Make this Southern Tuna Salad Recipe for a light lunch, dinner, or filling side dish to pair with a meal. It’s a classic recipe that only requires a few basic ingredients. Creamy, flavorful, and delicious!

For a meatless version be sure to try making a batch of Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad. If you’re craving more salad recipes, try making some Warm Macaroni Salad, Egg Salad, or Lemon Pasta Salad.

Overhead view of tuna sandwich on white plate on black tile surface.

There’s nothing like classic tuna salad.

It really is the best and can be served in so many different ways. It can be piled on top of your favorite bread to make a good tuna sandwich, especially with a couple of slices of tomato and some lettuce leaves. Or serves on top of a bed of greens and enjoyed as a salad. Growing up my mom would always pair it with some saltine crackers. And of course, her version always included eggs.

It’s an easy recipe to make using just a few ingredients. This recipe is great to make in advance and add to the weekly lunch rotation.

Let’s get started!

Tuna Salad Ingredients

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make tuna salad in separate bowls on black tile surface.

Tuna - Any variety or brand that you prefer will work, including light tuna. I usually go with wild white tuna that’s canned in water.
Hard-Boiled Eggs - Adds more bulk and protein to the tuna salad. Boil four eggs until hard and use a box grater to grate them into smaller pieces.
Mayonnaise - This will bind the tuna salad together. Use any mayo that you prefer and can find at your local grocery store. I love using Duke's Mayonnaise.
Sweet Pickle Relish - Provides a tart and sweet flavor that's a classic touch to any southern-style tuna recipe. May use dill relish, chopped dill pickle, or sweet salad cubes instead.
Fresh Parsley - Chop some fresh parsley to add a bit of freshness to the salad.
Salt and Ground Black Pepper - Seasons the tuna salad, if you prefer to use more or less, then feel free to adjust the measurements to your desired taste.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and full instructions.

How to Make Tuna Salad

Begin the full recipe by hard boiling the eggs and using a box grater to grate each egg into a medium size mixing bowl. Set aside.

Open the can of tuna and drain off the water. Add to the bowl with the grated eggs. Add the mayonnaise, sweet relish, fresh parsley, salt, and ground black pepper.

Overhead view of ingredients to make tuna salad added to glass mixing bowl.

Stir all of the ingredients together until combined.

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Tuna salad ingredients combined in glass mixing bowl with spatula.

Use it to make a tuna salad sandwich, tuna melt, or serve it on a bed of lettuce. Serve it with your favorite crackers or potato chips. Enjoy!

Overhead view of sandwich on white plate cut in half with the bowl of tuna salad in the background.

Tuna Fish Recipe Tips & Tricks

Try not to over-prepare the hard-boiled eggs. Use your hands to mash them into small pieces, roughly chop them with a knife, or use a box grater to grate them.
If you're boiling the eggs, begin with a large pot of cold water over medium-high heat before adding the eggs.
Add some chopped red onion, red bell peppers, or celery for additional flavor and crunch.
Use your favorite slices of sandwich bread to make the best-tasting tuna salad sandwiches. Make it fancy by cutting off the crust, perfect to serve at gatherings and baby showers. You may also lightly toast the bread if you prefer, add lettuce, mayo, Dijon mustard, and freshly sliced tomato.

Storage Tips

Storage. Store the tuna salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Do not leave it at room temperature or out on the countertop for any length of time to prevent spoilage.

Reheating. This tuna fish recipe can be served cold straight from the refrigerator or heated to make the best tuna melt sandwich.

Freezing. This particular recipe is meant to be enjoyed shortly after it's made and should not be frozen or stored in the freezer for later.

Close up front view of tuna sandwich cut in half and stacked on white plate.

Want More Easy Salad Recipes? Try These:

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to enjoy this Classic Southern Tuna Salad Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Southern-Style Tuna Salad

LaKita Anderson

Make this Southern Tuna Salad Recipe for a light lunch, dinner, or filling side dish to pair with a meal. It’s a classic recipe that only requires a few basic ingredients.

4.83 from 23 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 0

Total Time 15

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 227 kcal

Equipment

1 large mixing bowl
1 wooden spoon or spatula

Ingredients

9 ounces tuna, drained
4 large eggs, hard boiled and grated
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
¼ cup sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Begin the full recipe by hard boiling the 4 large eggs and using a box grater to grate each egg into a medium size mixing bowl. Set aside.
Open a 9 ounce can of tuna and drain off the water. Add to the bowl with the grated eggs. Add the 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, ¼ cup sweet relish, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Stir all of the ingredients together until combined. Use it to make a sandwich or serve it on a bed of lettuce and enjoy it with your favorite crackers. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Try not to over-prepare the hard-boiled eggs Use your hands to mash them into small pieces, roughly chop them with a knife, or use a box grater to grate them.
If you're boiling the eggs, begin with a large pot of cold water over medium-high heat before adding the eggs.
Add some chopped red onion, red bell pepper, or celery for additional flavor and crunch.
Use your favorite slices of sandwich bread to make the best-tasting tuna salad sandwiches. Make it fancy by cutting off the crust, perfect to serve at gatherings and baby showers. You may also lightly toast the bread if you prefer, add lettuce, mayo, Dijon mustard, and freshly sliced tomato.

Calories: 227kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 19gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 214mgSodium: 684mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 575IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

Southern Tuna Salad Recipe

Tuna Salad Ingredients