Here’s a classic to try- this Southern Tuna Salad Recipe has lots of fresh, crunchy vegetables that make it special on greens, toasted sandwich bread, or as a wrap!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
A good, classic Southern Tuna Salad Recipe is nice to have on hand when you want something light and flavorful that doesn’t take too long to make. Who doesn’t love a good tuna sandwich?
This recipe is loaded with great ingredients, and here’s a few good reasons to make it:
- Tuna can be bland and uninspired, but this is the best tuna salad recipe! Made with chopped hard boiled egg, fresh celery, tangy pickles, grated onion and punchy seasonings like Italian parsley and squeezed lemon juice. So fresh!
- You control the mayo! There’s nothing worse than too much of the stuff on a tuna sandwich…but with flavor from grated shallot and Dijon mustard, this tuna salad is a standout.
- The recipe is easy to double, so it’s handy for lunches & light dinners.
I LOVE salad. Have you tried this Italian Green Bean Salad? Man, it’s good. Everyone likes a fresh strawberry salad, too, and this version is tasty & super fresh!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the full recipe, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Can of Tuna: Water packed, 7 ounces
- Celery: For freshness and crunch
- Hard Boiled Egg: Start with one large, add a second one if you’d like
- Mayo: Just enough to hold things together
- Dill Pickles: For that tangy quality
- Shallot: Perfect when it’s grated into this salad
- Italian Parsley: Because we love it on practically everything 🙂
- Fresh Lemon: For extra flavor and freshness
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper and mustard
Step-By Step Instructions
- Drain the tuna and add it to a medium bowl. With clean hands, break the tuna apart so there are no clumps.
- Sprinkle with the fresh lemon juice and toss it into the tuna, just lightly with your hands
- Add the chopped celery, chopped boiled egg, pickle and grated shallot
TIP: Grate the shallot on a box grater, or just chop it finely with a knife
Next, add:
- Mayonnaise – start with a little, and add just enough to hold it together, usually 1-3 tablespoons
- Mustard: Dijon is best, but any kind will be fine
- Salt and Pepper: Kosher Salt (Diamond Crystal is a favorite) and a few turns of the fresh pepper grinder
- Italian Parsley: Chopped finely to add at the end
Tips and Possible Variations
This is one of those great, classic recipes you can customize to your own taste:
- Use sweet pickle relish instead of dills if you’d like
- You could use dill relish instead of a chopped dill pickle
- You can use red onion or green onions instead of a shallot
- Add a light sprinkle of Old Bay Seasoning on top before serving if you’d like
- Be sure to add just a tablespoon mayonnaise at a time so you don’t overdo it, which is easy to do 🙂
Serving Ideas
There are so many ways you can serve Southern Tuna Salad. Here’s a few ideas:
- Make it a wrap! Use shredded lettuce, cucumbers & avocado.
- With fresh lemon wedges on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes. Serve a vinaigrette dressing on the side
- Add some finely chopped red bell pepper to the tuna mixture if you’d like
- Tuna salad sandwiches make a great lunch or light dinner on toasted, buttered bread
- Add a second hard boiled egg to the tuna mixture if you’d like
- Serve a trio of salad! Potato salad, egg salad and this simple tuna salad recipe
- Use this easy recipe to make a tuna melt sandwich with cheddar cheese
- Add a scoop to the top of large, thick slices of fresh tomatoes as a substitute for bread
- Have a cup of soup with your tuna salad – try this really flavorful Italian Greens and Beans Soup with Escarole, this warm and Rustic Tortellini Soup or this creamy dairy-free Corn Chowder.
- Don’t forget a little dessert…..something small like a Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Snack Bar, some easy Chocolate Covered Rice Krispie Treats, or a Fresh Cherry Milkshake. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use sweet pickles instead of dills?
Yes! You could even use dill or sweet relish if you want.
How do I store this salad?
In an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Recipes to Try
- Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon: These are amazing!
- Cherry Tomato Soup Recipe: Delicious, fresh, quick!
- Lemon Artichoke Dip: Easy, hot & delicious
- Carrot Currant Salad: Refreshing and different with no mayo!
- Italian Greens and Beans Recipe with Escarole: A wonderful bowl of soup!
- Naan BLT with Sundried Tomato Pesto: A really tasty sandwich…
If you’ve tried Southern Tuna Salad Recipe, or any other recipe on Studio Delicious, please rate the recipe 5 stars and tell me how you liked it in comments below!
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Southern Tuna Salad Recipe
This classic Southern Tuna Salad Recipe is great on greens or as a sandwich! #classic #besttunasaladrecipe #tuna #salad #studiodeliciouseats #southerntunasaladrecipe
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Servings: 3
Calories: 43kcal
Ingredients
- 1 7 ounce can Tuna, water packed
- 2 teaspoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1-2 tablespoons Celery, finely chopped
- 1 large Egg, hard boiled and chopped
- 2 tablespoons Dill Pickle, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Shallot, grated
- 1-3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper 4 or 5 turns on the pepper grinder
- 1 tablespoon Italian Parsley, chopped
- Lettuce, optional
- Tomato, optional
- Cucumber, optional
Instructions
- TO COOK THE HARD BOILED EGGS: Add one or two eggs to a medium saucepan of cold water covering the eggs by at least 2" inches. Let it simmer on medium-high heat for 12 minutes, then cover and let the eggs sit for another 3 minutes. Drain and run cold water over the eggs, then let them sit for a few minutes and peel and chop.
- MAKE THE TUNA SALAD Drain the tuna and add it to a medium-sized bowl. With clean hands, break the tuna apart with your fingers so there are no clumps. Add the lemon juice, and toss with your fingers to incorporate it throughout.
- Add the celery, egg, dill pickle, and the shallot, which can be chopped finely or grated on the side of a box grater. Add a tablespoon of the mayonnaise, the Dijon mustard, salt, pepper and parsley. Mix together with a spoon, add more mayonnaise, a tablespoon at a time until the mixture loosely holds together.
- Serve with lemon wedges, lettuce, tomato or on toasted bread for a sandwich.
Notes
- Serve with lemon wedges, lettuce, tomato or on toasted bread for a sandwich.
- Add a second hard boiled egg if you’d like
- Add the mayonnaise a tablespoon at a time so you don’t overdo it 🙂
Nutrition
Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
Tips for Success with Every Recipe
- Super important to read the whole recipe before you begin
- Pay attention to the ingredient list and photos for the recipe
- If possible, prep your ingredients a little before you start
- Always use a sharp knife for safety
- Use the size of pan called for in the recipe
- For savory recipes, taste and season as you go
- Buy fresh, organic ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible
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