Tunacado Sandwich (Viral Joe & The Juice Copycat!)

by Kayla Berman on December 1, 2023 0 comments

This copycat version of the Joe & The Juice viral tunacado is the best tuna sandwich you will ever have! Made with crispy flatbread, creamy tuna mousse, basil pesto, fresh avocado, and juicy tomato … this easy sandwich has an incredible mix of textures and delicious flavor. It’s tangy, herby, savory, and such an elevated version of the lunchtime classic!

Need more tuna in your life? Check out my Tuna Lettuce Wraps, Spicy Mayo Tuna Rice Bowl, or Lemon Pepper Tuna Salad.

What is the tunacado?

The tunacado is a viral tuna sandwich that has taken the internet by storm! Everyone has been heading to the Danish chain, Joe & The Juice, to try out the famous sandwich for themselves and then straight to the kitchen to re-create it. It is seriously SO good!

Now you may be wondering … what makes this sandwich so delicious? While the world may never know exactly why this sandwich became as popular as it did, I do have a few guesses.

First, it is an elevated version of the lunch time classic with its insanely crispy bread and flavorful tuna mousse. I’m talking tangy, zesty, herby, savory, goodness. It is also incredibly delicious yet still feels and IS nutritious.

Plus the crispy bread and creamy, fluffy whipped tuna are just two of the many differing textures that make this sandwich stick out! You’ve also got creamy avocado, juicy tomato, and the perfect spread of flavorful pesto.

Everything comes together to make the most epic tuna sandwich! It is a messily, delectable recipe that is truly a flavor explosion. A party in your mouth if you will!

Looking to try out more social media viral recipes? Head to my Crispy Feta Fried Eggs, Gigi Hadid Spicy Vodka Pasta, Strawberry Yogurt Clusters, or Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl next.

Ingredients & Substitutions

My version of the tunacado sandwich that took social media by storm this year is so simple! Crispy bread, basil pesto, fresh vegetables, and a fancy-seeming-yet-super-easy-to-make tuna mousse come together to make the best tuna sandwich you will ever have.

Tuna: The key ingredient in these famous sandwiches is of course tuna … the protein powerhouse! I like to use white albacore tuna for the best results.
Bread: The trickiest part of the Joe & The Juice’s tunacado sandwich to lock down is the bread. It is truly what sets the sandwich apart from all other sandwiches in my opinion! Your best bet is to opt for thin slices of flatbread, sourdough bread, or focaccia. Then get them as crispy as possible by frying up in a pan or using a toaster
Pesto: I think pesto may just be the best ingredient here! It makes the sandwich so dang good. You can use a vegan pesto like Joe & The Juice does, a store bought pesto for ease, or a homemade pesto for ultimate yumminess.
Mayo: The mayo to tuna ratio in this recipe is what helps achieve that creamy, whipped tuna mousse texture found in the viral sandwich. You can always opt for less or use light mayo to make things lighter!
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds a brightness to this delicious sandwich. Feel free to add lemon zest as well!
Capers: I love to jam pack my tuna salads with flavor, as does the juice chain that this sandwich originates from. Capers help to do that with their strong salty, savory, and tangy flavor!
Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds another kick of flavor.
Fresh Dill: To give these tuna avocado sandwiches a lovely citrus-like flavor and delicious freshness, add chopped fresh dill.
Fresh Veggies: The fresh slices of avocado and tomato are a wonderful addition to this sandwich! I love the differing texture of the juicy tomato and creamy avocado.
Cooking Staples: Lastly, this recipe requires some basic cooking staples. Olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

Equipment Needed

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How To Make The Viral Tunacado Sandwich

The viral Joe and The Juice sandwich is actually incredible easy to re-create at home. At least my version is!

It doesn’t require any specialty ingredients, fancy equipment, or lots of your time. You’ll need just about 20 minutes and common condiments … like mayo and dijon mustard!

Looking for more popular restaurant recipes to make at home? Check out my Copycat McDonald’s Snack Wrap Recipe next.

Step 1: Mash tuna. Add the tuna to small mixing bowl. Thoroughly smash it with a fork. The more mashed it is, the creamier the tuna mixture will end up.

Step 3: Prepare tuna mousse. Next add the mayo, lemon juice, fresh dill, capers, and dijon mustard. Combine. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.

