Subways Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe– Easy & Delicious
If you love the classic tuna sub from Subway’s menu, you are going to love this easy homemade version. This copycat Subways tuna salad recipe is creamy, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Piled high on soft sub rolls with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices, onion, and your favorite toppings, this sandwich tastes just like the original Subway version.
One of the best parts about making your own at-home sandwich creation is customizing everything exactly how you like it. Add extra dill pickles, swap cheeses, toast the bread in the toaster oven, or turn it into a tuna melt. This recipe is perfect for busy lunches, easy dinners, meal prep, or a tasty lunch on warm summer days.
Whether you are craving classic tuna salad sandwiches or a loaded tuna sub from your favorite sub shop, this easy recipe is a close match to the restaurant favorite.
Why You’ll Love Subways Tuna Salad Recipe
- Made with pantry staples and canned tuna
- Creamy tuna salad with the perfect amount of mayonnaise
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
- Delicious served cold or warm as a tuna melt
- Perfect for meal prep or quick lunches
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Tips For The Perfect Sandwich
- Drain the Tuna Well– Removing excess water is the secret to creamy tuna salad instead of soggy filling.
- Toast the Bread– Warm italian herb bread or toasted sub rolls make this sandwich taste even more like the real thing.
- Don’t Overdo the Mayo– An excessive amount of mayonnaise can overpower the tuna flavor. Start with less and add more if needed.
- Customize Your Toppings– The subway sandwich bar lets customers build sandwiches exactly how they like them, and you can do the same at home. Add pepper jack, choice of provolone, extra pickles, or fresh crisp salad toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Subway states they use wild-caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna. For this recipe, any good-quality canned tuna works well.
Yes! The tuna salad actually tastes even better after chilling for a few hours.
Absolutely. Reduce the mayo slightly if you prefer a lighter tuna salad.
American cheese is classic, but provolone, cheddar blend, and pepper jack are all delicious choices.
Yes! Add jalapeños, spicy peppers, or a dash of hot sauce.
What Does Subway Put In Their Tuna Salad?
The original Subway version is famously simple. Subway’s tuna mixture mainly contains tuna and mayonnaise. This homemade subway tuna recipe adds a few extra ingredients for flavor and texture while still keeping that classic combination people love.
The bit of lemon juice brightens the flavor, while chopped celery and onion add crunch and freshness.
Ingredients
For the Subway Tuna Salad
- 4 (5-ounce) cans tuna in water, drained very well
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill pickles
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Sandwiches
- 4 sub rolls or hoagie bun rolls
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Green peppers
- Black olives
- Red onion
- American cheese, provolone, pepper jack, or cheddar blend
- Optional: banana peppers, pickles, or red bell pepper
Tools You May Need
- Mixing bowl
- Fork
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Paper towels
- Toaster oven or oven for melting cheese
How To Make Subways Tuna Salad Recipe
Step 1: Drain the Tuna
Drain the canned tuna extremely well. Press out excess moisture using paper towels if needed. This helps prevent watery tuna salad and gives you the creamy texture found in subway tuna sandwiches.
Step 2: Make the Tuna Mixture
In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayonnaise, onion, chopped celery, dill pickles, and lemon juice.
Use a fork to mash and mix everything together until smooth and creamy. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
If you want an ultra-smooth texture similar to some sub shop tuna salads, you can pulse the mixture briefly in a food processor.
Step 3: Prepare the Bread
Slice the sub rolls or italian bread lengthwise, leaving one side attached if desired.
For warm sandwiches, place the bottom halves of the rolls on a baking sheet. Add cheese to the bread and warm in the toaster oven until melted.
Step 4: Build the Sandwiches
Spread a generous scoop of subway tuna salad onto the bottom halves of the bread.
Top with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, green peppers, black olives, and extra onion.
Add the top halves of the rolls and serve immediately.
Variations
- Tuna Melt- Turn this into a tuna melt by adding cheese to the top of each sandwich and broiling until bubbly.
- Dairy-Free Sub- Skip the cheese for a dairy-free sub that still tastes delicious.
- Lettuce Wraps- For a lower-carb option, serve the creamy tuna salad in lettuce wraps instead of bread.
What Bread Works Best?
For the closest copycat recipes recipe exchange style sandwich, try:
- Italian bread
- Italian herb bread
- Soft white sub rolls
- Hoagie bun rolls
Soft bread gives the sandwich that authentic subway copycat recipe texture.
Storage
- Store leftover subway tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For best freshness, assemble sandwiches right before serving.
Subway Tuna Salad Recipe (Copycat)
Subway Tuna Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
For the Tuna Salad
- 4 5-ounce cans tuna in water, drained well
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill pickles
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Sandwiches
- 4 sub rolls or hoagie buns
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Sliced red onion
- Green peppers
- Black olives
- American cheese provolone, pepper jack, or cheddar blend
- Optional: banana peppers or pickles
Instructions
- Drain the canned tuna very well, pressing gently with paper towels if needed to remove excess moisture.
- In a medium bowl, combine the tuna, mayonnaise, chopped onion, chopped celery, dill pickles, and lemon juice. Mix with a fork until creamy and fully combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Slice the sub rolls or hoagie buns lengthwise. If desired, lightly toast the bread in a toaster oven for a warm sandwich.
- For a tuna melt version, place cheese on the bottom halves of the rolls and warm until melted.
- Spoon the tuna salad mixture evenly onto each sandwich.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, green peppers, black olives, and extra red onion.
- Add the top halves of the rolls and serve immediately.
Notes
- Drain the tuna well for the best creamy texture.
- Shred the onion, celery & dill pickles for a smoother texture, or add to blender.
- Italian herb bread tastes especially close to the original Subway version.
- Turn this into lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
- Store leftover tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This Copycat Subway Tuna Sandwich Recipe is one of those easy meals that everyone loves. It is creamy, flavorful, customizable, and tastes incredibly close to the restaurant version. Whether you make classic tuna salad sandwiches, a cheesy tuna melt, or fresh lettuce wraps, this recipe is a simple way to enjoy your favorite subway tuna recipe at home.
Perfect for lunch, dinner, picnics, or meal prep, these tasty tuna sandwiches are sure to become a regular favorite in your kitchen.
