Adding homemade Chipotle Mayo makes this Chipotle Tuna Salad Sandwich a subtly spicy number that you'll be craving again and again.
Jump to:
You couldn’t feed me tuna when I was younger. I refused to eat it. Not even in a tuna noodle hot dish. And forget about tuna salad, because SO MUCH MAYO. Ew.
I thought it was weird to eat fish from a can. And it smelled funny.
Don’t get me wrong. I like fish. I just assumed that fish from a can couldn’t possibly taste good.
Fast-forward to about a month ago. There I was, in the grocery store buying Spam (don’t judge me!), which is next to the canned tuna. It so happened that canned tuna was on sale, so I impulsively decided to buy two cans.
I had no plans for my impulsively-purchased tuna. That is, until I remembered that I still had some Spicy Roasted Garlic Mayo left. IMHO, most tuna salad sandwiches are pretty boring. And just wind up tasting like mayo bombs, a real downer when you dislike the taste. I had an inkling that a Chipotle Tuna Salad Sandwich would be anything but.
Tuna + Chipotle Roasted Garlic Mayo = money. Do people say ‘money’ anymore? If not, they should. Because this tuna salad is money. It converted even this mayo-hater to enjoying a tuna salad sandwich every now and again.
If you love this recipe and the zing of chipotles, then you've definitely got to try my chipotle chicken salad and chipotle sloppy joes next!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- So good! If you're tired of the same old bland tuna sandwiches, this recipe is for you! Chipotle really jazzes things up.
- Great for weekday lunches. This tuna salad takes just minutes to make and transports easily for a lunch on the go.
- Versatile. Swap out the veggies, add different vegetables, you can enjoy this tuna salad in so many creative ways! It's great on a sandwich, stuffed into a tomato, or added to your favorite salad.
By the way, if you're looking for more canned tuna recipes, I think you'll also enjoy this Tuna Salad (with Shoestring Potato Sticks), this cold Tortellini Tuna Pasta Salad, and this super simple Tuna Tostada recipe.
Ingredients
- Tuna: I used Chicken of the Sea Albacore Tuna in Water, Chunk Light.
- Mayo: For the best flavor you want to use this homemade Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo. It's semi-homemade and super delicious and is what makes this recipe special.
- Veggies: I like diced red onion and diced bell pepper in my tuna salad. Check below in the variations section for more tuna salad add-ins you can use.
- Flavor Enhancers: Dried cilantro, a bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper for added flavor.
For the full list of ingredients and amounts of each, check the recipe card further down the page.
Variations
The semi-homemade Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo is what MAKES this sandwich. The other ingredients are really just recommendations, so feel free to make substitutions. Here are some suggestions:
- Celery
- Olives
- Water chestnuts
- Apples
- Jicama
- Jalapenos or other spicy peppers
- Dried parsley, basil, oregano
How to Make a Chipotle Tuna Salad Sandwich
- Step 1: Combine. Add the mayo, red onion, bell pepper, dried cilantro, and a splash of lemon juice in a bowl with the tuna.
- Step 2: Mix. Use a fork to break up the tuna and mix it with the other ingredients.
- Step 3: Assemble. Load that sultry, smoky tuna salad between two pieces of bread of your choosing and chow down.
Top Tip
Fresh cilantro tastes like soap. But if you respectfully disagree, feel free to use it instead of dried cilantro. Or try using a different herb, like parsley or Mexican oregano. The amount to include will depend on your taste preferences, but start off by adding a teaspoon of chopped fresh herbs and increase from there as neccesary.
Recipe FAQs
D, all of the above! Pair it with thinly sliced white cheddar when having a melt, toss with shredded Iceberg lettuce before adding to a wrap, or have yourself a little snack with crackers, I'm thinking straight-up Ritz or Townhouse.
Bread Choice is an important consideration, but don't worry, you've got a lot of options! I'm partial to wheat breads, but this tuna salad is great on everything from a King's Hawaiin bun to hearty slices of gourmet sourdough.
More Easy Lunch Recipes
If you tried this chipotle tuna salad sandwich recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!
Chipotle Tuna Salad Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2 5 ounce canned tuna (I used Chicken of the SeaAlbacore Tuna in Water, Chunk Light)
- ½ cup Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo see recipe link above
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- ¼ cup bell pepper finely diced
- 1 tablespoon dried cilantro
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Drain tuna.
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir until combined.2 5 ounce canned tuna, ½ cup Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo, ¼ cup red onion, ¼ cup bell pepper, 1 tablespoon dried cilantro, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, Salt and pepper, to taste
- Consider your tuna salad sandwich game upped.
Holly
Fridays are tuna day!
Jatba
This recipe was a hit! My husband loves it for lunch! Thank you!