How To Make Homemade Tuna Salad

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BEST TUNA SALAD RECIPE | easy & healthy
  • This delicious blueberry spinach salad will blow you away. A perfect light meal or lunch when youre in the mood for something a little different.

What To Eat With Canned Tuna

When it comes to canned tuna, the options are endless. A simple tuna salad with mayonnaise, diced celery, and onion is always a satisfying lunch option.

For a lighter meal, try mixing canned tuna with avocado and tomato on top of mixed greens for a delicious tuna salad spin on a traditional salad. Another tasty idea is to use canned tuna in place of chicken for a twist on classic tacos or sandwiches. Or for a more sophisticated option, blend canned tuna with cream cheese and serve on crackers or toast points as an appetizer or light dinner option. So the next time you reach for that can of tuna, remember the possibilities are endless!

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What To Eat With This Salad

You can eat this salad all by itself but you can also serve it with:

  • Toast just but a couple of slices in a toaster
  • Baguette is great to eat with this salad
  • Dinner rolls are also great to serve with tuna salad
  • Crackers are also great to eat with tuna salad
  • Soft tortilla as the tortilla can be eaten with everything

Have fun making this healthy salad!

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Simple And Easy Tuna Salad Recipe

Tuna is a lunchtime staple. Its one of those lunch items that you never think to make but are really glad when you do make it. Its light, filling, and easy to personalize. Plus, it comes together within 30 minutes, making it great when youre running short on time or need a last-minute meal.

This tuna salad recipe has a secret ingredient that really elevates the traditional recipe. Now it may sound strange at first, but after one bite, youll see just how good it is. So, whats the secret ingredient in this recipe? Its a chopped hard-boiled egg. The hard-boiled egg gives the salad more body and adds a very subtle flavor. Plus, it adds more protein into the mix, making the meal even healthier.

The best part about this tuna salad recipe is that you can personalize it. Go spicy and add in hot sauce, add in vinegar and make it tangy, or combine flavors and add in a dollop of honey mustard. You can also add veggies like carrots or celery to add more texture to the dish. Since the base of tuna is relatively plain, it is easy to change up.

Not a big fan of tuna? Try out our egg salad instead and prepare it on a wrap or bread just like the tuna salad recipe.

Homemade Fresh Tuna Salad Recipe

Delicious Chickpea Tuna Salad Recipe

Published September 8, 2021.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Leave the can on the shelf because this fresh tuna salad is loaded with grilled ahi and vegetables in this mouthwatering recipe.

I try to eat as much seafood as possible, I just love it. Whether its a simple shrimp cocktail or a Linguine with clam sauce pasta, I love making it, and I love eating it.

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What Can I Mix With Tuna Instead Of Mayo

For making a tuna salad without mayonnaise, there are a few different options depending on your dietary needs. The most common substitute is using Greek yogurt. Personally, I dont like using all Greek yogurt because it gets too tangy. Instead, I use a combination of Greek yogurt and mayonnaise. You could use a combination of Greek yogurt and sour cream as well if you dont want to use mayo.

Another dairy-free option is to swap in mashed avocado for the mayo. Make sure to season the avocado with salt and pepper to make sure it has plenty of flavor. You could also use vegan mayo for a dairy free option.

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Whats The Best Tuna To Use

Any can or jar of tuna will work in a sandwich. Just make sure you drain the water or oil before mixing with the ingredients for tuna salad.

I prefer using water-packed tuna in tuna salad, because Im already adding mayonnaise to the recipe. I save oil-packed tuna for dishes where the oil matters a bit more, such as in this Salad Nicoise, because oil-packed tuna is richer than water-packed tuna.

That being said, tuna salad is no time to get pickyjust use what you have on hand.

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What Goes Into This Low Calorie Tuna Salad

Tuna – Use chunky tuna in this salad. You don’t necessarily need to go for the expensive stuff, but it’s best to use a quality tuna that still retains its texture when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.

Red onion – Shallots or scallions are also good options for this tuna salad.

Celery – I love the crunchy texture of celery in tuna salad but you can leave it out if you’re not a fan.

Dill pickles – Some finely chopped dill pickles will add both flavor and texture to the salad.

Yogurt – Use a full-fat, thick Greek-style yogurt and feel free to add more than indicated in the recipe card if you’d like the salad creamier. Regular yogurt is a bit too watery for this salad.

Dijon mustard – The flavor of Dijon mustard truly elevates this tuna salad.

Parsley – Freshly chopped parsley adds both brightness and flavor. You can also use some freshly chopped dill.

Healthy Tuna Salad Without Mayo

EASY TUNA SALAD RECIPE | healthy quick

Jul 13, 2022 / by Alice / This post may contain affiliate links./

This light, healthy tuna salad without mayo has less fat and calories, yet it’s still super flavorful. With crunchy celery and pickles plus creamy Greek yogurt, this tuna salad comes together in just 10 minutes for a quick and delicious lunch.

