A Classic Tuna Salad Recipe is something you need to keep in your back pocket. However, as far as tuna salad recipes go, I am partial to mine. It’s tart and bright and creamy. I throw in capers for a briny touch and diced celery for fantastic crunch. Everyone loves it and I make a big batch so it will last more than a few minutes. Let’s get started!
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The best thing about this classic tuna salad is that is super simple to make. The second best thing about this tuna salad is that you cannot mess it up. Let’s get started!
This recipe takes as long to make as it does to chop the celery and onion, drain and flake the tuna, and pull out a few things from the fridge and pantry. After that, it’s only mixing and serving.
I do like to keep the size of my diced onion and celery fairly similar in size just to keep the tuna salad consistent in mixture. But, you do you. Fly your tuna salad flag exactly how you like!
After everything is chopped and brought out of the fridge and pantry, all you have to do is mix until combined. Store in the fridge for three to four days, but ours rarely lasts for longer than two!
Classic Tuna Salad ingredients
- Tuna
- Mayonaise
- Whole Grain Mustard
- Dill Relish
- Red Onion
- Celery
- Capers
- Dill Weed
- Lemon
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
The Tuna
I use a good quality tuna and prefer albacore if it’s available. However, use what you have and what you love for your own Classic Tuna Salad!
The Celery
Something I absolutely love to incorporate into my tuna salad recipe is diced celery. The crunch just makes it so much better. This recipe has phenomenal taste and texture!
Whole Grain Mustard
Whole grain mustard works so well with this recipe. It gives it such a wonderful bite and, again, I love the texture!
The Capers
Another fun addition I love to add to this tuna recipe is capers. Capers add a fantastic, briny zing and you don’t have to add a lot to make a big difference!
How to Make a Classic Tuna Salad Recipe
Time needed: 15 minutes
For the best Classic Tuna Salad Recipe, simply:
- Prep ingredients and grab a large mixing bowl.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Season.
Salt and pepper tuna mixture to your taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
For serving, white toast is classic. I love it on lettuce leaves or as a dip for fresh veggies. It’s also a great snack straight out of the bowl. There’s no wrong way. Just enjoy!
Tuna Salad Essentials
Capers are a wonderful addition to this Classic Tuna Salad recipe and I highly recommend them. They’re also fantastic in so many other recipes and stay in the fridge for a very long time!
Whole grain mustard is a wonderful ingredient. It’s great in tuna and in sauces and even spread on bread for a basic ham sandwich. It’s a kitchen must-have in my opinion.
frequently asked questions
This recipe is both gluten and dairy-free!
If tuna is a bit much for your constitution, I suggest swapping it for chicken! This recipe would make an amazing chicken salad. Use canned, drained chicken or fine chopped rotisserie chicken! You’ll end up with an amazing dish!
I keep this salad on hand very often in my house. My kids love it, my husband requests it, and I can’t get enough. I love that this is a great meal prep recipe for school lunches and for my husband to take to the office. I also will serve this along side a big crudité spread for parties. You cannot go wrong with how you do it. We even like it served on an old school saltine cracker.
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Classic Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 (5 oz) cans albacore tuna, drained and flaked
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise more if your tuna seems dry
- 1 ¼ cups dill relish
- 1 cup celery, finely diced
- 1 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 2 tbsp capers, rough chopped
- 2 tbsp dried dill weed
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Salt and pepper tuna mixture to your taste.
- For serving, white toast is classic. I love it on lettuce leaves or as a dip for fresh veggies. It's also a great snack straight out of the bowl. There's no wrong way. Just enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Classic Tuna Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or review. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
–Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
If you’re looking for another great recipe for fish, you’ve got to try my simple oven baked salmon. It’s another great way to prepare a fantastic protein that is good for you and tastes great, too!
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If you guys make this Classic Tuna Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
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