Tuna Salad Recipe With Mayo

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Tips For Making Italian Tuna Salad

Potato Egg Tuna Salad Recipe – Super Easy – No Mayo
  • I used yellow fin tuna in water but you could totally use albacore if you prefer. My mom said she though it would be fantastic in tuna packed in oil. I haven’t tried this but I’m sure it would be tasty, although maybe not as healthy.
  • Make sure you drain your cans of tuna really well .
  • If you’re not planning on serving it right away, you might consider waiting to add the basil as it will wilt over time. It will still taste delicious, but it might not stay as pretty.
  • This is a great meal prep option in you’re looking for a light and healthy lunch option to bring to work.
  • As always, taste as you mix and adjust the seasonings according to your taste!

Why Youll Love This Recipe

  • Simplicity: Its my go-to recipe when I need a quick and easy lunch during the workweek.
  • Make-Ahead: For best results, make this recipe ahead. Tuna salad is always better after the flavors of the ingredients have time to meld together in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Few Ingredients: Just open a can of tuna, drain, chop, and stir all the goodness together.
  • Versatility: can be used in a sandwich, wrap, or served as an appetizer on crackers.

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.

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Tips For Making Tuna Corn Salad With Mayonnaise

  • You can use this recipe as an appetizer.
  • You can make a salad simply by mixing it with leafy greens.
  • You can make a delicious breakfast easily by putting the tuna corn mixture on bread and toasting it.
  • Tuna corn salad can be refrigerated for about a week.
  • Drain the corn before adding it to the mixing bowl. Otherwise the salad will become slightly sticky.
  • You can add other ingredients to this salad such as chikuwa and/or imitation crab meat.
  • I want to try to it on pizza, but havent yet! In Japan, corn is a common topping on pizza and I think this would taste great.

Questions About Tuna Salad

No Mayo Tuna Salad  Recipe for Perfection

What can I substitute for mayo in tuna?

Instead of mayo, you can use Greek yogurt for some added tang or mashed avocado for more creaminess.

What else can I add to tuna to make it taste better?

The beauty of this recipe is that you can truly make it your own. You can add minced onions or shallots, shredded carrots, finely chopped apples or cucumbers, and/or chopped herbs like cilantro or parsley.

How long does tuna salad last?

I recommend transferring any leftover tuna salad to an airtight container and placing it in the fridge for no more than 3-5 days. I do not recommend freezing tuna salad.

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Theory: Keep The Salad Simple

Another day, another person trying to reinvent the tuna salad wheel. Dont be that guy. Keep it simple. Use water-packed tuna, not the fancy oil-packed stuff you might buy for, say, a tinned fish party. Stir in finely-chopped celery , chopped fresh parsley, a few hits of lemon juice, and a good bit of mayonnaise, which will bind it all together and add lusciousness .

Now stop. Do not add capers. Do not add Dijon mustard. And for the love of fish, do not add chopped red onion.

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Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe

This healthy tuna salad recipe is made with no mayo, but its still full of flavor. Its dairy free, paleo friendly and super easy to make. Serve it as a sandwich or in a lettuce wrap for a great heart healthy lunch. Make about 8 servings.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I dont use or trust.

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Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1 Cut the celery and any other vegetables youd like to add into a small dice so its still easy to make a sandwich. 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped sweet red bell pepper, dill pickle, pitted olives, or water chestnuts are all good stir-ins for the tuna salad.
  • tip 2 Mayonnaise or salad dressingwhats the difference? They are both thick, creamy dressings that contain vegetable oil, lemon juice or vinegar and seasonings. Mayonnaise also contains egg yolk and is less sweet than salad dressing. They can be used interchangeably so you decide which you prefer.
  • tip 3 Stuff tuna salad in hollowed out tomatoes or avocado halves for a fresh take on lunch.
  • tip 4 Swap out the tuna for chicken or ham, adding some spicy brown or Dijon mustard with the mayonnaise in the dressing.

