The viral Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad is definitely worth the hype! It's fresh and tangy with fun flavours from the wasabi and unique ingredients that work so well together. Enjoy in a pita wrap, sandwich, or even with crackers or chips.
I must admit I have a love-hate relationship with canned tuna…I used to love it, then went a few years without eating it at all. These days though I don't mind it occasionally, so when I saw the viral Matthew McConaughey tuna salad going around it definitely caught my eye. It's unlike a regular tuna salad recipe you've had before as it has a lot of unique ingredients including green apple, jalapeno chips and even wasabi. I first saw a clip of Matthew McConaughey on the 2 bears 1 cave podcast with Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer going around on social media and it was hilarious! I've always loved him as an actor in movies so I was totally intrigued to try it.
In the episode of the podcast, he called himself a 'tuna fish salad master' maker from Texas and makes a batch every Sunday night. He rattled a whole list of ingredients in which the reactions were so funny! I then saw so many remakes going around on Tiktok, so it was time I make it myself. It was actually much better than I thought!
The magic ingredient is the wasabi and was my favorite part, that gives the salad a pop! I've actually shared a vegetarian tuna salad before with my chickpea tuna salad, so you can also easily make this vegetarian / vegan friendly by adding mashed chickpeas instead of the tuna.
Whats great is that you can enjoy this famous Matthew McConaughey tuna salad in so many different ways. You can make a pita wrap or sandwich, serving in lettuce cups to keep it low-carb, or a personal favorite is eating it with pita chips as a quick high-protein snack, as it's great for meal prep. My husband and I kept picking at it when I first made it and it was all gone in a day! If you love a good tuna salad and after a lighter simpler version, try out my healthy tuna salad or cheesy tuna melt 😊
Table of Contents
What makes this recipe special
- Quick & Easy: With minimal steps and prep its ready in 15 minutes!
- Meal Prep Friendly: Great for preparing lunch or snacks for the week, it even tastes better the next day!
- Delicious Flavors: Between the wasabi paste, jalapeno chips and pickles, each bite makes you want more
- Versatile: Enjoy in many different ways like in a sandwich, lettuce cups, pita chips, crackers or veggie sticks
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Canned tuna is the core ingredient, so I recommend using a good quality brand. I prefer tuna in olive oil, but you can also use regular canned tuna in oil or water if you prefer. To make it vegetarian/vegan friendly use mashed chickpeas instead like I have in my chickpea tuna salad
- Mayonnaise adds creaminess and binds everything. I like using whole egg mayonnaise but I don't go too heavy on the mayo to keep it lighter. You can totally add more if you prefer
- Pickles, being dill pickles or gherkins add tang and a crunchy bite
- Red onion adds a sharp, colorful boost. I always soak my onions in water to remove that harsh onion flavor. You can swap with green onions to be lighter
- Canned corn adds a sweet and juicy touch. Fresh corn works great when in season
- Frozen green peas adds another layer of light sweetness and pop of color. Theres no need to boil them first, once thawed they're good to go
- Green apple such as granny smith apple brings tartness and crunch. I loved this addition
- Wasabi paste, a tiny squeeze adds so much flavor and a hint of spice. It was actually my favorite part! Start with a small amount and add more if you like. You can use spicy mustard or horseradish instead, if thats what you have on hand
- Lemon juice and red wine vinegar add brightness and a lovely tang and zest to the dressing to balance the other flavors. White wine vinegar or rice vinegar works too. I believe he may have also added a touch of Italian dressing but I don't think it needs it, as theres enough acidity already. So I've added some dried oregano instead
- Agave adds a little sweetness to round everything out. Substitute with honey or maple syrup if you like. I must admit, I prefer it without as I like the acidic flavors
- Crispy jalapeño chips caused a little bit of confusion. It was unclear if Matthew McConaughey meant jalapeno chips or jalapeno flavored potato chips. I could only get my hands on the potato chips so went with these. Crushed on top for heat and texture, I suggest to add them right before eating so they don't go soggy
How to make Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad
This tuna salad is punchy, fresh, and full of texture, with a sweet crunch from apples and a spicy kick from jalapeño chips. Follow my simple steps below (note quantities are listed in the recipe card below)
