This tuna salad sandwich with sauerkraut packs a nutritional punch with lean protein, natural probiotics from the sauerkraut, and fresh diced veggies. A delicious and wholesome anytime lunch! Or, try this Reuben sandwich if you're looking for the classic deli sauerkraut sandwich.
"I actually really like it! It tastes great. And so healthy with sauerkraut and tuna. Thanks for sharing."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Monika, One Happy Dish reader
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I've been craving tuna and sauerkraut lately, ever since making a simple tuna sauerkraut salad. I also love a good sandwich. Like one of those nice thick, fresh deli type sandwiches on crusty bread.
Solution: tuna salad sandwich with sauerkraut. So simple, but so satisfying. And this one travels well too if you want to make in advance.
Did you know?
Sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is arguably one of the most beloved fermented foods on the planet. It is made by using only salt to create a watery brine around the cabbage and then letting the natural microbes on the cabbage proliferate and change the nutritional profile and flavor of the cabbage into the something truly enchanting through a process called lacto-fermentation.
If you're looking for other delicious sandwich ideas, try this avocado chicken salad, these easy turkey burgers or this tasty veggie and hummus wrap. And for another comfort food dish featuring sauerkraut, you have to try these sweet potato latkes with beet kraut or explore other dishes with sauerkraut. 🙂
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Nutritious lunch option with protein, chopped vegetables and natural probiotics
- Takes only 15 minutes to make
- Great for meal prep and make ahead lunches
- Flexible ingredients
- Nice way to mix up your tuna salad routine
🌿 Ingredients
To keep things simple for quick lunch prep, I used just a handful of ingredients in this recipe:
- Canned tuna
- Celery, red bell pepper, red onion
- Mayonnaise
- Salt & pepper
- Bread
- Green leaf lettuce
- Fresh, raw sauerkraut
The great thing about fresh sauerkraut is that it's available in nearly all large grocery stores now, not just natural foods stores. Just make sure it's refrigerated and says "live cultures" or similar if you'd like the probiotic benefit. (The ones on the non-perishable shelves use vinegar and don't contain any live cultures.) If you plan ahead, you can even make your own sauerkraut at home!
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
So the key to this recipe is getting everything chopped and prepped beforehand. Once all of your ingredients are ready to go, it literally takes just minutes to make the tuna salad and assemble the sauerkraut sandwiches.
Step 1: Wash and finely chop the celery, red pepper and onion, and wash the lettuce leaves.
Step 2: Place the tuna in a large mixing bowl and use a fork to separate into flakes.
Step 3: Add the vegetables and mayonnaise to the tuna as well as some salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Mix well to incorporate.
Step 5: Place one slice of lettuce, half the tuna salad and half the sauerkraut on each sandwich. (Toast your bread first if you'd like!)
Step 6: Top both sandwiches with the top slices of bread, slice in half and serve.
📋 Substitutions
You can use any of the following substitutions in this recipe:
- Celery - substitute cucumber if you don't have any celery on hand
- Red pepper - substitute any other kind of bell pepper (orange, yellow, green) or feel free to leave out; you can also use roasted red pepper
- Red onion - white or yellow onions also work great, as do scallions, or substitute a little onion powder instead, or some fresh or dried dill
- Canned tuna - substitute canned salmon if you'd like
- Green leaf lettuce - red leaf and Romaine lettuce also work great, or just leave out if you don't have any greens on hand
- Gluten free - substitute a crusty gluten-free bread (I like the Canyon Bakehouse Heritage Style breads)
📖 Variations
Here are a few variations on this recipe you can try:
- Tuna and beet kraut sandwich - use beet sauerkraut instead of regular sauerkraut; it's delicious!
- Tuna kimchi sandwich - switch out the sauerkraut with kimchi for an extra spicy kick 🙂
- Sauerkraut egg sandwich - substitute tuna salad with your favorite egg salad recipe and add sauerkraut; you won't believe what a great combo that is too
🔪 Equipment
I used the following equipment to make this recipe:
- cutting board
- chef's knife
🍱 Storage
Once assembled, this tuna sauerkraut sandwich will stay fresh for up to 24 hours in a food storage bag or covered container in the fridge.
🎉 Top tip
This sauerkraut sandwich recipe makes a great meal prep lunch! Simply make the tuna salad in advance (it'll store well for 4-5 days in the fridge.) In the morning, toast your bread if desired, and assemble your sandwiches with lettuce, sauerkraut and your pre-made tuna salad.
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
Yes; this tuna and sauerkraut salad recipe is specifically written for canned tuna, and any variety is fine to use.
No, you don't have to use fresh, raw sauerkraut if you can't find it; shelf-stable sauerkraut will still taste delicious. If you want the benefits of live probiotic bacteria, though, look for real, raw sauerkraut in the produce or refrigerated section.
You can make the tuna salad up to 5 days in advance, store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and then assemble your sandwiches in the morning. Once assembled, the sandwiches will stay fresh for up to 24 hours in food storage bags or a covered container in the fridge.
No problem! This recipe is flexible so use whatever you have on hand. I love making this tuna salad with just celery and onion too, or if you don't have fresh onion, you could substitute a little onion powder or some fresh or dried dill.
🍳 Recipe
Tuna and Sauerkraut Sandwich
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 stalks celery
- ½ small red bell pepper
- ¼ small red onion
- 5 ounces canned tuna
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 slices bread or gluten-free bread, any kind
- 2 leaves green leaf lettuce or other lettuce
- ¼ cup sauerkraut or homemade sauerkraut (see notes)
Instructions
- Prep: Wash and finely chop the celery, red pepper and onion, and wash the lettuce leaves; set aside. Place the tuna in a large mixing bowl and use a fork to separate into flakes.
- Mix: Add the vegetables and mayonnaise to the tuna as well as salt and pepper to taste, and mix well to incorporate.
- Assemble: Toast the bread if desired and place one slice of lettuce, half the tuna salad and half the sauerkraut on each sandwich, slice in half and serve.
Monika
I actually really like it! It tastes great. And so healthy with sauerkraut and tuna. Thanks for sharing.
Allison
So glad you liked it, Monika! Thanks for the 5-star review!
Hector Rafael Barrionuevo
Allison,
Your recipe for the tuna and sauerkraut was delicious ! Loved the texture-enhancing celery .... An the visual presentation of the steps and ingredients is clear and attractive.
Have you tried making flan ? I want to find a way to make it without all the sugar need for the caramel 🙂
Awesome, healthy food blog !
Allison
I'm so glad you liked it Hector! Thanks for taking the time to write. Oooh--healthy flan: now you're talking. I'm definitely going to have to work on this one;)