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This Jersey Mike’s tuna recipe is a creamy, tangy copycat tuna salad you can make in about 15 minutes, plus 1 hour to chill. Mash drained tuna, mix it with a mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, relish, and curry powder dressing, then fold in finely chopped egg, onion, and crunchy vegetables. Pile it on a sub roll or over greens.
I wrote this as a home-style version of the tuna sub, using ordinary canned tuna and pantry staples. The steps are simple, and the chill time does most of the flavor work.
What Is Jersey Mike’s Tuna?
Jersey Mike’s tuna is a mayonnaise-based tuna salad served cold, usually in a sub sandwich. My copycat uses canned tuna, mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, relish, pepper, curry powder, egg, onion, and a crunchy vegetable.
It works as a sandwich filling, a salad topper, or a scoop for crackers.
Does Jersey Mike’s Have Tuna Salad?
Yes, Jersey Mike’s offers a tuna fish sub on its menu. Menus and recipes can change by location and over time, so check the Jersey Mike’s site or ask at your shop for current details.
How Does Jersey Mike’s Make Their Tuna?
The company does not publish its full tuna recipe, so I can’t tell you its exact ingredients or amounts. What most people notice is a creamy, mild, mayo-forward salad, finished on the sub with onion, lettuce, tomato, and an oil-and-vinegar topping the chain calls “the juice.”
My recipe builds that same contrast: a rich salad, a sharp vinegar note, and fresh crunch.
How Close Is This to the Jersey Mike’s Version?
It is a copycat in spirit, not a verified match. I can’t compare it side by side with the restaurant’s recipe, and the curry powder, asparagus, and relish choices here are my home-kitchen take.
If you want something closer to a classic deli tuna sub, use celery in place of asparagus, skip the curry powder, and finish the sandwich with onion, lettuce, tomato, and the oil-and-vinegar drizzle below.
You can also read the following lunch recipes:
- Ruth’s Chris Chilean Sea Bass Copycat Recipe
- Skirt Steak Cast Iron Copycat Recipe
- Outback Walhalla Pasta Copycat Recipe
Jersey Mike’s Tuna Ingredients for the Copycat Tuna Salad
- Tuna: Canned tuna is the base. Drain it well so the salad stays creamy, not watery.
- Eggs: Hard-boiled and chopped, they add protein and a softer bite.
- Asparagus: It adds mild crunch. Any crisp vegetable works in its place.
- Onion: Adds sharpness and aroma.
- Vinegar: Gives the tang that keeps the mayo from tasting heavy.
- Olive oil: Smooths the texture and rounds out the dressing.
- Relish: Adds a little sweetness and acidity. Sweet and dill both work.
- Pepper: Gentle warmth without heat.
- Curry powder: A small amount gives a warm background flavor and a golden fleck.
- Mayonnaise: Binds everything and makes it creamy.
How to Make Jersey Mike’s Tuna at Home
Step 1
Drain the tuna and mash it with a fork in a bowl until no big chunks remain. Finely chop the asparagus, onion, and eggs into pieces about the size of a pea.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, relish, pepper, and curry powder until blended well. Add the mashed tuna, chopped vegetables, and eggs to the mayonnaise mixture.
Step 3
Mix until the salad looks evenly coated, with no dry pockets of tuna. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors meld.
Tips for the Best Tuna Salad
- Press the tuna against the can lid or a fine strainer to squeeze out extra liquid before mashing.
- Cook the eggs for 10 minutes, then cool them in ice water so they chop cleanly.
- Chop everything small so each bite has a bit of everything.
- Taste after chilling, since the flavors shift. If it looks dry, stir in more mayonnaise 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Stir in fresh parsley or cilantro right before serving for a brighter finish.
How Do I Build a Jersey Mike’s Style Tuna Sandwich?
Start with a soft white sub roll or hoagie roll, split but not cut through. Spread on a generous scoop of chilled tuna, then add thin onion, shredded lettuce, and sliced tomato.
