The Best Southern Tuna Salad Recipe

Are you ready for the Best Southern Tuna Salad Recipe? Made with canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, silky mayo, pickle relish, and a dash of smoked paprika, my classic recipe is great for meal prep, low-carb, sandwiches and making an open face tuna melt.

This tuna salad is great for a quick and simple snack, a low-carb meal, and just in time for Lent and fish Friday’s! I love having healthier and easy-to-make recipes on our dinner or lunch rotation. Elevating a regular ho-hum tuna sandwich into a great tuna salad sandwich.

For more fresh and tasty salads, try my Sherried Chicken Salad, Tarragon Chicken Salad or this Italian Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

What is Southern Tuna Salad?

I love the twists that our Southern friends put on the classics, that’s what makes our country so great! Who doesn’t love Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole!

It’s debated, even amongst Southerner’s as to whether or not you use dill pickle relish or sweet pickle relish, but my family recipe includes a bit of both! The truly unique part is adding chopped hard boiled eggs – a Southern tradition! The best-tasting tuna salad sandwiches you’ll make.

Simple Ingredients

• Tuna | I like to use white tuna packed in water for this recipe. You may use tuna in oil if you prefer.
• Eggs | Just like with potato salad, adding hard-boiled and peeled eggs provide more protein and texture to the salad recipe.
• Celery | Fresh celery adds a subtle crunch to the texture of the tuna salad.
• Red Onion | Chopped red onion gives the salad a deeper flavor and vibrant pops of color.
• Pickle Relish | Use dill relish or sweet pickle relish, depending on your taste, or both!
• Mayonnaise | I recommend using high-quality mayo to attain the best flavor, personally I like avocado mayo.
• Dijon Mustard | A little Dijon mustard adds some spice to the salad recipe.
• Salt and Pepper | Sprinkle in kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to meld the flavors together.
• Celery Salt | Celery salt is mixed with celery seeds to add a slightly bitter and earthy flavor to the tuna salad.
• Smoked Paprika | Adding smoked paprika, gives a subtle but unique flavor, like in this 10 Vegetable soup.

How to Make this Tuna Salad Recipe with Egg and Relish

Before getting started, boil the eggs, then plunge into an ice bath of cold water and allow them to cool. You can make these up to 3-4 days ahead.

Finely chop the celery and red onion with a sharp knife.

And once the eggs are peeled, chop them into tiny bits or use an egg salad chopper like this one.

Then, begin this delicious tuna salad recipe by mixing the creamy dressing. Grab a medium or large mixing bowl and add the mayonnaise, spices, and pickle relish. Stir the ingredients to combine.

Next, drain the tuna and add it to the mixed dressing. Then drop in the chopped eggs, celery, and red onions and mix well to combine.

Serve this classic southern tuna salad recipe immediately. However, you may also make it ahead of time. Just store the recipe in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Variations & Substitutions

• If you prefer your tuna salad on the sweeter side, use all chopped bread and butter pickles or sweet relish.
• Add more bulk to the recipe without doubling it by using an extra hard-boiled egg.
• Sprinkle in finely chopped dill to heighten the dill pickle flavor. Or add in some fresh chives or parsley.
• Toss in a dash of Old Bay Seasoning.
• If you like your tuna salad more moist than dry, add one tablespoon of mayo at a time until the texture is as desired.
• Squeeze in some lemon juice for a citrus kick.
• Include chopped red bell peppers for extra flavor.
• Use green onion instead of red onion or a combination of the two.

Make it a Tuna Macaroni Salad (Tuna Pasta Salad)

Add up to ½ box of cooked elbow macaroni to the salad mixture and up to 1 cup of fresh or frozen peas. You might need to add up to an additional ⅓ cup of mayo. Stir to combine and refrigerate for an hour or more before serving.

Storage Tips

Refrigerator: You might ask, how long is tuna salad good for? Store this southern-style tuna salad in the fridge for three to five days in an airtight container.

Freezer: For longer storage time, freeze the tuna salad in a freezer-safe bag or container. It helps to freeze the salad in portions, I love these silicone freezer cubes. Plus, it makes thawing a lot quicker. Place in the fridge overnight to thaw for a snack or meal the next day.

Traveling with Tuna Salad: Transport the salad in an airtight container or sealed Ziplock bag. Use an insulated container, like a small cooler or lunch box, place it on an ice pack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ways to Serve Southern Tuna Salad

One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Use the following ideas to inspire your use of this delicious southern tuna salad:

• Low-Carb Option – Top a bed of romaine or butter lettuce leaves with the tuna salad and a juicy ripe tomato wedge. Or make tuna salad lettuce wraps for the whole family to enjoy a tasty light dinner.
• Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich – Dress a sandwich with this incredible tuna salad. Lightly toast the bread to avoid it getting soggy. Try it with lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and a homemade bread recipe, like some brioche or Russian Black Bread.
• Keep it Simple – Serve this simple tuna salad recipe with buttery crackers, crispy potato chips, or Easy Air Fryer Steak Fries.
• Southern-Style – This southern tuna salad is perfect for serving with more of your favorite southern recipes, like a refreshing Mint Julep Cocktail, Southern-Style Green Beans, and Sweet Cornbread.

How to Make an Open Face Tuna Melt

Little known fact about me, I dislike making lunch! Not because I don’t like eating lunch, but it’s just a thing with me! Let’s not get into the psychology of why! 🙂

So an open face tuna melt is one of my go-to lunches! Because I can make this southern tuna salad recipe ahead of time, enjoy it on some lettuce, then for a light lunch or dinner, make open face tuna melts!

Split an English muffin or your favorite bread (lightly toasting first so as not to get soggy). On a baking sheet, place toasted muffin halves or toast slices, then spoon ¼-⅓ of a cup of tuna salad onto each muffin half, spreading to cover the muffin.

Preheat the broiler, then top the tuna with a slice of your favorite cheese—try pepper jack, cheddar, Swiss, Havarti, or Muenster.

Broil for 1-3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly – watch closely!

This is a great recipe for meal prep – make ahead and assemble as desired!

I hope you loved this Southern Tuna Salad Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!