• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Savor the Flavour

  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy/Disclaimer
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Our Shop
  • Services
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Appetizer Recipes

Simple Sardine Salad

Published: Sep 15, 2023 · Modified: Aug 20, 2024 by Emma Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

6802 shares
  • 151
Jump to Recipe

Looking for a quick and easy appetizer or lunch idea? Our simple sardine salad can be whipped up in only 15 minutes and tastes great with bread or crackers.

Looking for more dips to serve with crackers? Try our dill pickle dip or buffalo chicken dip!

person dipping a cracker into sardine salad
Jump to:
  • About
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Sardine Salad
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • More Appetizer Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Comments

About

Sardine salad is basically a variant of tuna salad; it's just made with a different canned fish.  The canned sardines are flaked up with a fork, then mixed with mayo for a creamy texture, chopped vegetables for crunch, and spices and condiments for flavor.  This simple sardine salad is typically served in a sandwich for lunch or with crackers as an appetizer.

Why This Recipe Works

  • It's easy to make. There's minimal prep required, and it takes only a few minutes to have this sardine salad ready to eat!
  • It's customizable. Don't have some ingredients on hand, or want to try a different variation? Simply swap the add-ins for something else or omit them.
  • It's healthy. Sardines are one of the healthiest fish you can eat, as they're packed with Omega 3s and other nutrients for good health.

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for sardine salad

Curious about what you need to make this delicious simple sardine salad? Grab a few ingredients, and you'll be ready to make it in a jiffy. Let's talk about the simple key ingredients.

  • Sardines: Use water-packed or oil-packed sardines. If you're using oil-packed, make sure they're in olive oil.
  • Onion: You can use any type of onion you like, whether it's white, yellow, or red. We usually use yellow since that's what's in our pantry.
  • Mayo: We like to use Duke's mayo to add creaminess and a hint of lemon to the salad.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Fish Substitution: Try other canned, wild-caught SMASH fishes: mackerel, anchovies, salmon, or herring.
  • Mayo-Free: Swap the mayo for high-protein, unflavored Greek yogurt.
  • Other Add-ins: avocado, hard-boiled eggs, cheese (cheddar, feta, or goat), sun-dried or fresh tomatoes.

How to Make Sardine Salad

Gather the ingredients for our simple sardine salad. Add crunchy vegetables that you like, such as dill pickles, peperoncini, celery, and onion.

flaking sardines and adding other salad ingredients
  1. Flake the canned sardines in a bowl until they are broken up. (image 1)
  2. Add the chopped vegetables of your choice. (image 2)
mixing and serving sardine salad
  1. Stir in the mayo, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha sauce, lemon juice, and black pepper.  Taste and add more seasoning to the salad if desired. (image 3)
  2. Serve up simple sardine salad on toast, in a sandwich, or with crackers.  Enjoy! (image 4)

Recipe FAQs

Are sardines better than tuna?

Overall, sardines are a healthier choice than tuna.  They naturally contain less mercury than tuna, making them a good choice for pregnant women.  They also contain a lot of healthy Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

What can I mix with sardines?

Many simple ingredients that work with tuna will also work with sardines. We suggest adding onions, garlic, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, lemons, cilantro, and greens, such as kale, spinach, and arugula.

Is canned sardine healthy?

They contain a lot of great vitamins and minerals that your body needs.  Sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, niacin, iron, potassium, zinc, and phosphorous.

Do you need to cook canned sardines?

No, canned sardines are fully cooked, similar to tuna, and are completely ready to eat straight from the can.

How do you store sardine salad?

Make Ahead: Make this simple recipe up to three days ahead of time.  Just keep it tightly covered in the refrigerator until needed.
Leftovers: Don't keep it at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or it may spoil.  It contains sardines and mayo, which are perishable ingredients. Store in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Serve

Looking for ways to serve this healthy sardine salad? It tastes fantastic in a sandwich, on toast or crackers, or in a lettuce wrap. Also try serving the salad spread on a bagel, tossed with pasta, or with a side of roasted chickpeas for a hearty meal.

If you're looking for other appetizer recipes, make sure to try our recipes for Bisquick sausage balls, British sausage rolls, Hawaiian meatballs, and hedgehog cheese ball. If you're looking for another healthy fish recipe, try these delicious salmon croquettes.

holding a cracker with sardine salad on it.