For a home version of “the juice,” whisk 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar with 1/4 cup olive oil and a pinch each of dried oregano and salt. Drizzle over the vegetables, not the tuna, so the bread stays intact. This is my own approximation, not the restaurant’s formula.
If you like a sweeter, fruitier chilled sandwich filling, my Fruity Fran Chicken Salad Chick Recipe – Easy Kitchen Guide makes a fun side-by-side lunch.
What Can I Substitute in This Tuna Sandwich?
- Lighter base: Swap some or all of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt or mashed avocado.
- Crunch: Use finely diced celery instead of asparagus for a more classic texture.
- Relish: Use finely chopped dill pickle or olives for a saltier, less sweet flavor.
- Brightness: Add a squeeze of lemon juice at the end.
- Tuna: Cooked fresh tuna, cooled and flaked, works if you prefer it, though the texture will be firmer.
Jersey Mike’s Tuna Recipe
Equipment
- spoon
- bowl
- Mixer, etc
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise crafted to velvety perfection
- 1/2 stalk of crisp asparagus thinly sliced for a verdant touch
- 1/2 cup of finely diced onion transformed into savory confetti
- 2 tablespoons of tangy relish a flavorful dance in the dressing
- 1.5 tablespoons of hand-blended curry powder a fragrant journey to exotic lands
- 1 egg a protein-packed marvel from free-range hens
- 1 can of sustainably sourced tuna fish the ocean’s finest bounty
- 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar a zesty note for balance
- 1/2 tablespoon of freshly ground pepper the dark symphony of spice
- 1/2 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil a drizzle of liquid gold for richness
Instructions
- Begin by draining the tuna, then breaking it up with a fork until it forms a rough mash. Finely dice the asparagus, onion, and eggs before combining them in a separate bowl.
- For the dressing, blend together mayonnaise, white vinegar, olive oil, relish, freshly ground pepper, and curry powder until creamy and smooth. Add the mashed tuna, chopped vegetables, and eggs to the dressing and mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Make sure you drain the tuna properly before mashing it in a bowl.
- Finely chop all the vegetables so that they are evenly distributed throughout the dish.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
- For added flavor, feel free to add some freshly chopped herbs like parsley or cilantro.
Nutrition Information for jersey mikes tuna salad
How Long Does Leftover Tuna Salad Last?
Leftover tuna salad keeps for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Don’t leave it out for more than 2 hours (1 hour in hot weather), and toss it if it smells off or turns watery and sour.
Can Pregnant Women Eat This Tuna Salad?
Often yes, in moderation. Current FDA and EPA guidance lists canned light tuna as a lower-mercury choice, while albacore is limited to about one serving a week. Make sure the eggs are fully cooked and the salad stays cold. Check with your doctor about what fits your pregnancy.
Is This Tuna Salad Kid Friendly?
Yes. The curry powder and pepper are mild, and you can cut either one in half for picky eaters. Keep the pieces small so little ones can eat it easily.
What Can I Serve With Tuna Salad?
Serve it on a sub roll or toasted bread, over mixed greens, or in lettuce cups. Crackers, pita chips, and cucumber slices also make an easy snack plate.
What About Jersey Mike’s Brownie, Cookie, or Bread Copycats?
This post covers the tuna only, so I won’t pass off a guess as the shop’s brownie, cookie, or bread formula. For the sandwich, a soft bakery-style sub roll is the closest easy swap.
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Dr. Leah Alexander, M.D., is a board-certified Pediatrician in New Jersey and has been working at Elizabeth Pediatric Group of New Jersey since 2000.
She also has a passion for culinary arts that extends beyond the medical realm. After completing culinary school at the French Culinary Institute, she started Global Palate, LLC, a catering firm, in 2007. She ran her own six-year-old catering company and served small group parties as an owner and executive chef.