How To Serve Tuna Salad

No Mayo Tuna Salad Recipe

For me, the next best thing to a plain ol tuna sandwich is a tuna melt. Thats a grilled cheese sandwich with tuna salad. Slap some cheese on the sandwich, butter the bread on the outside, and grill it in a pan until the bread is crisp and golden, and the cheese melts.

You could do something similar with a tortilla, too. Just place cheese in the center, top with tuna salad, fold it like a burrito, and grill it to seal it. But theres more! Make a wrap with pita or flatbread and add some greens and sliced tomatoes or cucumbers.

You could also serve this as a true salad on top of greens with some extra vegetables to round it out.

Tuna salad makes a simple mid-afternoon snack when paired with crackers or spread onto celery sticks. You can also take the virtuous route and top your greens with a scoop of tuna salad for a healthy lunch.

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Easy And Healthy Tuna Salad

It took me a few years to come up with healthy tuna salad recipe I like. I am more of a salmon salad girl but my kids love tuna salad, so I kept trying.

My passion for salads runs deep. But to be honest, I tried all healthy versions of tuna salad with avocado, and with yogurt instead of mayo. Not the same although I do quite love avocado egg salad. Just not with tuna.

I already struggle with the whole concept of tasty tuna salad, so it took a few tries to come up with what I consider a healthy tuna salad that is healthy yet tastes great. I am finally happy to share the best healthy tuna salad recipe I can eat too haha. There just has to be a touch of mayo. The end.

#olenafact: A healthy lifestyle is all about balance and can include healthy tuna salad.

How To Use Avocado In Place Of Mayo

This recipe starts just like any classic tuna salad: Youll mix two cans of tuna with chopped red onion and chopped celery, plus some lemon zest and chopped parsley leaves. But instead of classic mayo, youll mix in a homemade avocado mayo, which consists of mashed avocado, grated garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. I also took a cue from Carla Halls Egg Salad and added chives to the avocado mayo. Let me tell you: There is a reason why Carla won our egg salad showdown. The chives provide so much flavor that wraps itself around the tuna salad and really knocks it out of the park.

Lastly, youll chop the second half of the avocado into pieces, then fold them into the tuna salad for extra avocado goodness in every bite. Serve as is, or on the bread of your choice.

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Swaps And Suggestions For Tuna Salad

Im strictly a mayo kind of gal, but if you prefer Miracle Whip or light mayo, go for it. Ive never tried it with yogurt, but Greek yogurt might work, especially if you add a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

To toast or not, its up to you, if you’re turning this into a sandwich. Sometimes, Im in a toasty mood and crave a little crunch, and sometimes I just want the comfort of soft bread.

No bread in the house? My better half always prefers tuna salad on saltines, but you could make some of these biscuits or homemade soda bread.

How To Make Tuna Salad From Scratch

Best Tuna Salad Recipe

Use these simple to follow instructions to make this delicious tuna salad recipe from scratch:

Coat the fresh tuna in olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Grill the tuna on both sides until dark grill marks have formed and cooked throughout. Chill completely in the refrigerator.

Add all the prepared vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper to a bowl.

Roughly mince the fresh tuna and add it to the bowl with vegetables.

Mix until completely combined and serve or cover and chill until ready to serve.

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Why We Love This Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe:

  • Super Quick to make: This recipe is done in under 5 minutes.
  • Minimal Ingredients: Made with less than 8 ingredients, this tuna salad is made with pantry/fridge staples
  • High Protein: This tuna salad without mayo has over 30g of protein making it the perfect lunch, dinner or even snack!
  • Tuna salad with No mayo Like I said before.. mayo is just not for me. Plus, its relatively high in fat and offers little to no nutrition value. Greek yogurt is higher in protein, low fat and low calorie

Tuna Corn Salad Recipe With Mayonnaise

This tuna corn salad recipe is literally one of the easiest recipes you can learn. It tastes great and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. It has versatility and can be used as a side dish or an appetizer. You can also mix it with some leafy greens to make a salad. Alternatively, you can put some on toast for breakfast or for a snack. So many options!