Step 4: Crisp the bread. Then add olive oil to a large pan on the stove over medium heat. Add the pieces of flatbread and fry on both sides until golden brown and crisped. Alternatively you can toast the slices of bread.

Step 5: Assemble. Add the pesto to one of the pieces of bread. Layer the tuna mousse, tomato slices, and avocado slices on the other piece. Then press together to form the sandwich.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptions

I truly think that this is the best tuna sandwich of all time! I’m pretty positive that once you take your first bite, you will share that opinion with me.

But as always there is room for changes or adaptions so that it can be perfect for you. Here are some of my ideas:

Spicy Tuna-cado: Joe & The Juice actually has another version of their famous tuna sandwiches. A spicy version. Which is essentially the same as this … just with jalapeños and Tabasco hot sauce. Plus no avocado! Chili crisp would also be a tasty addition full of heat.
More Flavor: The scoops of tuna mousse on this sandwich are already incredibly flavorful as is, but there are additional ingredients you could mix in to boost the flavor even more. Perhaps red onion, fresh parsley, or anchovies.
Make It Vegan: Try out this sandwich with a vegan tuna salad if you follow a plant based diet. Simply swap the tuna with chickpeas for an animal free alternative! Then just ensure you use vegan pesto and vegan mayo.
Chicken: I am a big fan of both canned tuna and canned chicken. I think they are convenient sources of protein that you can use in countless recipes! So why not try this Joe and The Juice tunacado with chicken instead? I think it would be delicious! Plus it is a great option if you don’t like seafood.

Expert Tips

Try using a food processor to create your tuna mousse mixture! This will help re-create the ultra smooth whipped texture that the original tuna cado has.

If you don’t want to use a food processor just smash very well! This is what I did. I smashed my tuna with a fork very very thoroughly until it was super fine before mixing in the other ingredients. I found it worked perfectly to create the smooth and creamy texture I was going for.

Crisp that bread! The key to perfectly re-creating Joe and The Juice sandwiches is the bread. The crispy flatbread they use is just incredible! I’m not going to lie … it is very difficult to achieve at home. But you can try your best to get close! You’ll want to use super thin slices of bread and really crisp them up nicely.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many way to serve this tasty tuna sandwich!

Simple Side Salad: To add even more nutrition to your lunch or dinner pair this sandwich with a fresh, greens-filled salad! I would suggest my Mediterranean Chopped Salad.
Fruit or Veggies: My go-to lunch side is always some fresh fruit or raw veggies. My personal favorite are apple slices or strawberries for fruit. Then carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper for the veg!
Cup of Soup: There is seriously nothing better than pairing a sandwich with a cup of soup. Ugh, it is just a winter’s day dream. I think my Tomato Basil Soup would be your best bet here!
Chips: Nothing says lunch more so than a salty snack for a side. I’ll always grab the chips, but pretzels or popcorn are not a bad idea either.

FAQs

What is Joe & The Juice?

Joe & The Juice is a Danish juice bar and coffee shop chain with stores all around the world!

They of course serve coffee, tea, fresh juices, smoothies, and more. But very recently have become widely known for their unique sandwiches.

What is tuna mousse?

Tuna mousse is tunafish pureed with a spreadable dairy product! Traditionally softened butter or a spreadable cheese is used.

The “tuna mousse” used in this recipe is a very rough version of the classic. It is not actually pureed, although you can opt to do so with a food processor, rather mashed up very finely to achieve the whipped texture. Mayonnaise is also used instead of butter or cheese!

Is the tunacado sandwich healthy?

I am not a dietician or nutritionist, but yes in my opinion this sandwich recipe is healthy!

It is made with high protein tuna and colorful vegetables which makes it a filling and nutritious meal. You also get healthy fats from the avocado and some complex carbohydrates if you use use a whole grain bread.

I think it is a well rounded recipe, perfect for lunch!

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

I would not fully assemble this sandwich ahead of time, but you can absolutely prepare the tuna mixture in advance. You could make a bigger batch, store in the fridge for 3-4 days, and then assemble sandwiches as you go throughout the week!

For more information check out my post all about how to properly store tuna salad.

Which bread should I use for this recipe?

You can really use any bread you would like here! However to achieve the real deal feel of the original Joe & The Juice sandwich you’ll want to opt for very thin slices of flatbread, focaccia, or sourdough.

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If you make this sandwich recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

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