Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad is Outrageous in the Best Possible Way originally appeared on Parade.
As a millennial, there are few Hollywood heartthrobs as near and dear to me as Matthew McConaughey. I caught my first glimpse of him in the 2001 rom com, The Wedding Planner, and continued to swoon as the years passed (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, anyone?). However, these days Mr. McConaughey is catching my eye for a completely different reason: his cooking.
McConaughey is no stranger to the kitchen. He’s gone viral for his genius addition to his burger patties and his simple, highly-customizable chicken salad, but I think I can safely say those two recipes have nothing on his tuna salad. Originally shared in 2024 on the podcast Two Bears, One Cave the recipe quickly took off and has been making the rounds online ever since.
Now that it’s summer—and peak no-cook meal season—we’re here to remind you that McConaughey’s tuna salad isn’t just a flash in the pan. It’s easy, satisfying, endlessly adaptable, and absolutely worth making (again).
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What Makes Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad So Special?
Like the man himself, McConaughey’s tuna salad recipe is quirky, but there’s absolutely no denying that it’s the total package. His tuna salad features the usual ingredients, like red onion, mayonnaise and lemon juice, but it also features so much more.
Among the most unexpected additions to McConaughey’s tuna salad are wasabi paste, green apples and crispy jalapeños chips. If that trio of ingredients didn’t send you running for the hills, I’d like to ask that you lay any (completely reasonable) skepticism to the side.
But wait, there’s more. The recipe also includes agave syrup, fresh corn, frozen peas, white wine vinegar and Italian dressing. It’s easy to write it off as excessive, but each and every ingredient plays its role in this recipe. The end result is a flavor-packed textural extravaganza. The crunch from the jalapeño chips and green apple? Pure. Genius. The touch of heat from the wasabi paste? Brilliance.
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How to Make Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad
While he provided no formally written recipe, you can find McConaughey’s Tuna Salad on various blogs and websites online. Here, though, is the gist of how to make it:
First, finely chop the red onion and dill pickles and roughly chop the green apple. Next, drain your cans of tuna.
In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, wasabi paste, lemon juice and Italian dressing. Stir until everything is well combined and then add in the onion, pickles, jalapeño chips, corn, peas and green apple.
Finally, fold in the tuna. Make sure you stir long enough to really mix everything together. You can either serve the salad immediately or pop it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to dig in.
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Tips for Making Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad
Measure with your heart.
McConaughey didn’t provide any specific measurements on the podcast, so this recipe is yours to customize. Feel free to go with your heart’s desires here. After all, it’s pretty clear there are no rules for this recipe.
Take it easy with the acidic ingredients.
On the Two Bears, One Cave podcast, McConaughey warns not to overdo it on the lemon juice and white wine vinegar. The agave syrup will balance out the tartness, but a bit of caution is recommended when adding the acidic elements.
Go for tuna canned in oil.
Tuna that’s been canned in oil is more flavorful and has a better texture than tuna packed in water. It’s worth splurging on a nice tuna for a special recipe like this.
This salad was made to be sandwich-ified.
This tuna salad screams out to be used in a sandwich. It’s the ultimate tuna salad for a tuna melt. Grab two slices of thick crusty bread, some cheddar cheese and you’re good to go.
Related: How To Make the Best-Ever Tuna Salad, According to Bette Midler
Matthew McConaughey’s Tuna Salad is Outrageous in the Best Possible Way first appeared on Parade on Jul 24, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
