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This single serving tuna salad is creamy, fresh, and easy to make with simple pantry ingredients. Ready in minutes, it’s perfect for a quick lunch or light meal and can be served in a sandwich, tortilla, or lettuce wrap.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This single serving tuna salad is ready in minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- Versatile: Serve it on bread, in a tortilla or croissant, in lettuce wraps, or over greens.
- Customizable: Adjust the mix-ins and seasonings to suit your taste.
- Doubles Easily: Double the ingredients to make a small batch tuna salad for two.
There’s something deeply satisfying about a good tuna salad, especially when it’s creamy, well-seasoned, and has just the right amount of crunch. This is the version I reach for when I want something simple but still really enjoyable. The tuna stays tender, the celery adds freshness, and the seasoning is balanced so nothing overwhelms the bowl.
I love how flexible this recipe is. Some days I enjoy it straight from the bowl, and other days I pile it into a croissant or wrap it in a fresh flour tortilla or a slice of homemade French bread. It’s the kind of everyday recipe that feels familiar, dependable, and always hits the spot.
Looking for more single serving salad recipes? Try our hummus crunch salad, small batch macaroni salad, and chicken salad for one recipes. Each one is easy to make and perfectly portioned.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch tuna salad recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Tuna: Use canned tuna packed in water or oil. Water-packed keeps it lighter; oil-packed gives richer flavor and juiciness.
- Mayonnaise: Adds creamy binder. For a lighter, healthier version, swap some or all with plain Greek yogurt.
- Celery: Provides fresh, crunchy texture. You can substitute bell pepper, red onion, or other crisp vegetables.
- Pickle Relish: Brings tangy, slightly sweet flavor. Use chopped dill or sweet pickles, or skip it if you prefer mild taste.
- Olive Oil: Smooths and enriches the mix. Can be replaced with avocado oil for a neutral, healthy fat option.
Recipe Variations
This single serving tuna salad is easy to customize with a few simple additions.
- Extra Crunch: Add chopped almonds or diced bell peppers for more texture.
- Fresh Herbs: Stir in chopped dill or parsley to brighten the flavor.
- Creamy Addition: Fold in diced avocado for added richness.
- Mediterranean Style: Mix in chopped olives, a little feta, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
How To Make Tuna Salad
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Drain the tuna well and add it to a medium bowl.
- Add the mayonnaise, celery, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and pickle relish.
- Stir with a fork until evenly mixed, breaking up any large pieces of tuna.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Expert Tips
- Drain the Tuna Well: Press out excess liquid to prevent a watery tuna salad.
- Mix Gently: Stir just until combined to keep the tuna from becoming mushy.
- Let It Rest: Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Adjust Before Serving: If the salad thickens after chilling, stir in a small amount of mayonnaise to loosen it.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this tuna salad on its own, spooned into crisp lettuce leaves, or piled onto bread, a tortilla, or a croissant for an easy sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tuna salad can be made a few hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator. For best flavor and texture, give it a quick stir before serving.
Stored in an airtight container, tuna salad will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Canned tuna packed in water or oil both work well. Water-packed tuna is lighter, while oil-packed tuna has a richer flavor.
Drain the tuna very well before mixing and avoid adding ingredients with excess moisture.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: 20 Single Serving Meatless Meals
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Tuna Salad For One
Ingredients
- 1 (5-ounce can) water-packed tuna -drained
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 stalk celery -diced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon pickle relish (optional)
Instructions
- Add the drained tuna to a small bowl and break it up with a fork.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, celery, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and relish, if using, until evenly mixed.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to eat.
Notes
- Drain the Tuna Well: Press out excess liquid to prevent a watery tuna salad.
- Mix Gently: Stir just until combined to keep the tuna from becoming mushy.
- Let It Rest: Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Adjust Before Serving: If the salad thickens after chilling, stir in a small amount of mayonnaise to loosen it.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Delicious. I used green olives instead of sweet pickles. Really good and a must try.
I like to add a diced up slice of apple to it. It sweetens it up and taste’s good too.
Thanks for the yummy recipe!!
I want to give a thumbs up to you!