By Becky Hardin
Published Aug 16, 2023
This easy Tuna Salad recipe is made deliciously with simple ingredients like canned tuna, walnuts, apples, mayo, and onions. It’s an easy, creamy lunch recipe you can use in lots of different ways–make tuna salad sandwiches, or serve it with rice, pasta, or lettuce. Pack this summertime favorite for your next family picnic, because the kids are going to love it too!
What’s in this Easy Tuna Salad Recipe?
Flaky tuna fish mixed with crunchy walnuts, sweet apples, creamy mayonnaise, and zesty lemon juice means this lunchtime salad is loaded with amazing flavors!
- Canned Tuna: I prefer tuna packed in water with a dolphin-safe label. You can buy cans or packets. I recommend light or skipjack tuna because they are both lower in mercury than albacore.
- Apple: You can use any kind of apple you like. For a sweeter taste, use Fuji or Honeycrisp. For a tart taste, use Granny Smith.
- Walnuts: These give the salad an added crunch that’s so satisfying!
- Mayonnaise: This binds all the ingredients and creates that deliciously creamy texture. To really send this classic salad over the top, consider serving it with homemade mayonnaise .
- Red Onion: If red onion sounds too strong for you, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes. Green onions will create a milder taste.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed is always best.
- Seasonings: I like to season my tuna salad with a simple sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Herbs: Fresh cilantro or parsley both work well as garnishes.
Pro Tip: You can use oil-packed tuna, but I recommend draining it over a fine-mesh sieve and rinsing with cold water before using.
Tasty Variations
Here are just a few easy ways you can customize this easy tuna salad recipe:
- Swap the tuna for canned chicken for an easy chicken salad .
- Replace the mayonnaise with regular or Greek yogurt for a lighter, healthier option.
- Swap the apples for diced grapes.
- Add dried fruits, such as raisins, dried cranberries, or dried figs.
- Use any nuts you like, such as pecans or almonds.
- Make it extra crunchy by tossing in diced up cucumbers or shredded cabbage.
- Add chopped pickles or sweet pickle relish for a tangy flavor.
- Spice it up with some curry powder.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over top for a brighter flavor.
Tuna salad is a bit of a mixed bag healthwise. Canned tuna is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, tuna also contains mercury, which can be dangerous when consumed in high levels. It’s recommended that adults consume 12 ounces or less of light/skipjack tuna per week and less than 4 ounces of higher mercury albacore tuna per week. Tuna salad also contains other healthy ingredients, such as walnuts, apples, and onions. The main ingredient that brings down the healthfulness of tuna salad is mayonnaise, which is calorie-dense and high in fat.
Yes! Pregnant women can (and absolutely should!) continue to eat the recommended safe amounts of tuna throughout pregnancy. Omega-3s are great for both mom and baby!
Absolutely! Be sure to fully cook the tuna before adding it to tuna salad.
How to Store
Store leftover tuna fish salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy cold or add to a tuna melt! I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as it ruins the texture.
How to Serve Tuna Salad
This easy tuna salad recipe is so versatile, you can have a different lunch every day of the week! That means it’s a great recipe for meal prep , for you, the kids, and the whole family.
Serve it on sandwich bread , in a wrap, or make sliders with dinner rolls .
Pile it on a bed of green lettuce for a tasty salad, or use it to make lettuce wraps.
Use it like a dip and eat it with tortillas chips , wonton chips , pita chips, or naan .
Or just have a bowl of it with some simple sides, like sautéed vegetables , sweet potato chips , potato wedges , or refrigerator pickles .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 10 ounces canned tuna drained well (2 cans)
- ▢ 1 apple cored and chopped (any kind is fine!)
- ▢ ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- ▢ 5 tablespoons mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
- ▢ 1 tablespoon finely diced red onion
- ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from ½ lemon
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ Fresh cilantro or parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Video
Instructions
- Mix the tuna, apples, walnuts, mayo, onion, and lemon juice until well-combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. 10 ounces canned tuna, 1 apple, ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, 5 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon finely diced red onion, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Top with cilantro or parsley if desired. Chill in the refrigerator. Fresh cilantro or parsley
Becky’s Tips
- I prefer tuna packed in water with a dolphin-safe label. You can buy cans or packets. I recommend light or skipjack tuna because they are both lower in mercury than albacore.
- You can use oil-packed tuna, but I recommend draining it over a fine-mesh sieve and rinsing with cold water before using.
- Use a high-quality mayonnaise. You will definitely taste it! I like olive-oil based mayo.
- You can use any kind of apple you like. For a sweeter taste, use Fuji or Honeycrisp. For a tart taste, use Granny Smith.
- If red onion sounds too strong for you, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes. Green onions make a milder tuna salad.
- Mix the salad gently to preserve the texture.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Cold Salad Recipes We Love
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad
- Turkey Salad
- Ham Salad
- Air Fryer Egg Salad
- Quinoa Salad
- Avocado Egg Salad
Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces canned tuna drained well (2 cans)
- 1 apple cored and chopped (any kind is fine!)
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
- 5 tablespoons mayonnaise store-bought or homemade
- 1 tablespoon finely diced red onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from ½ lemon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the tuna, apples, walnuts, mayo, onion, and lemon juice until well-combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. 10 ounces canned tuna, 1 apple, ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, 5 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon finely diced red onion, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Top with cilantro or parsley if desired. Chill in the refrigerator. Fresh cilantro or parsley
Video
Notes
- I prefer tuna packed in water with a dolphin-safe label. You can buy cans or packets. I recommend light or skipjack tuna because they are both lower in mercury than albacore.
- You can use oil-packed tuna, but I recommend draining it over a fine-mesh sieve and rinsing with cold water before using.
- Use a high-quality mayonnaise. You will definitely taste it! I like olive-oil based mayo.
- You can use any kind of apple you like. For a sweeter taste, use Fuji or Honeycrisp. For a tart taste, use Granny Smith.
- If red onion sounds too strong for you, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes. Green onions make a milder tuna salad.
- Mix the salad gently to preserve the texture.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