This recipe involves mixing all the ingredients in a mixing bowl andthats it! Youre done! It tastes great and literally is as easy as mixing everything in a bowl or storage container. In this recipe I use mayonnaise, salt, and soy sauce in addition to the corn and tuna. No need to add additional dressing or other ingredients. I hope you enjoy this tuna corn salad recipe as much as I do. Please let me know what you think if you decide to make it.

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The Healthiest Type Of Canned Tuna

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.

Combine Your Tuna And Veggies

Deluxe Tuna Mayo – Tuna Mayonnaise – Tuna Salad – How to Make Tuna Mayo

After breaking up your tuna, and then mincing your onion, celery, and carrot, you are going to combine the fish and veggies. Next is when you would add the vinegar, if like Epstein notes, you prefer a tuna salad with “a bit of acidity.” If you are not sure if you’d be into the bite vinegar provides, you can always prepare the rest of the salad, and add it in at the end. Or, make one batch with the vinegar, and one without and decide which version you prefer. Ultimately, the thing about tuna salad is there are so many different ingredients you can try to make it your own even sugar! Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

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Making Tuna Salad Healthier

One of the best ways to make tuna salad healthier is by using less mayonnaise. First off, you can swap out the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or light sour cream. The result will be a lighter tuna salad that is still just as creamy!

Second, add veggies like celery and carrots for some color and crunchy texture. Fresh fruit like grapes and apples add texture and natural sugars. Lastly, top it off with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro! Youll still have that classic taste you know and love but itll be a lot better for you too 🙂

Lemon Dill Tuna Salad

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Use this Lemon Dill Tuna Salad recipe to make a healthy tuna salad without mayo. Instead of mayo this tuna salad is made with a mix of feta cheese and lemon juice for a refreshing take on traditional tuna salad.

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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.

Recipe Notes And Tips

BEST Tuna Salad Recipe
  • Cut the vegetables into small and evenly sized pieces. They will be easier to combine when you mix it and it will be easier to eat.
  • Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled. It has a much brighter and fresher flavor and makes all the difference!
  • Chickpeas provide a good amount of protein and fiber and turn this salad into a fuller meal. You can substitute these with black beans or white beans if thats what you have.

This Mediterranean Tuna Salad has definitely made our favorites list. The flavors are amazing and so refreshing. Perfect quick summer salad. I like to make this for lunch or make it for quick family dinners.

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How To Make The Best Tuna Salad

When I was little, my two favorite foods were macaroni and cheese and tuna salad and now that Im adult, things havent changed all that much. When it comes to making tuna salad, we do our best to keep things really simple. Let me walk you through how we make it.

Canned tuna: We buy canned albacore tuna thats been caught with hand-operated pole-and-lines. We also prefer the cans with tuna thats been cooked in the can. This tuna tends to be more succulent and retains all of its natural juices and fats. Brands that dont can tuna this way, cook the tuna first and then can it, which means that much of the natural juices and fats get lost. Thats why you will often see tuna canned in water or oil. When the tuna is cooked right in the can, there is no need for the extra water or oil. On that same token, when you buy tuna thats been cooked in the can, there is no need to drain it before making tuna salad.

A note about buying tuna and other seafood: There are lots of options when it comes to canned tuna and to be honest, there are some pretty unfortunate choices available. We try our best to eat as sustainably as possible and find that the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch is helpful in figuring out which species are endangered as well as the best fishing practices to look for when buying seafood.

More simple salads: I love this simple chicken salad, our easy egg salad and when I have avocados in the house, I make this avocado egg salad.

What Kind Of Tuna To Use In Tuna Salad

The best kind of tuna for tuna salad is tuna packed in water, not oil. You dont want extra oil in your tuna salad.

Look for cans of wild tuna that are labeled, pole and line caught to be sure that other species werent harmed when the tuna was caught. My favorite tuna is Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value brand Skipjack Wild Tuna in water, which is labeled as pole and line caught one at a time. Not only is this tuna responsibly caught, the tuna tastes like its higher quality and it seems like you get more tuna per 5 ounce can than other brands. I also love that the only ingredients are skipjack tuna and water.

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