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This salmon salad recipe is made with canned salmon and comes together quickly! It’s similar to tuna salad, so it’s great in sandwiches for easy lunches.
You may also like my Easy Chicken Salad and Canned Salmon Pasta next.
Why you’ll love it
I think canned salmon is somewhat underrated. Tuna gets all the glory, so if you want to change things up a bit, give this a try. Canned salmon is healthy and fairly inexpensive, and it’s something I like to include in my diet every now and then!
I love how flavorful this easy canned salmon salad is with bright lemon juice, fresh dill, and crunchy onion. They might be your new favorite way to use a can of salmon. It may even rival my Easy Tuna Salad recipe.
What you’ll need
- Salmon – I used canned sockeye salmon (Cloverleaf brand here in Canada)
- Mayo – for creaminess without drenching it
- Dijon mustard – it gives savory depth but doesn’t make it taste like mustard!
- Lemon juice and zest – I add lemon zest to many of my salmon recipes since it really adds a ton of freshness that pairs well with the fish
- Capers – a burst of bright, briny flavor
- Celery and red onion – it adds crunch
- Fresh dill – it’s the perfect complement to salmon
Pro tip
You can buy canned salmon without skin/bones, but I usually buy it with. Why? Because it’s more flavorful, contains extra vitamins/minerals, and you don’t even notice when you mash it all up. I know the idea may not be super appealing to some people (or if you think too much about it haha), but give it a try if you’re curious! My mom always bought canned salmon that way, and so I continued as an adult.
How to make salmon salad
This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Drain the salmon, and mash it in a prep bowl. Prep the other ingredients and add to the bowl.
- Mix together, season with salt & pepper, and adjust as needed.
- Assemble into sandwiches with your favorite bread, baguette, buns, etc.
Substitutions and variations
- Can you use fresh salmon? Yes! I recommend using about 1 pound of fresh salmon (you could definitely use leftover Cooked Salmon for this recipe).
- This salmon salad recipe is pretty flexible. Just like with tuna salad, feel free to add/omit ingredients based on what you’ve got on hand or prefer. I encourage you to taste and adjust ingredient quantities as needed!
- If you can’t get fresh dill, dried dill will work in a pinch, but I do prefer the flavor of the fresh stuff. I’d start with 1 teaspoon, taste it, and add more if needed.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use my Microplane zester/grater to zest the lemon.
- Here’s a quality bread knife if you don’t have one and a chef’s knife for chopping.
- Pictured is one of these glass prep bowls, and this is my fave can opener that’s been going strong for years.
What to serve with salmon salad
- I just included butter lettuce in the sandwiches pictured, but feel free to add more stuff like tomatoes, arugula, cucumber, a different kind of lettuce, a slice of cheese… anything goes!
- Try my light Potato Leek Tomato Soup for a soup and sandwich combo, or make this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad on the side for more fresh goodness.
Leftovers and storage
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. I would probably eat any leftovers faster if using fresh salmon, however (within a couple of days).
- Make sure to not leave it sitting out and refrigerate promptly.
More easy seafood recipes
Leave a star rating and review below if you made these canned salmon salad sandwiches! Questions? Talk to me. Give me a follow on Instagram as well.
Canned Salmon Salad
Ingredients
- 2 (5 ounce) cans salmon drained
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 stick celery chopped small
- 1-2 tablespoons capers drained & chopped
- 1-2 tablespoon red onion chopped small
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drain the salmon and add it to a bowl. Mash it with a fork. Prep the other ingredients and add them to the bowl, then mix it all together. Taste and season with salt & pepper/adjust ingredients as needed.
- This recipe makes enough for 4 sandwiches (try adding some lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and/or sliced cheese to each sandwich). This canned salmon salad will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Notes
- Recipe is easily halved (just use one can of salmon and cut other ingredients in half).
- This recipe is very forgiving. If you don’t like an ingredient, you can definitely leave it out/sub as needed with what you’ve got on hand!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Wow what an easy and tasty dish. I ate it with pita bread chips. Amazingly good.
So happy you enjoyed it, Susie! Thanks for your review!
I grew up eating canned salmon with Miracle Whip , lemon ,lettuce and lots of fresh ground black pepper in Manitoba ; we ate white bread back then ,it was the style. I don’t eat very much bread anymore , but when I do, I eat real Sourdough Bread or sour Rye Bread,toasted. I don’t eat many processed foods either so I use half of an Avocado in place of the MW. The salmon & avocado go very well together. (It is the mouth feel that is important to me). Instead of salt I use salt-free chilli powder for a kick. I don’t eat 3 or 4 sandwiches like I used to , now I would have a fresh broccoli salad first ,then a sandwich.
So easy to make. Had all the ingredients on hand. Such a good flavor.
With the capers and dill. Will definitely make again.
Fantastic!! Thanks for your review, Micky!
Delicious! Nice change from salmon patties.
Glad you enjoyed it, Carrie! Thanks for your review. 😀
Can I substitute Greek yogurt for the mayo?
Sure!
On the advice of my doctor, I needed to add some oily fish to my diet. I’m not a big fish fan, but I decided to give this a try. Left out the onions (personal taste) and added a boiled egg for more protein. Excellent flavor and easy to prep. My doc and I thank you!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Angeline!! 🙂 Thanks for your review!
I made this today – delicious!
Fabulous!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your review!
Never could find a canned salmon recipe and now, this is phenomenal! Much better than tuna! Thanks!
Yay! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Another of your recipes that made it into my Best of 2022 recipe file! This was soooooooo good. It was super easy to prep in the morning and take to work. The flavor combination is absolutely perfect. Thank you!
That’s awesome!! You’re very welcome, Kathy! 😀
Loved this recipe been wanting salmon salad but wasn’t sure about the taste. This recipe taste great!!! It was so refreshing !!! Thank you!! I look forward to more of your recipes!!!
I’m so happy to hear that! 😀 You’re very welcome. I appreciate your 5-star review! Let me know if you try anything else.