The Best Tuna Salad Recipe is right here with Pecans and Raisins. It makes for such a delicious lunch or dinner! Serve it on your favorite bread and you’ll never go back. With crunchy pecans and sweet raisins, this might be your new favorite sandwich.
Tuna Salad With Pecans And Raisins
I wasn’t the one who made this recipe when I first tried it, it was actually my husband! He surprised me with it after I came home from a long day from work and it was so good that I gobbled it down in record time. Don’t you just love when you come home and dinner is all set and ready? Well this recipe is so easy to throw together that you’ll be eating it in no time, even if it’s all up to you.
This tuna salad with pecans and raisins uses such simple ingredients and tastes so fresh. You’ll be packing it up for lunch tomorrow, if you have any leftovers that is. It’s also a really budget friendly recipe that will keep you full for hours, win win!
Ingredients In Tuna Salad With Pecans And Raisins
- Tuna – Flaked or chunk and canned, our high protein base!
- Red onion – This onion is one of the best varieties to eat raw, it’s bright and acidic and makes this dish pop.
- Celery – Such a traditional ingredient in tuna salad, it adds such a nice crunch to an otherwise soft dish.
- Pecans – If you’re going to use nuts for this recipe, I have to insist on pecans. They are sharp, not too buttery, and with a flavor that won’t over power the dish.
- Dill – Fresh or dried work perfectly well!
- Raisins – I use golden raisins as they’re sweeter, softer, and more mild.
- Mayonnaise – Feel free to use fat reduced mayo if you’re looking to cut calories!
- Parsley – Chopped up fresh, dry works as well if that’s all you have on hand.
- Salt & pepper – To taste.
- Buns – Some soft buns are key, I love to buy fresh ones from the bakery to really set these sandwiches off.
- Garnish – Sliced tomato and lettuce, placed in the sandwich along with the finished salad or serve it as salad wraps, so good.
How To Make Tuna Salad With Pecans And Raisins
A few delicious ingredients are all you need and you’ll end up with one of the most delicious lunches possible. Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Chop up everything: Chop the onions, celery, pecans, and parsley and add to a medium sized bowl.
- Combine the tuna salad: Add the rest of the tuna salad ingredients to the bowl, save for the tomato and lettuce, and stir to combine.
- Finish the dish: Lay pieces of lettuce inside the buns and scoop in as much tuna salad as you’d like. Top with slices of tomato and serve!
What Kind Of Tuna To Use For Tuna Salad
When it comes to buying tuna there are many options out there. White vs. light tuna, solid vs. chunk vs. flake, oil-packed vs. water-packed, etc. In the end get whatever you like and can afford.
White vs. light tuna – this usually refers to a specific kind of tuna and mercury levels. If you’re looking for a lower mercury tuna, stick to skipjack or tongol tuna. White tunas are alabacore and yellowfin, but these tend to have higher levels of mercury.
Solid vs. Chunk. vs. Flake – this basically just indicates how the tuna was packaged. Solid tends to be the most expensive and flake the most affordable. I prefer chunk tuna for tuna salads, especially if making sandwiches.
Oil-packed vs. water-packed – If you’re looking for a richer tasting tuna then oil-packed is the way to go, but for these tuna salads I prefer water-packed tuna since it’s more affordable, and I don’t usually like the extra oil.
How Do You Make Tuna Salad Healthier
Tuna salads are great because they can be made as healthy as you want. Skip the mayo and add a good plain Greek yogurt instead. You’ll still get the tanginess but less calories. Load it up with more veggies and instead of making sandwiches, serve it as tuna salad wraps! They truly are delish!
How To Leftover Tuna Salad
Refrigerate your tuna salad in an airtight container and it should last for 3 – 5 days. You can freeze tuna salad too! It will only stay fresh for up to a week and must be stored in small batches in airtight containers.
Craving More Salads? Try These Recipes:
- Avocado Tuna Salad
- Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Macaroni Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Easy Coleslaw
- Fattoush Salad
- Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad
- Mixed Fruit with Lemon Basil Dressing
Tuna Salad with Pecans and Raisins
Ingredients
- 12 oz tuna in water drained
- 1/2 cup red onion chopped
- 1/3 cup celery chopped
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1/2 tbsp dill dried or 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 2 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced for garnish
- 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Chop up everything: Chop the onions, celery, pecans, and parsley and add to a medium sized bowl.
- Combine the tuna salad: Add the rest of the tuna salad ingredients to the bowl, save for the tomato and lettuce, and stir to combine.
- Serve: Serve on sandwiches, top of salad, tuna salad wraps or add to pasta salads.
Linda D Hrushanyk says
May 18, 2019 at 5:09 amThe addition of a few ingredients, puts the basic tuna salad over the top. I made this
last night and served it with Ritz crackers. It was delicious! Thank you, Jo, for sharing
another great recipe.
Joanna Cismaru says
May 18, 2019 at 11:51 amMy pleasure, so glad you enjoyed it, Linda!
suzie gresham says
May 15, 2019 at 10:03 amThis sounds super! I would also love a recipe for chicken salad.
Love your site!!
Suzie
Joanna Cismaru says
May 15, 2019 at 5:21 pmYou can find a couple chicken salad recipes I have here: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/knockout-chicken-salad-sandwiches/ and https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/avocado-chicken-salad/
Chris says
September 20, 2018 at 2:32 pmMy sister-in-law made this as part of a shared meal the other night. It was SOOOOOO good that several people asked for the recipe.
Joanna Cismaru says
September 20, 2018 at 9:45 pmI’m so happy you guys enjoyed it! 🙂