Entrees

Tunacado Sandwich

The Viral Tunacado Sandwich from Joe in the Juice is taking the internet by storm, for good reason too. It's filled with tuna and jam packed with flavor from the herby pesto to the spicy mayo. If you don't have a Joe in the Juice nearby, don't worry. I recreated it for you with simple and wholesome ingredients.

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tunacado sandwich that is cut in half on a plate. the sandwich is filled with tuna, pesto, chipotle mayo and other mix-ins.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • This Tunacado Sandwich is made with simple and wholesome ingredients.
  • There’s a reason why it’s going viral.
  • Loaded with tuna and jam packed with flavor.
  • You can use store-bought pesto, or my homemade nut-free pesto.
  • If you like a little kick, add on my homemade spicy aioli.
  • This sandwich is the perfect working from home lunch recipe.
  • However, it also saves well which makes it great for packing for work or school.
  • If you love tuna, check out my tuna salad recipe for another great alternative.

Ingredients And Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions for Tunacado Sandwich. Scroll down to the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and instructions.

Use your favorite canned tuna, I personally love using the Albacore tuna from Wild Planet.

Mayo is going to add both flavor and texture, feel free to use dairy or dairy free.

I personally love using dijon mustard, but yellow mustard will work great too.

Red onion is going to add a lovely texture and a burst of flavor.

A touch of fresh lemon juice adds a acidy and a delicious tangy flavor.

Use freshly minced garlic for best results. Minced garlic from a jar or even garlic powder will work as substitutions.

Cilantro adds both color and an herby flavor.

I love pickles so I chopped some up and put them inside, however you can leave this out if that’s not your jam.

You can use your favorite tomatoes, but I’d recommend campari, roma tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine.

Salt and pepper to taste.

You will need pesto to assemble the sandwich, you can use a homemade one, like the one I have on my site, or your favorite store bought brand.

To make the chipotle aioli, you will need mayo and adobe chipotle peppers.

The original sandwich uses a flatbread, but I opted for sourdough since it’s my favorite.

all the ingredients that you need to make this sandwich in individual bowls.

How To Make

ONE: Start by prepping the pesto or chipotle aioli if you are using a homemade version. I highly recommend my nut-free basil pesto that only takes a few minutes to prep.

TWO: Then, make the tuna filling by combining the canned tuna, mayo, mustard, red onion, cilantro, lemon, garlic, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl.

THREE: Toast your bread, I used sourdough, but feel free to use your favorite kind. Then cover one side with pesto, and the other with chipotle mayo. Filled one side with the tuna filling and top with tomato slices. Cover with the other side of the bread and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

Toast your bread on the stovetop with a touch of oil or butter. This will get it much crispier and have more flavor than just toasting in the toaster.

Feel free to leave your the chipotle aioli if you aren’t big on spice.

Taste your tuna filling to see if you want to add any more ingredients before filling the sandwich.

To save on time, use store-bought pesto or chipotle aioli.

How To Serve And Store

Serve this Tunacado Sandwich warm and with your favorite chips and beverage.

This sandwich is best enjoyed immediately and not saved. Leftovers can be soggy. However, you can make the tuna filling ahead of time and leave it stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.

a hand holding the sandwich that has been cut in half.

Taste And Texture

This Tuncado Sandwich is loaded with flavor. The tuna filling is savory with a touch of tangy from the lemon juice. The sandwich is filled with fresh herbs from the pesto, and has a spicy kick but it’s not too overpowering. It’s such a delicious pairing.

The texture is crunchy, crispy but soft and chewy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any type of bread?

The original sandwich from Joe in the Juice uses a flatbread, but I opted for sourdough since it’s my favorite. Feel free to use any type of bread that you prefer!

Can I make this sandwich without mayo?

Sure! It won’t alter the flavor or texture too much. You may need to add more mustard to get it the right consistency though.

Can I use a store bought pesto instead of a homemade version?

Totally! Although, my homemade pesto only tastes a few minutes to make 🙂

Other Recipes You May Like

If you make these Tunacado Sandwich , I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on InstagramTiktok or Pinterest!

Tunacado Sandwich

The Viral Tunacado Sandwich from Joe in the Juice is taking the internet by storm, for good reason too. It's filled with tuna and jam packed with flavor from the herby pesto to the spicy mayo. If you don't have a Joe in the Juice nearby, don't worry. I recreated it for you with simple and wholesome ingredients.
PIN RECIPE
PREP TIME:
10 minutes
COOK TIME:
5 minutes
TOTAL TIME:
15 minutes
Author - Hannah

Ingredients

Tuna Filling
  • 1 5oz can of tuna
  • 1 tbsp mayo
  • 1.5 tbsp dijion mustard
  • 1/4 cup diced pickles
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
Sandwich
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 2 tbsp chipotle mayo
  • choice of bread, I used sourdough
chipotle aioli
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 3 chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

SCALE:

1X

YIELDS:

2 servings

Directions

  1. Start by prepping the pesto or chipotle aioli if you are using a homemade version. I highly recommend my nut-free basil pesto that only takes a few minutes to prep.
  2. Then, make the tuna filling by combining the canned tuna, mayo, mustard, red onion, cilantro, lemon, garlic, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl.
  3. Toast your bread, I used sourdough, but feel free to use your favorite kind.
  4. Then cover one side with pesto, and the other with chipotle mayo.
  5. Fill one side with the tuna filling and top with tomato slices. Cover with the other side of the bread and enjoy!

Notes

  • Toast your bread on the stovetop with a touch of oil or butter. This will get it much crispier and have more flavor than just toasting in the toaster.
  • Feel free to leave your the chipotle aioli if you aren't big on spice.
  • Taste your tuna filling to see if you want to add any more ingredients before filling the sandwich.
  • To save on time, use store-bought pesto or chipotle aioli.

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