Quick & Easy Tuna Salad with Celery and Relish

Ok, here’s the deal. Not every recipe I share is Cuban (I am first-generation Cuban-American, after all!) BUT… every recipe I do share reflects how I actually eat.

And in my Cuban family, even the basics have to taste good. If not, what’s the point of eating it?!

I’ll tell you… Mami loves my tuna salad, so we make this for lunch on repeat. It’s our go-to basic tuna salad recipe: creamy, crunchy, a little tangy, and ready in 10 minutes.

I’ve tested a bunch of variations, but this one always wins. Whether you serve it as tuna salad for sandwiches, stuff it in a lettuce wrap, or pile it over warm & fluffy white rice (yum!), it’s fast, satisfying, and full of flavor.

Let me show you how to make it!

“Just finished eating nearly the whole batch. Thanks for the recipe! I made it as-is, give or take, since I was just eyeballing, but this is gonna be my new go to for a quick lunch!” —Stacy

How To Make My ‘Sassy’ Tuna Salad 💃🏻

If you’ve got a can of tuna and 10 minutes, you’re halfway to lunch.

This simple tuna salad recipe starts with basic pantry ingredients—just tuna, mayo, a little pickle relish, plus garlic and onion powder for flavor.

Mami and I prefer wild albacore tuna because it tastes so clean but use what you have on hand!

This tuna salad comes together in minutes: just mix the tuna, mayo, relish, celery, and spices in a bowl until creamy and well combined.

Serve it however you like—one of my favorite unique ways is to serve this tuna recipe with Yuca (Cassava) Chips. Have you ever made them? Highly recommend!

I love recipes like this because they fall under my quick 15-minute recipes. Think fast, flexible, and actually fills you up!

I make this easy tuna salad at least once a week… right up there with my easy Cuban pinwheels, another fast favorite I make when I need something that doesn’t taste boring.

Recommended For This Recipe

Mixing Bowl Set

This mixing bowl set comes with three different sizes of bowls that are perfect for prepping or mixing so many delicious dishes!

Quick Tips

You can totally swap the mayo for Greek yogurt or avocado, if you’re wanting to switch things up, and feel free to stir in extras like red onions, chopped apples, or fresh herbs.

Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, but skip the freezer on this one.