Tuna salad is a classic lunch option, but it’s not always healthy because it’s typically smothered in mayo.

This healthy tuna salad without mayo is a lighter option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor!

You can enjoy this creamy, crunchy, healthy tuna salad scooped over lettuce, sandwich style between two pieces of wholewheat bread or spread on your favorite crackers.

Making tuna salad without mayo couldn’t be easier – all you have to do is swap the mayonnaise with thick Greek-style yogurt.

To keep things super light, make this tuna salad with canned tuna in spring water.

However, if you’re looking for a bit more flavor, tuna packed in olive oil is a better option.

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How To Make Potato Salad

Now that you know why I think this is the best potato salad recipe, let me tell how easy it is to make:

  • Boil the potatoes. After boiling the potatoes for 20 minutes, puncture with a fork to make sure theyre done. If you over cook the potatoes, they will make your salad mushy.
  • Boil the eggs. To ensure the eggs are hard-boiled through, youll cook them for 12-14 minutes. Read my post on how to cook perfect hard boiled eggs. Place them in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. When they are cool enough to touch, peel off the shells.
  • Place the potatoes in the fridge. See my tip below on why you need to cool your potatoes completely before making the salad.
  • Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. In a large bowl combine the celery, spring onions, radishes, mayonnaise and dill.
  • Mix in potatoes and eggs. Once the potatoes and eggs have cooled, add them to your mayonnaise mixture and combine until fully coated.
  • Salt and pepper to taste!
  • PRO TIP: Make sure your potatoes and hard-boiled eggs are fully cooled before making potato salad. Its important to place your potatoes in the refrigerator after you have cooked and drained them from the water. This will help stop the cooking process. Also, the hot potatoes will melt the mayonnaise if you mix them together too quickly. And nobody wants hot melted potato salad!

    How Do I Keep Tuna Salad From Being Dry

    To prevent your tuna salad from being dry, youll need to stir in at least one tablespoon mayo per one can of tuna. After mixing in the rest of your ingredients, taste the salad. If you want it creamier, stir in another tablespoon or two of mayo. A squeeze of lemon juice also adds moisture.

    For a lighter salad, replace the mayo with yogurt. Or, for a looser, salad, opt for olive oil.

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    Ingredients For Tuna Salad Recipe

    Healthy tuna salad takes only 15 minutes of prep. Simply mix the ingredients, then place in the refrigerator to chill.

    • Canned tuna: Canned tuna divides into 2 main categories: packed in oil or water. Then pick from based on your budget: Albacore tuna has less fishy taste and white meaty texture or yellowfin/skipjack/light tuna is tan to pink in color and has more strong fish taste. Lastly, the texture: chunky or whole.

    Tuna Tip

    I always buy canned light tuna packed in water as I do not see a need for extra oil as we drain it anyways. Also chunky one vs. whole because its cheaper.

    • Mayo + plain Greek yogurt: The best combination to get that traditional tuna salad taste but with less calories. Use mayo made with avocado oil and Greek yogurt with at least 2% fat for the tastiest Greek yogurt tuna salad results. You can omit mayonnaise though.
    • Dill pickles: Add a briny taste with sweet and sour notes that really make this tuna recipe outstanding.
    • Celery and red onion: Add crunch with bold earthy and sweet taste.
    • Fresh garlic: Because garlic is always a must in any dish, hands down.
    • Lemon juice: Adds tang and brightness.

    The Healthiest Type Of Canned Tuna

    Easy Mexican Tuna Salad for Healthy Meal Prep

    Not all cans of tuna are created equal. When choosing between oil- or water-packed tuna, water is usually the healthier option. Oil-packed tuna usually has a richer taste but you wont know the quality of the olive oil used. Water-packed tuna may have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as fewer artificial ingredients.

    To buy more sustainable tuna, look for labels that say the tuna was caught by pole or line fishing. These methods are more environmentally sustainable than other options.

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    Three Rules For Making A Pasta Salad

    • Dont overcook the pasta.
    • Rinse the cooked pasta in cold water. Normally you wouldnt do this with pasta, but its necessary when preparing a pasta salad to keep the pasta from cooking further. Cool the pasta completely before making the salad.
    • Choose your brand of pasta carefully. Although pasta is cheap, spend a few extra pennies on a name brand that you trust.

    Is Canned Tuna Healthy

    I say, yes! Canned tuna is an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals and is low in saturated fat. Ounce for ounce, tuna is lower in calories, fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than even the leanest cuts of beef and chicken.

    I feel that canned tuna definitely deserves a spot in a healthy, balanced diet. Just be sure to moderate your intake as large sport fish, like tuna, are known to contain mercury.

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    Tuna Salad: A Simple Pleasure

    I have memories as a child sitting atop Mt. Chocorua in New Hampshire with my camp friends after a days climb. Lunch was always oranges and tuna or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And for dessert? Well, lets just say a Hershey bar never tasted so good!

