New York Diner-Style Tuna Salad Recipe

This classic tuna salad is just like the kind you’d find in a New York diner. It’s simple, creamy, and full of flavor. Made with canned tuna, mayo, finely chopped celery, and a touch of onion. Serve it on a sandwich, in a wrap, or over lettuce. Quick to make and easy to prep ahead for a diner-style or deli-inspired meal.

What's Makes New York Tuna So Good?

I bet diners in New York sell more tuna salad than anything else. A good tuna salad comes down to a few simple ingredients: high-quality tuna, crunchy celery, creamy mayo, and a little salt and pepper.

While some places load it up with fillers, New Yorkers know that less is more. Keep it simple, and you get the best tuna salad every time.

What Is The Best Tuna In a Can?

Wild Planet tuna is delicious and reminiscent of the tuna I enjoyed as a kid. It's available in most major grocery chains, including our local Publix.

In the past few years, conventional canned tuna has become very bland, but Wild Planet tuna maintains a good flavor. It doesn't need a ton of mayo to taste good!

Duke's vs. Hellmann's Mayonnaise

Hellmann’s is a Northeast thing. I don’t think anyone buys any other brand.

Not long after I moved to Key Largo, I went for a haircut at a small shop. I started chatting with the receptionist about cooking—I don’t remember exactly what we were talking about, but she quickly told me I had to try Duke’s mayonnaise. Duke’s? I had never even heard of it.

Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked up a jar. I tasted them side by side, and while Hellmann’s had the edge, Duke’s was pretty good too.

Whether you stick with the classic Hellmann's or go for the Southern charm of Duke's, the choice is yours!

What You Need

• Tuna
• Mayonnaise
• Celery
• Red onions
• Dill
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Olives
• Green onions (scallions)
• Salt and pepper to taste

The Best Tuna Salad Recipe

When you order at the diner ask for a Tuna Salad Plate or Tuna on a Bed with Lettuce and Tomato and you'll get a big, beautiful salad.

• Drain the tuna in a colander and place it in a mixing bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash the tuna until it is broken into small pieces. (A food processor is not recommended.)
• Mix in the mayonnaise, celery, red onions, dill, and a little salt and pepper.
• Tear the lettuce into bite-size pieces and place them in a salad bowl. Top with tomatoes, cucumber slices, red onions, olives, and green onions.
• Finally, add a big scoop of tuna salad on top of each salad.
• If you need some dressing, Russian dressing or a light vinaigrette would work.

What Can I Substitute for Mayonnaise?

• Yogurt: A good substitute for mayonnaise is sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Avocado: As for avocado, you can smash the ripe flesh of an avocado with a fork, add a bit of salt, and use it as a replacement for mayo. It is creamy and delicious!
• Hummus: Another option is hummus. Hummus can be a flavorful alternative to mayonnaise, especially in tuna sandwiches, wraps, and salads. It adds protein, fiber, and a tangy taste.

Tuna Salad Add-Ins

Try these flavors for a variation of the classic:

• grated carrot
• minced or grated red onion
• finely diced bell pepper
• Fresh herbs such as chopped parsley

I've heard about people south and west of the Statue of Liberty, who add the following to their tuna:

• sweet pickle relish
• chopped hard-boiled eggs
• mustard
• vinegar
• minced garlic
• jalapeno peppers
• chopped basil

What To Serve with Tuna Salad

This classic tuna salad recipe can be served with the following sides:

• Potato Chips--the salty little chips are the perfect side for the creamy tuna.
• Potato Salad
• Sweet Coleslaw
• Creamy Macaroni Salad
• Oven Roasted Russet Potatoes (instead of fries)
• Sour Pickles or Kosher Dill Pickles

Storage

Tuna salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Keep tuna refrigerated at all times, ideally at temperatures below 40°F (4°C).

Can I Bring Tuna Fish Salad To The Beach?

The allure of a cold tuna salad sandwich on the beach is real. I mention this because my mom had an incident at the beach sometime in the 1960s and never let us forget it. To this day, I've never taken a tuna salad to the beach!

Mayo-based salads need a little TLC if you're packing them for all-day beach or picnic outings. Make sure your tuna and other cold salads such as potato salad, macaroni salad, and coleslaw, for example, are stored in insulated coolers with lots of ice to avoid foodborne illness.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) recommends keeping cold foods, including perishable items like tuna salad, at an internal temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below to prevent bacterial growth and ensure food safety.

Do this by nestling the food in ice or keeping it in a cooler or with ice packs.

Top Tips

• Use whole albacore white tuna packed in water for the best tuna salad.
• Open the canned tuna and squeeze every bit of water you can from the can so the finished product is super creamy! If the water hits the mayo, your creamy salad will be wet.
• Mash the fish with a fork until it's in tiny pieces. If you're making a few cans at one time, you can put on food service gloves and mash it up with your fingers in a big bowl. Make sure it is all broken down and no big chunks remain. Do not put the tuna in a food processor--it will get mushy.
• Mix the tuna fish with mayo, Hellmann's, or Dukes, or experiment with Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, or hummus for different flavors.

Summary

The kids today eat chicken nuggets the way I used to eat tuna fish sandwiches.

My mom and I used to go to the diner for lunch quite often and I always ordered the same thing. I always had a cold tuna salad sandwich on fresh rye bread with lettuce and tomatoes. When I became a teenager, I usually ordered salads.

Growing up on Long Island, my friends and I always found ourselves in a diner in the middle of the night and everyone had their favorite dish. I always had room for tuna. At every diner, the tuna was always good.

To me, this NY diner tuna salad recipe is the best way to make a classic salad. I have another post for Veggie Tuna Salad, a bagel store variation of the old classic. It's really good!

White albacore tuna packed in water, mixed with Hellmann’s and crunchy celery, makes a simple, great-tasting meal.

Enjoy it as a classic tuna sandwich on fresh bread, or try a lighter option with tuna on a bed of lettuce.

Scoop it over crisp iceberg or romaine with tomatoes and onions. Either way, it’s fresh, easy, and delicious.

More Creamy Salads

• Chicken Salad with Grapes Creamy salad with poached chicken, mayo, grapes, Dijon mustard, grated onions, and topped with almonds.
• Creamy Caesar Salad can be used as a base for any protein, providing a double creamy flavor. With no croutons, this salad is gluten-free with almost no carbs.
• Try this recipe for deli-style Macaroni Salad. It is sweet and tastes like the classic.
• Sweet Coleslaw is the perfect all-occasion side dish.
• NYC Deli Chicken Salad and Deli Egg Salad are the perfect cold salads for hot days in the Keys!
• Whole Foods makes really good Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad. Here's a copycat recipe that you have to try! You'll be hooked!
• If you like cheese melted over your tuna, try a Tuna Melt on a Tortilla or a Tuna Melt on a Scooped-Out Bagel. If you’ve never had a scooped-out bagel, it’s time!
• Key West Pink Shrimp makes the best Shrimp Salad! Keys pink shrimp have a little snap when you bite into them, and I’ve added some Old Bay seasoning for extra flavor. This creamy shrimp salad is amazing!
• How about some chopped liver? We eat liver once a week for a boost of iron, and this classic dish never gets old.