Tuna Salad Sandwich

The secret ingredient in this recipe will change everything you thought you knew about tuna fish sandwiches.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated January 16, 2024
Elise Bauer

My parents started making tuna salad sandwiches this way years ago. And, as far as I'm concerned, theirs is the best and only way to make a tuna fish sandwich.

In addition to tuna, it has red onions, celery, capers, lemon juice, parsley, mayo, and the kicker? Cottage cheese. You might think that cottage cheese is a weird thing to add to tuna salad, but believe me, it really works!

The Best Canned Tuna for Tuna Salad

To make the best tuna salad sandwich, it helps to start with high-quality canned tuna. We prefer tuna that is packed in extra virgin olive oil, because the oil intensifies the flavor of the tuna.

Both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have excellent canned tuna packed in olive oil that work perfectly for this tuna salad. The brands we most often use are Wild Planet Albacore Solid Wild Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Genova Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil.

How to make tuna fish
Elise Bauer

If you don't like the oil that the tuna is packed in, you can always drain it, and add back a tablespoon or so of your own high quality extra virgin olive oil.

If all you have is tuna packed in water, drain it, and add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to it. Finding the best canned tuna for your taste may require a bit of experimentation with brands.

Doubling This Recipe

This recipe makes enough tuna salad for 1 large sandwich or 2 smaller sandwiches. You can easily double the recipe. Any leftover tuna salad will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Tuna salad on toast
Elise Bauer
Best tuna sandwich
Elise Bauer

Why Cottage Cheese Works in Tuna Salad

Cottage cheese might seem like a strange addition to tuna salad, but trust us when we say it's a perfect in this sandwich. It adds more protein, plus a creaminess and richness. You can use non-fat or light cottage cheese, if you're worried about the extra calories.

Add More Vegetables

If you’d like extra veggies in your tuna salad, go for it! Try a 1/4 cup or so of chopped cucumber, red bell pepper, carrots, celery, or even fresh greens, such as spinach or arugula. You may have to add more mayo or cottage cheese to get the consistency you want, but it works!

Swaps and Substitutions

  • Hate Dijon mustard? Use yellow, stone-ground, brown, spicy, or your favorite mustard.
  • Don’t have fresh parsley or dill? Use tarragon, or any other fresh herb you enjoy.
  • Swap in scallion or yellow or white onion for the red onion.
  • Dislike onions? Leave them out!
  • Don't have capers? Just add some chopped pickles, chopped green olives, or pickle relish to get that extra brine and vinegar flavor.

Love a Good Tuna Sandwich? Try These Other Recipes!

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Tuna Salad Sandwich

Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Servings 2 servings
Yield 1 to 2 sandwiches

If you are using canned tuna packed in water, drain it and add in 1 tablespoon of good-quality extra virgin olive oil.

If you are using canned tuna packed in olive oil, you can use as is, without draining it. Or, if you don't like the oil the tuna is packed in, you can drain it, and add back in 2 teaspoons of your favorite extra virgin olive oil.

Ingredients

  • 1 (5- or 6-ounce) can tuna packed in olive oil, undrained

  • 1/3 cup cottage cheese

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped

  • 1 tablespoon capers

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • A pinch or two fresh dill, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 2 slices bread, lightly toasted

  • Lettuce, optional

  • Sliced tomatoes, optional

Method

  1. Combine the ingredients:

    In a medium bowl, toss together the canned tuna, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, red onion, celery, capers, lemon juice, dill, parsley and Dijon mustard until combined.

    Tuna salad sandwich
    Elise Bauer
    How to make tuna salad
    Elise Bauer
  2. Make the sandwich:

    Serve tuna salad on toast, either open faced, or between two slices of bread with lettuce and tomatoes, if you wish. For a low-carb option, serve on sliced lettuce.

    Did you like our recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
402 Calories
20g Fat
21g Carbs
33g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 402
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 915mg 40%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 8mg 42%
Calcium 111mg 9%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 393mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.