Tuna Sandwich Recipe

A tuna sandwich is among the easiest and quickest lunches using pantry staple ingredients. Canned tuna and chopped veggies mixed with a mayonnaise base with dijon and spices for added flavor.

This sandwich joins our classic favorites like the egg sandwich, the popular club sandwich and philly cheesesteak.

For busy days, a lunch like this tuna sandwich will be a lifesaver! Not only can it be an easy lunch, but you can serve it as an appetizer, a light dinner, or even as a part of a brunch spread. Because there are countless ways to serve the tuna salad sandwich, you will come back to it over and over when you’re out of meal ideas!

• High in omega-3s. Tuna is rich in important vitamins such as omega-3s fatty acids and vitamin B12. The sandwich is an easy way to sneak in those essential nutrients!
• A filling sandwich. For a lunch that’s quick, yet filling, a tuna sandwich is your best bet. Tuna is high in protein and the bread will provide carbs to give you energy.
• Great party appetizer. Make the sandwiches mini, or scale up the recipe, and serve at a brunch or as part of a potluck spread. 

Because the tuna sandwich is made of basic ingredients, this is the ideal lunch to make when you don’t have time to run to the grocery store!

• Canned tuna- use what canned tuna you have on hand, whether it be water-packed tuna, oil-packed tuna, or packaged tuna.
• Mayonnaise- to add creaminess and to bring the filling together, opt for a high-quality mayo.
• Veggies- we use a combination of finely chopped celery and sweet onion for crunch and flavor but feel free to swap these out, using our suggestions below.
• Flavorings-  dijon, salt, and pepper season and add flavor to the filling.
• Lettuce- romaine or iceberg lettuce is typically added to a tuna sandwich.
• Bread- the choice here is yours! Use whatever bread your family loves.

For a full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

The best part about the healthy sandwich is that it is so easy to make in just a few steps.

• Drain tuna: Drain the canned tuna and add it to a medium bowl.
• Add vegetables and season: Add the mayonnaise, chopped celery, finely diced onion, chopped garlic, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir everything until well combined.
• Assemble: Add a piece of lettuce to one slice of bread. Top with a quarter of the tuna salad filling. Top with the second slice of bread to complete the sandwich. Repeat to make the second sandwich!
• Serve and enjoy, friends!

A tuna fish sandwich is very forgiving, so use what you have available to make the filling.

• Different bread: Make the sandwich on a sliced croissant, bagel, or even an English muffin for breakfast.
• Vary the vegetables: Finely diced peppers, carrots, or cucumbers can be used in addition to the veggies already in the filling, or instead of them if you want to swap things around!
• Add acidity: For a briny, salty kick, and a tablespoon of capers, chopped pickles or relish, or even sliced olives if you prefer their flavor!
• Add spice: Kick the filling up a notch by adding a diced jalapeno or a touch of hot sauce.
• Tuna pasta salad: You can easily turn the tuna into a pasta salad by adding your favorite cooked pasta like macaroni (you’ll need to adjust the dressing amounts).
• Other toppings: Some of the other toppings you can add when serving your sandwich are sliced tomatoes, avocado slices or even boiled eggs.

The tuna sandwich can be served alongside a variety of sides, but the filling itself can be served separately in a variety of ways!

• Serve with crackers: For a lighter lunch or to serve as an appetizer, combine all ingredients for the tuna salad filling and dump into a serving bowl. Serve the tuna salad filling with your choice of crackers.
• With pickles: Compliment the tuna sandwich with a side of refrigerator pickles or store-bought dill pickles.
• Chips: Fish and chips are a restaurant favorite, and while this is different, the fish can still be served with a side of potato chips or the classic “chips” served at restaurants.
• Lettuce wraps: Leave off the bread and just serve the filling inside of lettuce leaves a low-carb option.

• Storage. Keep the sandwich filling in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
• Freeze. We do not recommend freezing these sandwiches, as mayonnaise does not hold up well if frozen.

Tuna Sandwich Recipe

Author: Valentina

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5 from 1 vote

A tuna sandwich recipe is so easy and kid-approved lunch or dinner idea. It can be served in a variety of unique ways. Serve the tuna mixture on bread, with crackers, as a lettuce wrap or as a dip!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

• 2 5 oz each tuna, drained
• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp celery finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp sweet onion finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove minced
• ½ tsp dijon mustard
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 2 slices lettuce
• 4 slices of bread

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Drain the tuna completely, and add to a medium mixing bowl. Lightly break up the tuna.
• Add the mayonnaise, chopped celery and onion, garlic, and dijon mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix everything with a fork until combined.
• Toast the sliced bread, if desired.
• Add one slice of lettuce to a slice of bread. Top the lettuce with one quarter of the tuna salad mixture. Close the sandwich with another slice of bread. Repeat to make the second sandwich.
• Serve and enjoy, friends!

Notes

Add-ins: Chopped pickles, jalapenos, capers, or olives can be added to the filling for a unique twist on the base recipe.
Serve: Serve the filling in a sandwich, in lettuce cups for a low-carb option, or on crackers as an appetizer.
Store: Store the tuna filling separately in an air-tight container, refrigerated, for up to 5 days and assemble sandwiches just before serving if you are making the sandwiches ahead of time.

• Full Nutrition Label

Course: lunch, sandwich

Cuisine: American