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    Home » Seafood Recipes » Keto Tuna Salad

    Keto Tuna Salad

    Last updated: Jul 11, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Keto tuna salad bursts with flavor from Dijon mustard, hot sauce, garlic, and cilantro. It's wonderful on its own, even better when piled on top of 90-second keto bread.

    You can make a big batch and refrigerate it - this salad lasts for several days in the fridge. And it's ready in just 15 minutes!

    Keto Tuna Salad served on a low-carb bread.

    What do you usually eat for lunch? Most of us (in the USA at least) eat sandwiches, wraps, or perhaps leftovers from last night's dinner.

    Needless to say, tuna salad is perfect for lunch, and this keto version, served on low-carb bread, is so very flavorful! In fact, it's so good, that I sometimes make it for a light dinner. Leftovers are excellent too, so I often double the recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty salad. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Canned tuna: I prefer water-packed tuna since many oil-packed cans contain soybean oil.

    Mayonnaise: I use avocado oil mayonnaise (Sir Kensington's brand, available at Whole Foods and Walmart, is wonderful) in this recipe.

    Since I use water-packed tuna, I add quite a bit of mayo - 3 tablespoons. Otherwise, I find it too dry. But oil-packed tuna is usually packed in soybean oil, which I'd rather avoid.

    Dijon mustard: This traditional French mustard is creamier, thicker, and less vinegary than yellow mustard. I highly recommend it in this recipe.

    Hot sauce: It doesn't make the salad very spicy - it merely adds an interesting layer of flavor.

    Minced garlic: Mince it yourself, or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Both work.

    Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the salad could end up too salty.

    Chopped cilantro: Personally, I happen to love the bold flavor of cilantro. But if you're not a fan, parsley works too.

    Instructions

    Making this keto tuna salad is truly easy. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    Your first step is to drain the tuna well, place it in a bowl, and flake it with a fork.

    Next, you add the remaining ingredients and mix everything to combine.

    That's it! Serve the salad on toasted keto bread or in a lettuce wrap.

    A photo collage showing the steps for making a low-carb tuna salad.

    Frequently asked questions

    What can I use in a tuna salad instead of mayo?

    A good alternative to mayonnaise is sour cream, although I do believe that mayonnaise tastes better in this particular recipe.

    Another option is Greek yogurt, but I actually don't recommend it, even if you use whole-milk yogurt. I tried it once and felt that it was too tangy.

    Can I use tuna packed in oil?

    Yes, but make sure it's packed in pure olive oil and not in soybean or cottonseed oil. If using oil-packed tuna, you could probably use a bit less mayo - try two tablespoons.

    What tuna is best to use?

    I prefer to use chunk light tuna (which is usually skipjack) in this recipe.

    Variations

    Here are a few ideas for you for varying this recipe:

    • Use sour cream instead of mayonnaise.
    • Use more hot sauce to make the salad spicy.
    • Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic and add a pinch of onion powder as well.
    • Add a pinch of dried thyme.
    • Use parsley instead of cilantro.
    • Mix in diced red onions.
    • Add a tablespoon of bacon bits.

    Serving suggestions

    I usually serve this salad on toasted 90-second bread (as shown in the photos and in the video), on thick slices of almond flour bread, or on a bed of lettuce. It also makes a great filling for a lettuce sandwich.

    Sometimes I stuff it inside a hollowed-out tomato or pack it into a bell pepper:

    Tuna salad stuffed inside a tomato.

    Needless to say, there's absolutely nothing wrong with serving this salad in a bowl and eating it with a spoon! Sometimes I use it to make a lazy tuna melt - I place it in a shallow bowl, sprinkle with cheddar, and heat it up in the microwave to melt the cheese. Mmm good.

    Storing leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Mix the salad again before serving it.

    Keto tuna salad served on low-carb bread, on a white plate.

    Related recipes

    • Tuna Cakes
    • Smoked Salmon Mousse
    • Keto Tuna Casserole
    • Salmon Salad

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Keto Tuna Salad
    4.97 from 130 votes
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    15-Minute Keto Tuna Salad

    Keto tuna salad bursts with flavor from Dijon mustard, hot sauce, garlic, and cilantro. It's perfect when served on a 90-second keto bread!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 211kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 (5-oz can) tuna in water, no salt added
    • 3 tablespoons avocado oil mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • ½ teaspoon minced fresh garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Drain the tuna well.
    • Transfer the drained tuna to a medium bowl.
    • Flake it well with a fork.
    • Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
    • To serve, stuff the tuna salad inside a bell pepper or a large tomato, serve in lettuce wraps, or on toasted 90 second bread.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    Here are a few ideas for varying this recipe:
    • Use sour cream instead of mayonnaise.
    • Use more hot sauce to make the salad spicy.
    • Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic and add a pinch of onion powder as well.
    • Add a pinch of dried thyme.
    • Use parsley instead of cilantro.
    • Mix in diced red onions.
    • Add a tablespoon of bacon bits.

    ADD YOUR OWN NOTES

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 591mg | Sugar: 3g
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    More Keto Seafood Recipes

    • Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
    • Lobster Salad
    • Blackened Salmon
    • Baked Salmon

    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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