    And now, in these times, that sandwich brings just as much pleasure . Spare me the bells and whistles Ill get to them in a minute.

    Right now, a classic tuna salad sandwich is all Im after. That means canned tuna, mayo, celery, lemon juice, and if you like, red onion. Period. Slather it on some good bread and Im that happy camper again. In fact, Im taking my sandwich out to the back porch to eat in the sunshine.

    Ways To Enjoy Egg Salad

    Homemade Tuna Salad Sandwich Recipe – Laura Vitale – Laura in the Kitchen Episode 909
    • Straight from the bowl. Ill often eat this straight out of the bowl with a fork because its that good!
    • Top it on bread. You can enjoy egg salad as an open faced sandwich, on either gluten-free toast or my falafel flatbread, with a sprinkle of microgreens on top.
    • Wrap it up. Layer slices of cucumber, bell pepper, and other veggies inside tortillas, butter leaf lettuce leaves, or collard greens. Then wrap it up!

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    Using The Best Hard Boiled Eggs

    Given that this recipe is all about hard boiled eggs, youve gotta make sure you use perfectly hard boiled eggs. You dont want them too hard and rubbery, too soft and not mixable or overly cooked and green around the yolk.

    Ive shared with you how to make perfect hard boiled eggs previously , so make sure to check out that post and video. I use 12 minute hard boiled eggs in this recipe, but anything between 12-14 minutes is fine.

    Faqs And Tips For Making The Best Tuna Salad

    Can you eat canned tuna raw?

    You can definitely eat canned tuna without heating it. Tuna is cooked before its canned so it really isnt possibly to eat raw canned tuna.

    Is canned tuna healthy?

    Absolutely! Everything is healthy in moderation, but tuna is a lean protein and works in many different recipes, so its a great choice for a healthy meal. Since its a large fish, it tends to be high in mercury, so you should be cautious not to eat too much, too often.

    What can I mix with tuna instead of mayo?

    Instead of using mayonnaise in your tuna salad, you can use a simple olive oil based dressing like this one that uses lemon juice and Dijon mustard.

    What can you eat tuna with besides bread?

    You can serve this tuna salad recipe on a bed of lettuce, in a tortilla wrap, on your favorite bun, or even in a lettuce wrap.

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    What To Pair This Low Carb Tuna Salad Recipe With

    Anyways, this tuna salad is fantastic on its own, but you can take it even further by making a low carb tuna fish sandwich with keto bread!

    I have a ton of recipes for keto bread like this white bread loaf and 5 minute low carb yeast bread.

    But if you really wanna get this in your belly ASAP, try it with my 2 minute keto bread recipe.

    Another awesome way to have this low carb tuna salad is to pair it with my keto crackers. The combination of the creamy and refreshing tuna salad with the crunch of the keto crackers is out of this world!

    Or, you can scoop some of this flavorful tuna salad onto a large leaf of lettuce. Its low carb and the crunch of the fresh lettuce leaf really goes wonderfully with the creaminess of this keto tuna recipe.

    Also, if you love this recipe, you absolutely need to try my keto salmon sandwiches, keto sushi, this turkey salad, or this pan seared halibut recipe next. Theyre all super-lite and refreshing low carb lunch recipes just like this tuna salad is.

    Oh, by the way, just so you know, this recipe makes 5 cups of low carb tuna salad, with under 2 grams NET CARBS per serving.

    How awesome is that?!

    As I said, its THE BEST!

    Quick And Simple Tuna Salad Recipe

    Delicious Chickpea Tuna Salad Recipe

    There are a lot of ways to make tuna salad. The secret to a good salad is to not saturate it with a ton of mayonnaise but just enough to enhance the flavor.

    Tuna is a great ingredient when you grill it on the barbecue. It also works great in a salad. You can use it as the main ingredient.

    This is a very cheap salad recipe. The cost of a can of tuna is really low. It also fits great in a keto diet or low carb lifestyle.

    It only contains 6.6 grams of carbohydrates. So, if you are on a low carb or Keto diet you can definitely eat this salad.

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    Is This Pasta Salad Kid

    My son loves this pasta salad. I often make it just for him to eat for lunch, especially over the summer. Make a great dinner to eat in the car on the way to sports on super busy weeknights as well because you can easily eat it with a fork.

    Overall, most kids approve of the mild flavor of this dish. Its not too heavy on dressing or overly oil either which appeals to kids. I do typically leave the olives out if making this pasta salad for kids.

    Why You’ll Love This Tuna Salad Without Mayo

    • Very easy to make – it takes less than 10 minutes to make the salad and enjoy a healthy, light lunch without much effort.
    • Full of flavor – you don’t need mayo in tuna salad to make it extra tasty. The lemon juice, Dijon mustard and fresh herbs infuse the tuna with loads of flavor.
    • Easy to make your own – You can easily add more veggies, olives or even nuts and seeds to this tuna salad to make it your own.

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