Expert Tips

  • Flake the sardines well to ensure a smoother texture in the salad.
  • Use a good quality mayo, such as Duke's.  This will add more creaminess and flavor.
  • Change up the vegetables based on personal taste or what's in your fridge.
  • Make a spicy version by adding more peperoncinis or sriracha sauce.
  • Serve the salad on toast, crackers, chips, or even pretzels.

More Appetizer Recipes

  • hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate with a bowl of crackers.
    Woodland Hedgehog Cheese Ball
  • large white bowl filled with cowboy caviar
    Cowboy Caviar
  • white serving plate of fried green tomatoes with one on a piece of parchment paper.
    Fried Green Tomatoes
  • person holding a piece of garlic toast
    Easy Garlic Toast

If you liked this recipe and found it helpful, give it some love by sharing!

Follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook for more crave-worthy recipes!

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated!

Recipe

bowl of sardine salad with crackers

Simple Sardine Salad

Looking for an alternative to tuna salad?  Try this healthy and delicious simple sardine salad.  It’s made from canned sardines in oil, and is mixed with crunchy vegetables, lemon juice, and hot sauce.  Even sardine haters will enjoy eating this simple appetizer!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 336kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

  • ¼ cup dill pickles, chopped
  • ¼ cup celery, chopped
  • ½ cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 7.5 ounces canned sardines in oil, drained
  • ⅓ cup Duke's mayo
  • ¾ teaspoon sriracha, add more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Equipment

  • prep bowls
  • citrus reamer
Keep your screen on while you work!

Instructions

  • Chop the pickles, celery, and onion into small pieces.
  • Drain the sardines, place them in a medium bowl, and break them up with a fork.
  • Stir in the mayo, sriracha, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and black pepper until well combined.  Adjust the amount of sriracha to taste.
  • Serve chilled with crackers as an appetizer or in a sandwich for lunch.

Video

Notes

  • Finely flake the sardines with a fork for a smoother texture.
  • Use a good quality mayo for the best creaminess and flavor.
  • Change up the ingredients as you desire.
  • Want it spicy?  Add more pepperoncinis or sriracha sauce.
  • Serve the salad on toast, crackers, chips, or even pretzels.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 336kcal (17%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 18g (36%)Fat: 27g (42%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 111mg (37%)Sodium: 563mg (24%)Potassium: 384mg (11%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 162IU (3%)Vitamin C: 5mg (6%)Calcium: 295mg (30%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @savortheflavourblog or tag #savortheflavour!
« Cowboy Caviar
Sautéed Kale and Mushrooms »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    September 15, 2023 at 6:38 am

    5 stars
    The salad is full of flavors, and the peperoncinis add a nice kick. The onions are crunchy, and the fish isn't overly strong.

    Reply
    • Emma Fajcz

      September 15, 2023 at 6:40 am

      I'm glad you enjoyed the salad, Alex!

      Reply
  2. Beth

    October 17, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    5 stars
    For as long as I can remember, I have loved canned fish salads, and this is a great way to eat sardines! I like the pickles and peperoncinis with the sardines.

    Reply
    • Emma

      October 19, 2019 at 7:54 am

      It's a quick and healthy snack or lunch idea. I'm glad that you like sardine salad!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

two ladies with brown hair smiling in a kitchen.

Welcome to our kitchen!

We're Brooke & Emma Fajcz, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts. Our recipes have been featured in Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, Parade, Insider, Delish, and BuzzFeed.

More about us →
logos of newspapers and companies that featured Savor the Flavour.

Cool off with this Watermelon Slushie Mocktail!

two glasses of watermelon slushie with a bowl of watermelon

Summer Recipes

  • bowl of Brunswick stew with a wooden spoon.
    Georgia Brunswick Stew
  • white serving bowl filled with collard greens
    Southern Collard Greens
  • bowl of Chick-fil-A market salad with forks
    Copycat Chick-fil-A Market Salad
  • half of a chicken, bacon, and apricot pie on a white plate.
    Chicken, Bacon, and Apricot Pies

Popular Posts

  • baked Cuban bread on a wire cooling rack.
    Homemade Cuban Bread (Pan Cubano)
  • glass bottle filled with Caesar dressing
    Caesar Salad Dressing
  • person holding a spoonful of black bean soup
    Panera Black Bean Soup (Copycat Recipe)
  • slices of tomato basil bread on a cutting board
    Panera Tomato Basil Bread

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Shop Our Store
  • Work with Us
  • Press
  • Services

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2017-2025 Savor the Flavour