Cube the apple. Finely dice the pickles and red onion (optional - soak the onion in water for 10 minutes while prepping the rest)
In a bowl add lemon juice, red wine vinegar, wasabi, oregano, salt and pepper
Whisk together
Add drained tuna, corn, peas, apple, onion and pickles
Mix well and taste. Add more wasabi if desired. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes to let the flavors come together
Before serving, crush the jalapeño chips. Mix in half, then top with the rest. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This tuna salad recipe is super flexible and you can enjoy in so many ways. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:
- Scooped lettuce cups or over greens for a light low carb lunch
- Served in bread for sandwiches or pita bread wraps
- Make a tuna melt toasted with cheese and tomato
- Scooped with crackers or pita chips for a quick snack
- Veggie sticks such as carrot, celery or cucumbers
- Add to cooked pasta once cooled to make a tuna pasta salad
Tips and Tricks
- When using raw onion, I always recommend soaking it in water for about 10 minutes when preparing the remaining ingredients to remove the harsh flavor
- Mix the wet dressing ingredients first in the same bowl, then add in the rest and mix together so the ingredients are flavored evenly
- Chill your salad before serving so the flavors really come together
- Add crushed chips just before eating so they stay crispy
- Don't skip the wasabi, it gives the tuna salad that wow factor! Its quite strong in flavor, so always start with less and add more if you like it
Storage Instructions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Ensure to add the chips on the day you're eating it
- Refresh the salad with a quick mix and if needed add a touch extra of mayo or lemon juice before serving
- This recipe is not freezer friendly, but it holds up well in the fridge
FAQs
The actor shared on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast that he calls himself the “tuna fish salad master maker” and revealed a recipe that went viral for its unexpected mix of ingredients
The base is canned tuna, red onion, pickles, corn, peas and crispy jalapeno chips. The dressing is mayonnaise, wasabi, lemon juice, vinegar and agave
Mashup chickpeas to make a vegetarian/vegan tuna salad or you can also use shredded chicken
Its high in protein and I use less mayonnaise than regular tuna salad. To make a healthier version swap the mayo for Greek yoghurt
More Viral Social Media Recipes
More Healthy Salads
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad (Viral Recipe)
Ingredients
- 10oz / 320g canned tuna - drained
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons chopped pickles
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- ½ cup canned corn - drained
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ¼ large green apple
- ½ cup jalapeno potato chips
- 1-2 teaspoons wasabi paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon oregano or Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon agave or honey (optional - I prefer it without)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Chop the apple into cubes and finally dice the pickles and red onion. Optional - I like to soak the red onion in water for 10 minutes while preparing the remaining ingredients
- In a bowl add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, wasabi (start with 1 teaspoon) and oregano. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper and whisk together
- Add the drained tuna, corn, peas, chopped apple, red onion and pickles. Stir together with a spoon until well combined - taste for seasoning and add a 2nd teaspoon of wasabi if preferred
- Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop
- Right before serving, break up the jalapeno chips and add half of them to the salad and stir through. Then top with the remaining chips and enjoy your zingy delicious Matthew McConaughey Tuna Salad, in a sandwich, pita wrap, lettuce cups or with pita chips and dig in!
Notes
- Onion – soaking raw red onion in water for about 10 minutes helps tame its harsh bite. Do this while you prep the other ingredients so it’s ready to go when you need it
- Dressing – always mix the mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, and seasoning first. This makes sure everything is evenly coated once you add the tuna and veggies
- Wasabi – is the secret kick that makes this tuna salad pop. Start with a small amount as wasabi is strong and adjust based on how bold you want it
- Serving – chill the salad in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before serving. It gives the flavors time to meld and taste even better. Then add the crushed jalapeño chips right before serving. If you mix them in too early, they’ll lose their crunch
Comments
No Comments