Our Signature Panera Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe
This Signature Panera Tuna Salad Sandwich offers a delicious and creamy blend of albacore tuna, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing, served between slices of honey wheat or sourdough bread. It’s a refreshing and satisfying lunch or light dinner option that’s both easy to prepare and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Tuna Salad
- 2 cans solid white albacore tuna (5 oz each), packed in olive oil
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, well-drained
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced red onion
- 1 large celery stalk, finely minced (about 1/4 cup)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
For Assembly
- 8 slices honey wheat bread or sourdough
- 4 large leaves butter lettuce or green leaf lettuce
- 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced
- Thinly sliced red onion (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Tuna: Open and drain the tuna thoroughly, then flake it into a mixing bowl with a fork to break up any large chunks.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, sweet pickle relish, sea salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Add Vegetables and Herbs: Add finely minced celery, red onion, and chopped fresh dill to the flaked tuna in the mixing bowl.
- Combine Tuna Salad: Pour the dressing over the tuna mixture and gently fold everything together until evenly combined without overmixing.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the tuna salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and the texture firm up slightly.
- Assemble Sandwich: On each slice of bread, layer a leaf of butter lettuce, a generous scoop of the tuna salad, slices of ripe tomato, and optional thinly sliced red onion. Top with another slice of bread to complete the sandwich.
Notes
- Draining the tuna well is essential to prevent a watery salad.
- Chilling the tuna salad before serving helps develop flavors and improves texture.
- For a lighter option, substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise entirely.
- Customize with other toppings like avocado or cucumber slices for extra freshness.
- Use whole grain or gluten-free bread to suit dietary preferences.
Keywords: tuna salad, Panera, sandwich, lunch, easy recipe, no-cook, creamy tuna salad, Greek yogurt, dill, healthy sandwich
