When I was 17, I worked in the kitchen at Surprise Lake Camp. I was one of the two Second Cooks on Teenside (the oldest campers in camp – ages 13 to 15). The head cook was a guy named Lenny, who was sweet and treated me like a daughter. I had no kitchen knowledge, but I was great at following directions. He taught me to make the best tuna salad ever and in the years that have followed, I still follow his basic recipe. I wasn’t the best cook back then, in fact, I really didn’t find my legs in the kitchen until around 12 years ago, the summer of my first pregnancy with my now 11-year-old son. But this tuna salad is still my basic recipe and wows my family.
Ingredients:
2 cans white albacore tuna
2 tablespoons mayo
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
3 tablespoons sweet relish
Paprika to taste
Garlic Salt to taste
Instructions:
You can play around with the amounts and ingredients, but this is the basic recipe I follow. And it’s delicious!
First, drain your tuna. I prefer to use white albacore, but use any type of tuna you prefer.
Add your mayo. I enlisted my 11-year-old son to help me make this today. Teaching my kids how to cook is a priority. It helps with listening to directions and strengthening little hands (all three of my kids have low muscle tone and weak hands).
Add your mustard – I prefer to use spicy brown, but if you want to try a different mustard, like dijon, that will work also.
Add your relish.
Don’t forget the paprika – it gives it a little kick up that is needed.
Serve with or without bread. Link to my youtube video – https://youtu.be/WDLok9fwsq0
So, how do you like to make your tuna salad? Do you have any secret ingredients that you add? I’d love to hear your ideas! T
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The Best Tuna Salad Recipe
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cans white albacore tuna
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 2 tbsp spicy brown mustard We love Gulden's
- 3 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- paprika to taste
- garlic salt to taste
Instructions
- First, drain your tuna. I prefer to use white albacore, but use any type of tuna you prefer.
- Add your mayo. I enlisted my 11-year-old son to help me make this today. Teaching my kids how to cook is a priority. It helps with listening to directions and strengthening little hands (all three of my kids have low muscle tone and weak hands).
- Add your mustard – I prefer to use spicy brown, but if you want to try a different mustard, like dijon, that will work also.
- Add your relish.
- Don’t forget the paprika – it gives it a little kick up that is needed.
- Serve with or without bread.
he Best Tuna Salad Recipe Ever
I added half of a jalapeño, finely diced and chopped hard boiled egg to fill me up some more since I used this recipe for a low carb wrap. Thank you for the recipe.
This Is The best tuna salad recipe. I’ve made it several times. I add a little bit of shredded carrots and celery, and season it with some additional shakes of Mrs. Dash. The sandwich bread gets a little added smidge of mayo before piling up the tuna and everyone loves it. Thank you so much!
I love that you added carrots and celery! Yum!
I like to add chopped celery and chopped green olives and grated cheese. Gives it a crunchy texture and a saltiness from the olives. And of course the tuna and mayo.???
Ooh, my husband would love chopped green olives in his tuna!
A couple of my favorite secret ingredients are curry or horseradish…..not to much just enough to add a little surprise flavor….my family and friends…love it even the ones who normally do not like tuna…just a thought
I am definitely a horseradish fan — great idea. My oldest child loves curry, I’ll let him know about this.
Garlic powder, finely chopped purple or green onions, finely chopped celery, boiled eggs, & dill relish are ingredients I add to mine!
Awesome — I love this!
Everyone needs to know how to make tuna salad – it’s a basic life skill – LOL! When I use your recipe, I would leave out the mustard and add a bit more mayo and finely chopped sweet onion. I sometimes make it with dill relish but usually make it with sweet relish. When I make tuna salad with sweet relish, I sometimes add chopped apple with the skin on.
Oops – I forgot to mention that I also use chopped egg in my tuna salad.
I made this but with eggs. I didn’t use relish because I didn’t have any. I poured a little pickle juice in it. I also used regular mustard and smoked paprika. It came out wonderful.
Pickle juice — that’s a great substitution.
I love tuna sounds good love to try this
I like using white albacore tuna in water. I like cold tuna salad. I put the cans in the fridge before I make it or I have to put the tuna in the fridge before serving.
I never thought of putting cans in the fridge. Great tip, Cindy!
I love crushed dried Tarragon, finely sliced green onions and I chop dill pickles along with the sweet relish. Try it before you nix the idea. I think you will like it.
I always keep my tuna in the refrigerator!
I use mayonnaise, Wickles relish, A dash of celery salt, garlic sa!t and about 1/4 tsp curry powder! Salt and pepper as needed!