Panera Bread Tuna Salad Recipe

This Panera Bread Tuna Salad is a creamy and classic recipe, which includes flaky Albacore tuna and tangy sweet pickle relish. It’s a versatile high-protein lunch, ready in about 10 minutes.

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Panera Bread Tuna Salad Ingredients

2 cans (5 oz each) Albacore white tuna packed in water
⅓ cup real mayonnaise (such as Hellmann’s or Best Foods)
2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp sugar (optional, enhances the relish sweetness)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

How To Make Panera Bread Tuna Salad

Drain the tuna: Open the cans of tuna and drain them thoroughly. Press the lid down into the can over the sink to squeeze out as much water as possible. Removing the excess liquid is critical to preventing a watery salad.
Flake the fish: Empty the drained tuna into a medium mixing bowl. Use a fork to break up the large chunks into smaller, bite-sized flakes.
Make the dressing: In a small separate bowl (or directly on top of the tuna if you prefer), combine the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and sugar (if using).
Combine and mix: Pour the dressing mixture over the tuna. Stir gently with a spoon or fork until the tuna is evenly coated and creamy.
Season: Taste the salad. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. (Be careful with the salt, as the tuna and mayonnaise already contain sodium).
Chill and serve: While you can eat it immediately, covering the bowl and refrigerating it for 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld together for a better taste. Stir again before serving.

Recipe Tips

Tuna selection: Panera specifically uses Albacore tuna. It has a firmer texture, lighter color, and milder flavor than “Chunk Light” tuna (skipjack), which can be mushy and fishy.
Sweet vs. Dill: The signature flavor of this salad comes from sweet pickle relish. Using dill relish will result in a completely different, more savory taste profile that doesn’t match the restaurant version.
Consistency: If you prefer a smoother salad (like a deli style), mash the tuna more vigorously with the back of a fork. For a chunkier salad, fold the dressing in gently.
Dryness check: If the salad looks too dry after chilling (tuna absorbs moisture), stir in an extra teaspoon of mayonnaise right before serving.

What To Serve With Panera Bread Tuna Salad

This versatile salad works way beyond just a sandwich.

Tuna Melt: Pile onto bread with cheddar cheese and broil.
Stuffed Tomato: Scoop into a hollowed-out beefsteak tomato.
Green Salad: Serve a scoop over a bed of mixed greens with vinaigrette.
Crackers: Perfect as a dip for a snack plate.

How To Store Panera Bread Tuna Salad

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the coldest part of the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
Freeze: It is not recommended to freeze mayonnaise-based salads as the emulsion breaks and becomes watery upon thawing.

Panera Bread Tuna Salad Nutrition Facts

Calories: 210kcal
Protein: 18g
Carbohydrates: 4g
Fat: 13g
Saturates: 2g
Sugar: 3g
Salt: 0.6g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (approx. ½ cup).

FAQs

Is this gluten-free?

Yes, the ingredients typically used (tuna, mayo, relish, mustard) are naturally gluten-free. Always check the labels on your specific brands to be safe.

Can I use Miracle Whip?

You can, but it will be significantly sweeter and tangier than the Panera version. Real mayonnaise provides the rich, neutral creamy base needed here.

Can I add celery?

While the classic Panera recipe relies mostly on the crunch from the relish, adding 1 stalk of finely diced celery is a great way to add extra texture and volume.