Easy Tuna and Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Transform ordinary tuna salad into this easy tuna and smoked salmon sandwich, and keep it fresh with crunchy celery, sweet red onion, and fragrant dill!
Recipe Mood: Elevated Lunch
Indulgence Level: Medium
Effort Level: Easy
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our affiliate disclosure.
The humble can of tuna is something so loved, but it can sometimes get boring when you’ve eaten it pretty much the same way for years. One way to make it more interesting is to add some smoked salmon to it and create this easy tuna and smoked salmon sandwich!
With its robust, almost intoxicating flavor, smoked salmon makes a great addition to this popular sandwich. A little goes a long way, so you don’t need much to transform your next tuna salad into something a little more special.
Of course, this tuna recipe is tailor-made for bread. Pile it onto some crispy ciabatta (one of my favorites, which I also use for this roasted eggplant sandwich) or just grab your favorite kind. It’s also delicious on soft, whole-grain bread.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Tuna and Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Nice change from traditional tuna: Something as little as two tablespoons of smoked salmon makes all the difference here.
Can make it ahead of time: Prepare it the day before or a few hours before, and it will keep well in the fridge.
Great way to use up smoked salmon: A little smoked salmon goes a long way, so if you have some in the fridge or freezer and are wondering what to do with it, this is one option.
Key Ingredients
- Canned Tuna: I recommend yellowfin tuna in olive oil. As for brands, I like Genova.
- Smoked Salmon: The Norwegian and Scottish ones are best.
See the recipe card below for more information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make This Recipe
- Prepare the tuna: Drain most of the oil from the can of tuna and break it up with a fork in a small bowl.
- Combine all ingredients: Add all the remaining ingredients to the tuna and mix well.
- Serve: Pile the tuna onto your favorite bread.
Pro Tips
Make it ahead of time: The tuna will taste even better if you give it some time to sit. You can prepare it up to 1 day before.
Variations & Substitutions
-Toss in chopped pickle or a few capers if you don’t have fresh dill.
-Squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto the tuna for zip.
-If you only have water-based tuna, drain it, then add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
-Add some shredded carrot for color and extra nutrition.
-If you’re not a fan of mayo, substitute it with Greek yogurt.
Recipe FAQs
I like the taste and texture of yellowfin tuna. I also like the Genova brand—I think its taste and texture are superior to more common brands.
The best quality smoked salmon tends to be the Scottish or Norwegian varieties. They have a silkier/more tender/more buttery flesh.
Yes, store it in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. It defrosts very easily; simply remove what you need and place it in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour before use.
I don’t recommend it, as canned smoked salmon can vary in quality, and you may end up with something quite different from the fresh variety.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days.
More Salad Recipes
- Blue cheese salad
- Salad with smoked turkey
- Mediterranean shrimp orzo salad
- Easy Asian tuna salad recipe
If you love this recipe, I’d appreciate it if you could take a moment to review it below. You could also tag me on Instagram (@forcarbssake) with a picture of your finished dish!
Easy Tuna and Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 5-ounce can tuna in oil mostly drained (Note 1)
- 2 tablespoons smoked salmon roughly chopped (Note 2)
- 3 tablespoons full-fat mayonnaise (Note 3)
- 1 teaspoon mustard (Note 4)
- ¼ cup diced celery
- 1 tablespoon red onion peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill minced
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- After draining most of the oil from the can of tuna, place the tuna in a small bowl and break it up well with a fork until it's fine in texture.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix everything together. I recommend chilling it for at least 1 hour so it gets cold and the flavors have time to come together.
- Spread the tuna salad onto your favorite bread and top with any ingredients you like, such as lettuce and tomato. Enjoy!
The smoked salmon packs this tuna with lots of flavor. Love it.