich. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I’m happy you love it. Enjoy!
Another amazing recipe by Lisa! This tuna salad offers the best of all things – not too much mayo and the perfect balance of crunch and flavor. Super easy to make and comes together quickly. My favorite tuna salad recipe, for sure!
Glad you found your new favorite tuna salad recipe Kacey!
You forgot to add in a “literally” tp go along with amazing and super.
This recipe is absolutely delicious and definitely one of my new favorite dishes! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, I will definitely be making it again and again. Keep up the good work!