Name: Avocado Lime Tuna Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 medium avocado; juice of ½ fresh lime; 1 clove garlic, minced; 2- 6 ounce cans albacore tuna (drained); 2 tablespoons minced red onion; 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro; Salt and pepper to taste

Ever have tuna salad without mayo? My version involves avocado, lime juice and crunchy, fresh vegetables.

avocado lime tuna salad in white bowl with a fork

Recipe originally published 4-22-16. Updated 4-1-20.

Upgrade your lunch! This Avocado Lime Tuna Salad uses canned tuna and creamy avocado instead of mayo for a fresh and healthy twist on the classic. Red onion adds some crunch, while lime juice brightens it all up!

Ingredients

Canned tuna – preferably in oil, but water also works
Avocado
Garlic
Fresh lime
Red onion
Cilantro (yes it’s optional – parsley works too)
Cracked black pepper

canned tuna, onion, pepper in clear bowl, cut lime and an avocado

This avocado tuna salad is made with canned tuna, crunchy red onion, creamy avocado, fresh lime juice and cilantro. It’s a healthy lunch recipe that happens to be low carb, keto, gluten-free and egg-free.

Tuna, cilantro, avocado, onion, in a clear bowl

To make it, simply mash the avocado in a bowl then stir in the other ingredients. I like to add the cilantro at the end for a pop of color.

avocado lime tuna salad in clear mixing bowl with a fork

I grew up eating tuna salad at least once a week. It was chunk light tuna drenched in mayo with a heaping dose of relish and boiled eggs and served on Merita white bread.

That is traditional southern tuna salad. It’s still a great option.

Healthy tuna salad with a twist

For this version, I swapped the mayo for a tangy lime avocado sauce and added some aromatic vegetables for color and crunch.

Because I like the experience of exploration at lunch, I left the boiled egg off to the side and served the tuna with a side of fresh spinach and sweet mango.

Eat it right away

This tuna salad is best eaten as soon as it’s prepared. Though the salad has a lot of lime juice, the avocado will start to turn brown if left without being covered. If you don’t mind the browning, you can plan to eat it within a day – but I wouldn’t go longer.

It’s a great way to use up leftover avocado.

avocado lime tuna salad in an avocado shell

Want a creamier tuna salad?

Add some yogurt. Greek yogurt adds extra creaminess and protein to the recipe. You can add up to 1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt to the recipe. It’s a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition while using up the last of the yogurt to prevent waste.

Avocado Lime Tuna Salad Lunch Box

Best canned tuna to buy

This depends on personal preference.

Albacore tuna is very firm and usually comes in big flaky pieces that separate easily. It’s perfect for a hearty tuna salad like this one.

Chunk light tuna has a mild flavor and will have a softer texture. So plan to stir it less.

Skipjack is another popular option. It also has a mild flavor but sports a more reddish color which may not look as nice with the avocado.

Concerned about sodium? You’ll notice that If you are concerned about sodium, look for cans of tuna marked as no salted added or low- or reduced-sodium versions.

Packed in oil or water? Both work. I grew up with tuna packed in water. But I’ve grown to prefer tuna packed in oil. It provides a silkier texture that works well in many recipes – including this one.

Avocado Tuna Salad _ Tuna Salad without Mayo

Serve this tuna salad just as is, on your favorite toasted bread, or atop salad greens. You can add chopped sweet peppers or celery to the salad too for extra crunch.

If you’ve been limpin’ through lunch, consider it over.

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If you like this recipe, you’ll like my Herbed Egg Avocado Salad too!

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