Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad Recipe
About This Tuna Salad
Alright (alright, alrighttttt)… I finally made Matthew McConaughey’s famous tuna salad — the one he talked about on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast — and I was shocked by how good it was. It’s chaotic in the best way: he basically describes it as “cleaning out the fridge,” and there are a LOT of ingredients… but somehow they all work together. I ended up making two double batches back-to-back and ate this for an entire week straight. It’s craveable, punchy, a little sweet, a little spicy, loaded with texture, and absolutely what tuna salad needed. My version is lightly tweaked to my personal taste, but the spirit of his recipe is all here — and turning it into a melty sandwich? Yes.
Why You’ll Love It
A delicious twist on classic tuna salad
Inspired by Matthew McConaughey’s viral podcast recipe
Sweet, spicy, crunchy, tangy, creamy — every bite has everything
Packed with fun mix-ins: jalapeño chips, peas, corn, apple, pickles
Uses tuna in oil for extra richness and flavor
Easy to meal prep and stays great in the fridge
Makes an amazing melty tuna sandwich
Ingredients You’ll Need
Tuna Salad Base
High-quality canned tuna (packed in oil)
Mayonnaise
Lemon juice
Wasabi paste
Honey
Vinegar (apple cider or white wine)
Dill pickle gherkins (or regular pickles)
Red onion
Crispy jalapeño chips
Apple
Corn
Frozen peas
For the Sandwich
Sourdough bread
Butter
Swiss cheese
How to Make It
Whisk together the mayo, wasabi, honey, and vinegar to make the dressing. In a larger bowl, mix the tuna with pickles, onion, apple, corn, peas, and jalapeño chips. Fold in the dressing until everything is evenly coated and refrigerate to chill. Butter sourdough slices and toast them in a skillet, melting Swiss cheese over half the slices. Pile on a generous amount of the tuna salad, top with a toasted slice, and enjoy warm and melty.
Tips for Success
Use tuna packed in oil — it’s richer and less dry than water-packed tuna.
Add wasabi slowly — you can always add more, but you can’t remove it.
Chop mix-ins small for the best bite and texture.
Add jalapeño chips last if you want extra crunch.
Toast the sandwiches covered to help the Swiss melt evenly.
Adjust sweetness by increasing or decreasing honey.
Serve chilled salad on warm bread — elite contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this spicy?
Mild to medium — the wasabi gives heat but not overwhelmingly. Reduce or increase to taste.
Can I swap the honey for agave like Matthew does?
Yes — either works.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes! It lasts 3–4 days refrigerated and gets even better as it chills.
Do I have to make it into a sandwich?
No — it’s great on crackers, lettuce cups, or stuffed in a wrap.
Can I use canned chicken instead?
You can, but tuna in oil gives the best flavor for this recipe.
What to Serve With This Tuna Salad
Kettle chips
Pickled veggies
A simple green salad
Fresh fruit
Coleslaw
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Matthew McConaughey's Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz high-quality canned tuna packed in oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise, plus more if you like extra mayo
- 2 teaspoons+ wasabi paste (or less) I used 1 tablespoon
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup dill pickle gherkins, finely diced
- 1/4 cup red onions, finely diced
- 1/3 cup crispy jalapeno chips
- 1/3 cup apple, chopped
- 1/2 cup corn kernels (I like Trader Joe's fire roasted frozen corn)
- 1/3 cup frozen peas
- 8 slices of sourdough bread
- Butter
- 16 slices of Swiss cheese
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, wasabi paste, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add in the canned tuna, pickles, apple, corn, red onion, peas, and jalapeño chips. Drizzle the mayo mixture on top, and then gently fold everything together until everything is fully coated. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- When ready to assemble the tuna sandwiches, butter one side of each slice of bread. In a large pan heated over medium heat, add the bread (in batches) butter-side down. On half of the bread slices, add two slices of cheese. Cover with a lid until cheese is melted. Remove and continue with other bread slices.
- Add generous dollops of MM's Tuna Salad on top of cheesy toasted bread, top with other slice of bread and enjoy!
Some Cooking Essentials:
Pyrex Glass Bowls
All Clad Measuring Cups
Shun Cleaver
Lemon Juicer
Le Creuset Braiser
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Thank you!
