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July 22, 2020

Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe with Avocado

Dairy Free Gluten Free Paleo 15 Minute Meals Fish + Seafood Sandwiches
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This healthy tuna salad recipe with avocado will be your new go-to lunch. It’s so easy to make, but also nutritious and tasty! It’s toddler approved, too. 🙂

If you saw my Healthy Egg Salad Recipe post last week, this one will look familiar – and that’s because it is! The basic mix-ins are the same, but I include some fun variations (mediterranean tuna salad, anyone?) at the end of this post that are unique to the tuna situation. 

As with my go-to egg salad, in this healthy tuna salad recipe avocado replaces the traditional mayo and dijon mustard adds a kick of flavor. Enjoy it with crackers, on a sandwich, in a salad mixed with veggies, or on its own.

 
healthy tuna salad recipe with avocado

I love tuna not only because it’s delicious – it was always one of my favorite lunches as a kid and still is – but also because it’s so versatile!

Tuna is also a good source of essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and Vitamin D.

Plus, canned tuna is shelf stable, easy to store in your pantry, and really useful to have on hand (especially in a pinch!). Check out my Healthy Pantry Staples List post for more tuna recipe ideas, as well as some 15 minute dinner ideas utilizing my other shelf stable faves. 

Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe with Avocado

You don’t need mayo to make tuna salad creamy and delicious, my friends – avocado is a fun way to mix it up that adds lots of healthy fat and flavor. 

Adding a little dijon mustard makes it even more delicious.

Feel free to experiment with your favorite additions to make this recipe your own! (I’ll share some of my favorite flavor variations at the end of this post!)

By the way, here’s my other go-to tuna salad recipe – this one is made with plain Greek yogurt: Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad Recipe. 

How to Make Tuna Salad Without Mayo

I’m pretty sure this is one of the quickest and easiest lunch recipes ever.

Here are the 3 main ingredients you need to make this healthy tuna salad recipe:

Yep, that’s it!

Just canned tuna, avocado, and dijon mustard. (If you’re putting it in a sandwich, you’ll need your favorite sandwich fixings, too.)

To make, mash together the avocado and dijon mustard in a bowl. Drain tuna and stir into the mixture.

 
Then, add any additional seasonings or herbs if desired (ideas below). It’s that simple!

How to Store Tuna Salad

Since avocado can get brown pretty quickly (even in the fridge), I don’t recommend making this recipe too far in advance. But if you want to make it a couple hours ahead of time, that should be fine!

Just cover the bowl with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container, and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Tuna Salad Variations

If you want to add something extra to your tuna salad, here are some delicious recipe variations to try! (Hot tip: I also love adding broccoli slaw for extra crunch.)

Healthy Tuna Melt

I love a good tuna melt – anyone else? They remind me of being pregnant with Riese because I was obsessed with them then – it was one of my very random, very strong food cravings! 

To make this variation, first make the basic avocado tuna salad (the full recipe is at the end of this post), then add 2 tablespoons of diced pickles and spread the mixture onto a slice of already toasted bread.

Top with a slice of white cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand).

Broil until the cheese is melted, and enjoy!

healthy tuna melt with avocado

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Many years ago, when I was working in an office up in Bethesda, MD, there was a lunch place nearby (which sadly no longer exists) that had the most amazing tuna salad pita sandwiches.

The thing that made them so good was that they included artichoke hearts. I never would have thought to add artichoke hearts to tuna salad but turns out it’s a perfect combo, and ever since I’ve always loved adding chopped artichoke hearts to my tuna salad. 

To make this, chop 2 artichoke hearts, then add them into the basic avocado tuna salad mix (the full recipe is at the end of this post) along with 2 tablespoons of chopped kalamata olives, the zest of 1/2 a lemon, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley.

This combo packs so much flavor – try it!

mediterranean tuna salad

However you choose to eat it, tuna salad with avocado makes a tasty, quick & easy lunch. I hope you enjoy this healthy tuna salad recipe as much as I do!

Here are a couple more tasty lunch ideas:

  • Mix & Match Healthy Sandwich Recipes
  • Healthy Tuna Salad with Greek Yogurt
  • Scandinavian Sardine Sandwiches Recipe

Craving more seafood? Here are some delicious recipe ideas:

  • Orange Ginger Salmon Recipe
  • Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Recipe with Sriracha Sauce
  • Super Easy Baked Salmon Recipe with Lemon
  • Peanut Noodles with Tilapia
  • Greek Orzo Salad with Shrimp & Feta
  • Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers with Coconut Quinoa
  • Seared Scallops with White Beans and Spinach
  • Sheet Pan Asian Salmon with Veggies
  • Sesame Shrimp and Watermelon Salad

Here’s the full healthy tuna salad recipe:

Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe with Avocado

mediterranean tuna salad
July 8, 2020 by Anne

This simple but fabulous recipe for healthy tuna salad is a lightened-up version of traditional tuna salad (but with avocado instead of mayo)!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield
about 3/4 cup; enough for one heaping sandwich or two smaller sandwiches
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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 an avocado
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 5-oz can tuna, drained
  • Optional additions: salt, pepper, lemon juice to taste, etc.

Instructions:

  1. Mash the avocado and dijon together in a small bowl. 
  2. Add the tuna and toss to coat in the avocado mixture. 
  3. Add additional seasonings, if desired.
  4. See the blog post for some more variation ideas, like a tuna melt and Mediterranean Tuna Salad!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

What’s your favorite way to make (or eat) tuna salad? Let me know in the comments!

- anne
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you might also like:

Scandinavian Sardine Sandwiches Recipe

healthy tuna salad recipe

Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad (No Mayo)

Healthy Egg Salad Recipe with Avocado

Mix & Match Healthy Sandwich Recipes

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4 comments
  • Ana July 22, 2020 · 12:20PM:
    Hmm, this may be lunch today!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 22, 2020 · 12:38PM:
      Let me know which variation you try and how you like it!
      Reply
  • Roadrunner July 22, 2020 · 9:08PM:
    I love tuna salad, but the old fashioned way, with may. And I am dying to try your recipe. It looks great. Thanks!
    Reply
    • Anne
      July 23, 2020 · 10:24AM:
      This is a nice way to mix it up!
      Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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