Make a twist to the usual lunch routines and add spicy tuna sandwiches to the menu. This tuna salad brings a kick of heat, creaminess, and so much flavor to every bite. This is one lunch you won't want to miss.
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We really like our sandwich recipes around here, and spicy tuna sandwiches are just one of our latest frugal adventures. Made with canned tuna and some sriracha in the mix, this tuna salad isn't like momma made it.
We normally save our cans of tuna for a cheap dinner protein in dishes like Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole, but when we want something different for lunch to break up the days of eating leftovers and Frozen Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, we opt for some spicy savory tuna.
Take it up a notch and turn your Spicy Tuna Sandwich into an Air Fryer Tuna Melt or simply enjoy it cold (perfect for lunch boxes and warm weather). It's great either way!
For more fabulous sandwich ideas, make sure to check out our Party Sub Recipe, Rainbow Grilled Cheese, and Air Fryer Club Sandwich.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's cheap to make. Canned tuna is one of the cheapest sandwich filling options available. This spicy tuna sandwich recipe costs less than $5 to make and makes enough to share with the family. Canned tuna is something we've learned to Stockpile On a Budget because it's cheap, versatile, and shelf stable for long periods of time. Which means we usually have it on hand.
- It's easy to make. Open a can, drain some tuna, and mix everything together in a bowl. This recipe comes together so fast and takes hardly any effort too.
- It's customizable. We like the flavor of spice without the actual kick, but if you want a stronger kick of heat in every bite, feel free to add in more hot sauce or even some jalapenos!
🛒 Ingredients
Tuna- You'll need some 5-ounce sized cans of tuna in water, not oil. Pay attention to the labels. If you still have cans of tuna to use up, consider making some Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole, Crispy Fried Tuna Patties, or Tuna Cabbage Salad.
Sriracha- Adding in some sriracha or chili sauce gives your Spicy Tuna Sandwich a nice kick of spice. (We also use sriracha in our Spicy Deviled Eggs!)
Sweet relish- This will give us a little contrast in flavors. It pairs really nicely with everything else that we have going on.
Yellow mustard- To help add more color and flavor and cut down on the mayo taste just a tad, you'll want to enlist the help of some yellow mustard.
Sandwich bread- Use your favorite sandwich bread or whatever is cheapest. Homemade White Bread also works fine!
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Bread. My kids are big fans of the cheap sliced sandwich bread but feel free to use any bread you want. Thicker bread slices (like homemade sourdough bread) may require a little longer cooking time (about 1-2 minutes).
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use store-brand tuna: Canned tuna varies widely in price. Store-brand tuna in water is usually $0.30-$0.60 cheaper per can and works perfectly in this spicy tuna sandwich recipe.
Stretch the filling: Add shredded lettuce, chopped celery, diced pickles, or even cooked pasta to bulk up the tuna salad for more sandwiches without using more tuna.
Use whatever bread is cheapest: Basic sandwich bread is the most budget-friendly. Homemade bread or clearance bakery bread are great low-cost options too.
🥄 Instructions for Spicy Tuna Sandwich
Step 1: Start by draining the canned tuna and breaking it up with a fork. This will help to remove a lot of the chunks and make it easier to incorporate into the filling.
Step 2: Add the drained tuna, mayo, sriracha, relish, and mustard to a bowl.
Step 3: Stir together with a fork until well mixed. Add in salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Spread about ½ cup of filling onto a single slice of sandwich bread.
Step 5: Top with another slice of bread.
Step 6: Repeat with the remaining sandwich filling and bread.
Serve and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Big portions or several smaller ones. These sandwiches are very full once filled. The filling can easily be divided into smaller portions to make additional sandwiches.
- Recipe can be doubled. If desired, you can double this recipe (you may need a larger bowl).
- How to reduce carbs. You can swap out the bread for lettuce leaves if you want a tasty tuna wrap with fewer carbs.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store prepared tuna salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Assemble Spicy Tuna Sandwiches fresh so the bread doesn't become soggy.
Make Ahead: You can prepare the tuna filling up to 3 days in advance and keep it stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Assemble and cook when ready.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve your spicy tuna sandwiches with simple sides like fresh fruit, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or a small garden salad. Add some crunch with chips, pretzels, or popcorn. Pair with a cozy soup or a cold drink like lemonade or iced coffee for a complete, budget-friendly lunch.
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❓ Spicy Tuna Sandwich FAQs
If you have a can of tuna on hand that was packed in oil and not water, you can use it to make tuna sandwiches. Just note that you may wish to decrease the mayo in the filling because of the added fats.
Yes, draining tuna is important for removing a lot of moisture and sodium that we don't want to ingest. By removing the excess liquid, we don't have to worry about soggy sandwiches.
For food safety reasons, you should not allow your sandwich to sit out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. I personally don't recommend letting it sit out for more than a few minutes. If you don't plan on eating it right away, place it into a baggie or cover it and place it in the fridge.
For a spicy kick, try hot sauce or sriracha. Add pickles or pickle juice for acidity, mustard for boldness, and olive oil with balsamic vinegar for a Mediterranean twist. Ultimately, choose the sauce you enjoy most for your tuna and mayo sandwich.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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🐝 If you tried this spicy tuna sandwich, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Tuna Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 cans (5 ounces each) tuna in water, drained - ($1.92)
- ½ cup mayonnaise - ($0.45)
- 2 tablespoons sriracha or chili sauce - ($0.24)
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish - ($0.08)
- 2 tablespoon yellow mustard - ($0.06)
- salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 slices sandwich bread - ($0.48)
Instructions
- Prep tuna. Drain tuna well and flake with a fork to break up large chunks.
- Mix filling. Add tuna, mayonnaise, sriracha, relish, and mustard to a bowl. Stir until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble. Spread about ½ cup tuna filling onto one slice of bread. Top with a second slice. Repeat with remaining bread and filling.
- Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Yield. These are generously filled sandwiches. Portion smaller to make extra servings if needed.
- Scaling. Recipe doubles easily. Use a larger bowl for mixing.
- Low-Carb Option. Serve tuna salad in lettuce leaves instead of bread.
- Make Ahead. Prepare tuna filling up to 3 days in advance and store airtight in the refrigerator. Assemble sandwiches just before serving.
Nutritional Information
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