3-Ingredient Dill Pickle Tuna Salad (+ Air Fryer Tuna Melt)

Three ingredients. That's it. This dill pickle tuna salad comes together in about two minutes, and it's one of those recipes that sounds too simple to be exciting...until you taste it.

The trick is starting with ingredients that already bring big flavor. Wild Planet's Dill Pickle Skipjack Tuna has actual chunks of dill pickle right in the can, so you're skipping the "drain, chop, measure" step entirely. Crush some Seapoint Farms Fire Roasted Dill Pickle Edamame for crunch and protein, stir in mayo, and you have a pickle-packed tuna salad that punches way above its ingredient count.

Eat it on crackers, pile it into lettuce wraps, or do what I do...turn it into a crispy air fryer tuna melt.

For more easy seafood lunches, try my Air Fryer Tuna Melt (Mediterranean), Pan Bagnat, or Smoked Salmon Sandwich next!

Ingredients You'll Need

Wild Planet Dill Pickle Skipjack Tuna: Sustainably caught skipjack with real dill pickle pieces mixed in. Two cans gives you enough for two generous sandwiches.

Seapoint Farms Fire Roasted Edamame, Dill Pickle: This is the unexpected crunch factor. Crush them up a bit and they add texture, protein, and more dill pickle flavor without extra chopping.

Mayo: Just enough to bind everything together. 3-4 tablespoons for the salad, plus a couple of teaspoons for the outside of the bread if you're making tuna melts.

Bread and cheese (for tuna melts): I used brioche here, but sourdough or a sturdy white bread works too. Choose any good melting cheese - cheddar, Swiss, provolone.

Full measurements in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make 3-Ingredient Dill Pickle Tuna Salad

Step 1: Crush the edamame

No chopping to do...just give the dill pickle edamame a rough crush. You want some texture, not dust. I use my rolling pin or the back of a spoon.

Step 2: Mix everything. 

Combine crushed edamame with both cans of drained tuna and mayo. Stir. That's it. Taste and adjust mayo if you like it creamier.

How to Turn It Into an Air Fryer Tuna Melt

If you've made my Air Fryer Tuna Melt with Mediterranean Tuna Salad, you already know this technique. The secret to crispy bread without a skillet is a whisper of mayo on the outside.

Step 3: Toast the bread

Spread a very thin layer of mayo on one side of each bread slice. Place mayo-side up in the air fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes until golden.

Step 4: Melt the cheese

Flip the bread, layer on cheese, and air fry another 60 seconds until bubbly and melty.

Step 5: Assemble and Enjoy

Pile tuna salad on one slice, close it up, and eat immediately. This is not a sandwich that improves with patience.

What's the Best Bread for a Tuna Melt?

Brioche gives you a slightly sweet, buttery contrast to all that pickle flavor, and it browns beautifully with the mayo trick. Sourdough is a great option if you want something sturdier. Avoid anything too thin or delicate that'll get soggy under the tuna salad.

Can You Make This Tuna Salad Ahead?

The tuna salad keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days, so it's great for meal prep. Toast your bread fresh when you're ready to eat. Assembling ahead is a guaranteed path to sogginess.

Can You Eat This Without Making a Tuna Melt?

Obviously. It's a great tuna salad on its own - on crackers, in a lettuce wrap, or scooped straight from the bowl (no judgment). The tuna melt is just the most fun way to eat it.

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