Dill Pickle Tuna Salad
If you love the tangy flavor of dill pickles, you’ll love this Dill Pickle Tuna Salad recipe! It’s creamy, crunchy, and packed with protein, making it the perfect no-cook lunch. Briny dill pickles and a splash of dill pickle juice take this classic up a notch—and you only need a handful of simple ingredients to make it. Whether you serve it in a sandwich, lettuce wrap, or straight from the bowl, this tuna salad is anything but boring!
I’m all about easy, high protein lunch recipes these days. I was on a canned salmon salad kick for quite some time, and now I can’t seem to get enough of this Dill Pickle Tuna Salad!
This salad is creamy and crunchy with the briny flavor of my favorite pickles — Grillo’s Pickles. I picked these pickles up at Costco a few weeks ago along with some wild-caught canned tuna, and I’ve been making this tuna salad ever since.
I knew I had to share it here because I’m enjoying it so much. It’s wonderful in a sandwich or lettuce wraps, with crackers and crunchy veggies, or use it in an heirloom tomato flight (my favorite!).
It takes 10 minutes to make and is great for meal prep lunch or a no-cook summer dinner. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This tuna salad with pickles is creamy and crunchy with the bold briny flavor of dill pickles.
- It’s a high protein, no-cook lunch that’s great for meal prep.
- It takes just 10 minutes to make with 7 basic ingredients.
- It can be served a number of delicious ways and it’s very customizable.
Recipe ingredients
There are only (7) ingredients in this easy tuna salad and it’s completely customizable based on your personal preference or what you have on hand.
- Tuna. You’ll need 10 ounces of canned tuna, or (2) 5 ounce cans. I used wild-caught tuna that was packed in water, but tuna packed in a oil is also a great choice. Use chunk light or fancy albacore tuna based on your texture preference.
- Mayonnaise. If you’re not a fan of mayo, sub it out for plain Greek yogurt.
- Dijon mustard. Adds savory depth of flavor.
- Dill pickles. You’ll need about 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles, and 1 tablespoon of the pickle juice for bold, briny flavor. I used Grillo’s Pickles, which are the same ones that I used in my dill pickle potato salad. They’re the freshest tasting pickles I’ve ever eaten, and that flavor really elevates this tuna salad.
- Celery and red onion. Adds crunchy texture and flavor to the creamy tuna salad. Swap them out for your favorite add-in’s.
- Parsley. Freshly chopped Italian flat leaf parsley adds freshness and a pop of color. Substitute it with your favorite fresh herbs as desired.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make tuna salad with pickles
This tuna salad with pickles couldn’t be easier to make. It takes just 10 minutes of hands on prep and it’s ready to eat.
Pro tip: For best results, use good quality pickles to make this tuna salad next level. I especially love Grillo’s dill pickle chips. They’re full of fresh, briny flavor!
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
Recipe FAQs
Canned wild-caught tuna is the most sustainable choice. Both water and oil packed tuna fish will work perfectly in this recipe. Choose chunk light or albacore tuna based on your personal preference.
Chopped dill pickles add a bit more texture, but you can certainly use dill pickle relish if that’s what you prefer.
Absolutely! Plain Greek yogurt is a great swap for mayo and it adds a protein boost as well.
Store for 3-4 days in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Serving suggestions
You can serve this easy tuna salad recipe a number of ways!
- Serve is as an appetizer in lettuce wraps or with crackers and crunchy veggies.
- It’s great served in sandwiches and would be wonderful for a tuna melt!
- Serve it atop a thick slice of tomato or stuffed in half of an avocado for an easy no-cook summer dinner.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: For best results, use good quality pickles to make this tuna salad next level. I especially love Grillo’s dill pickle chips. They’re full of fresh, briny flavor!
- Not a fan of mayo? Sub it with Greek yogurt for a creamy protein boost.
- Customize this recipe with your favorite crunchy veggies and herbs.
- Store the tuna salad in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
More easy high protein recipes you’ll love
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Dill Pickle Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounces canned wild-caught tuna (2) 5 ounce cans water or olive oil packed; albacore or chunk light depending on your preference
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise add 1-2 more tablespoons as desired; see note 2
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice see note 1
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles see note 1
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley sub with your favorite herbs or omit as desired
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Drain the water or oil from the tuna and place the tuna in a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until it's the desired consistency.10 ounces canned wild-caught tuna
- Add the mayonnaise, dill pickle juice, dijon mustard, dill pickles, celery, red onion and parsley to the bowl and stir well to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 1/3 cup chopped dill pickles, 1/3 cup chopped celery, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
- Serve the tuna salad a sandwich, in lettuce wraps, atop a slice of tomato or stuffed into an avocado. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: For best results, use good quality pickles to make this tuna salad next level. I especially love Grillo’s dill pickle chips. They’re full of fresh, briny flavor!
- Not a fan of mayo? Sub it with Greek yogurt for a creamy protein boost.
- Customize this recipe with your favorite crunchy veggies and herbs.
- Store the tuna salad in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
