Tuna Salad
You will love this easy, homemade, sweet, and savory Tuna Salad recipe.
Tasty tuna, crunchy apple, sweet corn, and onion are tossed in a simple yet delicious creamy dressing, creating a delectable salad.
This recipe makes mouthwatering Tuna Salad Sandwiches that you can prep in just about 10 minutes.
There are so many variations of tuna salad, and we’ve tried quite a few. But most of the time, we return to this version I created a few years ago. It checks all the boxes and is one of our favorite easy recipes.
Classic Tuna Salad Recipe Highlights
- QUICK AND EASY – Most of the work involves chopping apples and onions (use this tool to make your life even easier). After that, you add ingredients. This recipe will take you 10 minutes, 15 minutes at most.
- CUSTOMIZABLE – You can easily make adjustments to this recipe. You can serve this salad over a bed of lettuce, turn it into lettuce wraps, or serve it as a classic Tuna Salad on toast.
- HOMEMADE – A solid tuna salad sandwich recipe will help you feed your family or loved ones quickly. And unlike the one from the deli, you know exactly what is in the salad.
- STAPLE INGREDIENTS – All of the ingredients are things you probably always have in your fridge and pantry.
Ingredient Notes
You can find the complete list of ingredients and quantities in the printable recipe card below.
TUNA – I recommend tuna packed in water. If you prefer to use oil-packed tuna, make sure to drain it before using it. You also might want to consider reducing the amount of mayonnaise.
SWEET CORN – You can use any corn you have on hand. Fresh corn is lovely, but I typically use frozen or canned corn.
If you choose frozen corn, let it defrost for 30 minutes before making the salad. You can also defrost the frozen corn in the microwave. Use a kitchen towel to pat dry any excess moisture.
If I choose canned corn, I make sure to drain it properly to avoid excess liquid.
APPLE – I like sweet red apples such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Cortland apples. But if you want to add a bit of tartness, try making this salad with a Granny Smith apple.
RED ONION – We add this to add a bit of crunch and color.
SWEET RELISH – Using Sweet Pickle Relish is an easy way to inject the salad with tons of delicious flavor. This is one of the few recipes I don’t even add a pinch of salt.
RELATED RECIPE – Cold German Potato Salad (just 5 ingredients)
MAYONNAISE – This is what we use for our creamy base.
Variations
GREEK YOGURT – Instead of mayonnaise, you can use Greek Yogurt for the dressing. It will still be creamy and a healthy meal to boost.
CELERY – If you don’t like red onions, you can always substitute them with celery. Two to three finely chopped chalks are a great alternative.
EGGS – Adding a couple of chopped boiled eggs transforms this recipe into a high-protein powerhouse salad.
PICKLES – Add some dill pickles to make this salad more savory.
GARNISH – I don’t always add garnish, but you can add a few fresh herbs, such as fresh parsley if you like.
How To Make Homemade Tuna Salad
- DICE the apple and red onion. DRAIN excess water from the canned tuna.
- WHISK mayonnaise and sweet relish until well combined in a medium bowl.
- ADD all of the ingredients and stir until well combined.
Bonus Tip: If you want to cut down on calories, you can substitute Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise and it’ll still be yummy. And I’ve also made this recipe with a 50/50 ratio of mayo and Greek yogurt. It works really well, too.
Leftovers and Storage
STORE – If you have leftovers, put them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 2 days.
FREEZE – Don’t do it. Technically, you could. But chances are the defrosted Tuna Salad will be a sloppy mess. And you’d likely be disappointed because it won’t have the amazing taste and texture of our fresh Tuna Salad.
PREP TIP – Instead of making the Tuna Salad in a classic mixing bowl and then transferring the leftovers into a food storage container make the salad directly in this storage container with a lid.
This way, you’ll simply pop a lid on and the leftovers directly into your fridge.
More Easy and Delicious Salads
How To Serve Tuna Salad
SANDWICH – This is my favorite. Two slices of bread with a little lettuce and a couple of tomatoes. Chef’s kiss.
WRAP – Similar to a sandwich. I like whole-wheat wraps best, but a spinach wrap is also delicious.
LETTUCE – Serving this salad on a bed of lettuce is a great option if you’re watching your carbs.
You can serve this salad with a few veggies, such as baby carrots, celery sticks, or sliced bell pepper. And if you want to add a bit of a treat, grab a bag of chips. Check out my favorite chips.
More Easy Lunch Recipes
Egg Salad – Is another versatile, easy lunch recipe that you can enjoy as a salad over a bed of lettuce, as a sandwich, or in a wrap.
Pea Salad – Potluck favorite! Tender peas, crunchy bacon, and hearty Cheddar combined in a creamy salad.
Chipotle Chicken Wrap – easy way to make a restaurant-style chicken wrap at home.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – A delicious pasta salad perfect as a summer side dish and a staple for parties, picnics, and potlucks.
Amish Macaroni Salad – This recipe is a must-try if you like sweet and savory pasta salad.
Tuna Salad
Ingredients
Tuna Salad
- 8 ounces tuna 2 cans packed in water, drained
- 1 medium red apple diced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup sweet corn frozen (defrosted), canned, fresh
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Open canned tuna and drain excess water.
- In a large bowl combine sweet relish and mayonnaise until well combined. Add tuna, sweet corn, apple, and red onion. Stir until well combined.
- Serve on top of lettuce or as a sandwich.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.
Maike you are very creative, I never thought of adding apple and sweet corn.
Thank you, Michelle. It’s been a family favorite for years. Hope you enjoy it.
We’ve made this twice now and loved it! Thanks for sharing!