Cowboy Candy Tuna Sandwich
Cowboy Candy Tuna Salad Sandwich takes my classic tuna salad and gives it a sweet and spicy upgrade. Canned tuna gets mixed with mayo and diced cowboy candy instead of the usual pickles, then piled onto toasted bread with fresh microgreens and tomatoes.
Cowboy Candy Tuna Sandwich
We discovered this sandwich on a fishing trip, when someone broke out a jar of cowboy candy and told the crew to buckle up. They were right! This was one of the best tuna sandwiches EVER. Candied jalapeños have that sweet and spicy thing going on, and it turns out that combination works just as well stirred into tuna salad as it does on a burger or spooned over cream cheese and crackers.
The base here is my BEST Tuna Salad Recipe, just with cowboy candy and a splash of its syrupy jar liquid standing in for the dill pickles and pickle juice. Everything else stays the same. Mayo, garlic salt, and pepper round out the flavor, and the sweet heat from the candied jalapeños does the rest.
No cooking required! Mix, toast, build, and eat. It's a fast lunch, but it's also a good way to use up a jar of cowboy candy before it disappears on its own.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Sweet Heat In Every Bite - Cowboy candy brings sugar and spice straight into the tuna, so you get flavor in every forkful.
- Ready In 10 Minutes - No cooking required. Mix, toast, build, and eat.
- Great For Meal Prep - Make the tuna salad ahead and build sandwiches through the week.
- Just One Bowl - Everything comes together in a single mixing bowl.
- Easy To Customize - Swap the bread, add cheese, or adjust the amount of cowboy candy depending on your spice tolerance.
Try my Traeger Tuna Melt Flatbread!
Recipe Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Albacore Tuna In Water - Mild, clean-tasting canned tuna. Drain it well so the salad doesn't turn watery.
- Mayo - The creamy base. Duke's or Kewpie are my favorites, but any mayo works.
- Cowboy Candy - Sweet and spicy candied jalapeños. Dice them small so they mix in evenly.
- Cowboy Candy Juice - The leftover syrup from the jar. Adds sweetness and a little tang.
- Garlic Salt - Rounds out the seasoning without needing extra ingredients.
- Pepper - Just enough for a little bite.
- Bread - Sturdy sandwich bread holds up best. Toasting helps too.
- Microgreens - Fresh, peppery, and a nice contrast to the creamy tuna salad.
Try with my Deviled Eggs!
How To Make This Recipe
This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Mix The Tuna Salad - Stir together the tuna, mayo, cowboy candy, cowboy candy juice, dill, garlic salt, and pepper until combined.
- Toast The Bread - Toast the bread, and if you'd like, spread a thin layer of mayo on each slice.
- Build And Serve - Divide the tuna salad between the 4 sandwiches, top with microgreens, and serve right away.
Try with my Coleslaw Recipe!
Recipe FAQ
It depends on your cowboy candy. Homemade batches can range from mild to pretty hot depending on how many seeds and membranes were left in the jalapeños. Start with a smaller amount and taste as you go if you're not sure how spicy yours is.
Yes. Mix it up to a day in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. Build the sandwiches right before serving so the bread doesn't get soggy.
Store-bought candied jalapeños work fine if you don't have a homemade batch on hand. Sweet pickle relish with a pinch of red pepper flakes is a decent stand-in too, though you'll lose some of the smoky flavor.
Keep the tuna salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I don't recommend storing built sandwiches, since the bread will turn soft.
Sure. Sourdough, whole wheat, or a soft bakery roll all work well here. Toasting is optional, but it does help the bread hold up better to the tuna salad.
Use my Canned Tuna Recipe!
Serving Suggestions
A tuna salad sandwich is easy lunch food, so keep the sides just as simple. A cup of soup or a light salad rounds things out nicely.
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Cowboy Candy Tuna Sandwich
Cowboy Candy Tuna Salad Sandwich takes classic tuna salad and swaps in sweet and spicy candied jalapeños for the usual dill pickles. It's a quick, no-cook lunch that comes together in one bowl.
Ingredients
- 2 (6-ounce) cans Albacore tuna in water, drained
- ½ cup mayo* (Duke's or Kewpie is my favorite)
- ⅓ cup diced cowboy candy
- 1 teaspoon cowboy candy juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 8 slices bread
- 1 cup microgreens
Instructions
- Mix together the drained tuna, mayo, cowboy candy, cowboy candy juice, garlic salt, and pepper until combined.
- Toast the bread and if desired, spread a thin layer of mayo on each piece.
- Divide the tuna salad mixture between the 4 sandwiches. Top with the microgreens and serve immediately.
Notes
Homemade cowboy candy varies in heat depending on how it's made. Start with a smaller amount if you aren't sure how spicy your batch is.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 Amounts Per Serving: Calories: 392Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 514mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 13gNutrition data provided here is only an estimate. If you are tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!
