Avocado Tuna Salad

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Simple and flavorful Avocado Tuna Salad makes the perfect healthy snack, appetizer, or lunch. This tuna salad is full of veggies and a healthy avocado-based dressing.

Up close image of Avocado Tuna Salad in a croissant ready to be eaten.

Avocado Tuna Salad is one of my go-to recipes for lunch. It’s quick to make, packed with flavor, and filled with nutritious ingredients. Of course, when you load the tuna salad on a buttery croissant, it becomes a little less healthy. 

I’ll definitely indulge in the croissant sandwich every once in a while, but when I’m looking for a lighter meal, I’ll pack the tuna into a few pieces of lettuce to make a quick lettuce wrap. 

Today I’m sharing how to make this salad, what to eat it with, and sharing a few quick tips. Let’s get started!

How to make Avocado Tuna Salad

  • Add the salad ingredients to a large bowl: Place the drained tuna, diced avocado, minced parsley, diced celery, and diced bread and butter pickles in a large bowl. 
  • Make the dressing: Combine the mashed avocado, mayo, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
  • Combine: Add the dressing to the salad ingredients. Gently toss to combine and season once more to taste.
  • Serve: Eat the avocado tuna salad as is, in a salad wrap, or on a croissant with lettuce (my personal favorite!).

Use high-quality ingredients: They make all the difference in Avocado Tuna Salad. I like a good olive oil-packed tuna fish (Genova® is my favorite; not sponsored). Hellman’s/Best Foods® mayo is my favorite in this recipe (again, not sponsored). Make sure to get bread and butter pickles; they add the perfect tanginess to this salad.

Process shots-- Images of the ingredients being added to the dressing and mixed together to be served.

 Avocado Tuna Salad Serving Suggestions

  • On a lettuce wrap 
  • In a sandwich with some lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. Use a good, whole-grain bread for a healthier sandwich or a croissant for a more indulgent sandwich.
  • With a side of fresh fruit or this fruit salad recipe
  • As a dip with pita chips and fresh veggies

The mayo in this recipe

I highly recommend the small amount of mayonnaise in this avocado tuna salad. You can use an avocado-based mayo or low-fat mayo instead of regular.

If you’re completely opposed to using mayonnaise, replace it with plain Greek yogurt; it will taste different and tangier.

Image of the Avocado Tuna Salad in a lettuce wrap ready to be eaten.

QUICK TIP

Wait until the avocado is really ripe. The perfectly ripe avocado makes a huge difference in this salad. Here’s how to tell an avocado is ripe. If it’s not fully ripe, it won’t add the flavor and creaminess that a ripe avocado will.

 

FAQs

Can I lose weight eating tuna salad?

A lot of people looking to lose weight eat tuna because of its high protein content. For just 3 ounces of tuna, you get a whopping 20g of protein and only 100 calories. Tuna is a great protein to eat while trying to maintain a lower carb/lower calorie diet. As long as you are aware of how much mayo you are adding (mayo will add the most calories), you will have a great, healthful meal. 

Is Tuna Salad Healthy?

This salad is much healthier than most tuna salads you’ll find, thanks to the avocado, all the veggies, and the avocado-based dressing. The avocado (which has healthier fats) is mashed to replace a lot of the mayo that is typically in tuna salads.
 
Tuna is a great healthy protein to consume; you can read more about the health benefits here.

 

More Tuna Recipes

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Avocado Tuna Salad

5 from 4 votes
Simple and flavorful Avocado Tuna Salad makes the perfect healthy snack, appetizer, or lunch. This tuna salad is filled with veggies and a healthy avocado-based dressing.
Print Recipe

Avocado Tuna Salad

5 from 4 votes
Simple and flavorful Avocado Tuna Salad makes the perfect healthy snack, appetizer, or lunch. This tuna salad is filled with veggies and a healthy avocado-based dressing.
Course Appetizer, Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword avocado tuna salad
Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 sandwiches
Calories 188kcal
Author Chelsea Lords
Cost $6.27

Ingredients

  • 3 cans (5 ounces EACH) tuna, well drained (I recommend Genova packed in olive oil which ends up being 4 ounces once drained)
  • 3 tablespoons finely diced celery
  • 3 tablespoons finely diced bread and butter pickles
  • 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
  • 2 tablespoons finely diced flat leaf parsley

Dressing

  • 1 small avocado, separated
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup light mayonnaise (use up to 1/2 cup for more creamy consistency)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • PREP: Thoroughly drain the tuna and transfer to a large bowl.
  • DRESSING: Slice an avocado in half, and remove the peel and pit. Mash one side of the avocado to get 3 tablespoons mashed avocado. Dice the other side to get about 1/4 cup of diced avocado and set aside. Add the 3 tablespoons mashed avocado to a small bowl. Add in the 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/3 cup mayo, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • SALAD: Add the finely diced celery, pickles, red onion, and parsley to the bowl with the tuna and diced avocado. Add the dressing on top and gently stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste. Add extra mayo here if you want a creamier salad (1-4 tablespoons extra).
  • SERVE: Serve in a croissant roll with lettuce, in a lettuce wrap, with pita chips, etc. -- however you'd like to enjoy it! Best enjoyed same day and shortly after making it; the avocado begins to brown after about an hour or two.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6sandwiches | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.9g | Protein: 17.5g | Fat: 10.9g | Cholesterol: 34.4mg | Sodium: 357.2mg | Fiber: 1.8g | Sugar: 1.7g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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11 Comments

  1. I love these wraps, Chelsea! I can definitely see why you eat these all the time, so perfect for a light and healthy lunch! I eat tuna salad every once in a while, so I’m definitely going to try these lettuce wraps! Pinned!

  2. Hello!!! I enjoy your recipes. I just found your website. I’m new here. I was wondering Do you have any Keto Friendly recipes? Blessings

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