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The Best Deli-Style Tuna Salad Recipe

The Best Deli-Style Tuna Salad

This creamy, crunchy tuna salad combines pantry-friendly tuna with mayonnaise, crisp vegetables, pickles, lemon, mustard, and fresh herbs. It is a quick sandwich filling, salad topping, or cracker-friendly lunch.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 5-ounce cans Tuna, preferably solid or chunk light packed in water, drained well
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup Finely diced celery
  • 2 tablespoons Finely diced red onion or shallot
  • 2 tablespoons Finely chopped dill pickles
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Chopped fresh parsley or dill
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Deli-Style Additions
  • 1 tablespoon Finely chopped capers
  • 1 egg Hard-boiled egg, finely chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoons Pickle juice
  • 1-2 tablespoons Extra mayonnaise

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Drain the tuna thoroughly. For a less watery salad, press it gently in a fine-mesh strainer or squeeze it lightly in its container.
  2. Place the drained tuna in a mixing bowl and break it into small flakes with a fork.
  3. Add the mayonnaise, celery, onion, pickles or relish, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, herbs, kosher salt, and black pepper.
  4. Stir until evenly combined, taking care not to overmix. The finished salad should remain slightly chunky, like a good deli-counter tuna salad.
  5. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add more lemon juice or pickle juice for acidity, extra mayonnaise for moisture, or additional salt and pepper as needed.
  6. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes so the flavors can develop. Keep refrigerated and use within 3 to 4 days.

Notes

Drain the tuna very well before mixing to prevent a loose, diluted salad. Dice the celery, onion, and pickles finely for the best texture. Optional additions include capers, chopped hard-boiled egg, pickle juice, sweet relish, and extra mayonnaise.