This healthy tuna avocado salad is flavorful and creamy with absolutely no mayo required! As a bonus, it can be prepared in less than 10 minutes and served up in so many different ways! Once you try out this easy tuna salad, you’ll never have to search for another tuna salad recipe again! {Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, & whole30}
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Tuna Avocado Salad
In our house, we are big tuna lovers, so naturally we are always looking for canned tuna recipes for quick and easy lunches. And guess what?
This healthy tuna avocado salad is where it’s at.
It just so happens to be one of our new favourite way to serve up this lunchtime staple and absolutely no mayo is required!
Whether you serve it up on a sandwich, salad or wrap, the whole family will love this fun and flavourful recipe for tuna salad!
Why We Love this Tuna and Avocado Salad
- Easy – How many recipes can be prepared in less than 10 minutes? Not many. That’s one of the reasons why I love this recipe. It can be whipped together in a matter of minutes for a quick lunch or snack!
- Simple ingredients – No fancy ingredients are required for this tuna salad. In fact, you probably already have many of them in your fridge and pantry, so it makes a great last minute meal option!
- Healthy – Tuna is a super convenient source of protein and iron. The avocado incorporates some hearty healthy fats, vitamin E and potassium while the carrots provide vitamin A, C and fibre. So many nutrients packed in this simple salad!
Ingredient Notes
One of my favourite things about this recipe is that the ingredients list is short and simple!
All that you require is:
- Tuna: Tuna is the ultimate lunch time staple because it’s so quick and easy! All that you have to do is open the can and drain! You can use light or albacore tuna for the purpose of this recipe.
- Avocado: Makes for the perfect replacement for mayo due to its creamy texture and consistency. Not to mention, it’s rich in heart healthy fats, fibre and potassium! Use a ripe avocado for best results, but not one that is over ripe, brown and mushy. Cuz that’s never appealing.
- Carrots: Incorporate the perfect amount of crunch in addition to vitamin A and fibre! For the purpose of this salad, you can chop up large or baby carrots — whatever you have on hand.
- Green onion: Adds a nice kick of flavour that compliments the tuna so well! Don’t have green onion? You can also sub in chives.
- Lemon juice: Helps to add a splash of flavour and prevents the avocado from browning too quickly. You could also sub in lime juice if you don’t have a lemon.
How to Make Tuna Salad with Avocado – Step-by-Step Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix the tuna, green onion, diced carrot, garlic powder and salt.
Next, add in the diced avocado and lemon juice. Mix to combine. You can mash the avocado up more if you prefer a creamier consistency or leave some chunks of avocado present.
Recipe Tips:
- Use tuna packed in water rather than broth or oil to lower fat and sodium consumption.
- Dice the carrots very finely if serving this salad to toddlers or young children to make it easier to chew and prevent any potential choking hazards.
- Use a ripe avocado to ensure a nice creamy texture. You’ll want to look for an avocado that’s slightly soft but does not feel “mushy” to the touch.
- If storing in the fridge, tightly wrap the tuna salad with saran wrap to prevent the avocado being exposed to oxygen which can accelerate browning.
Recipe FAQs
What type of tuna should I use?
For the purpose of this recipe, you can use whichever type of tuna you prefer. Keep in mind that albacore tuna does tend to be higher in mercury than light tuna so it’s important to limit intake of albacore tuna especially in more vulnerable populations like young children and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
The general guidelines are as follows:
- It’s advised that women of childbearing age and pregnant and breastfeeding women limit their intake of canned albacore tuna to no more than 300 grams per week, or about two tins worth. (One regular-sized tin of tuna, once drained, contains 133 grams of tuna.)
- Kids aged 5 to 11 should eat no more than 150 grams (about one tin) per week
- Younger children should not eat more than 75 grams (about half a tin) per week.
You can read more about the guidelines here. When in doubt, stick to canned light tuna, preferably packed in water to limit sodium and fat consumption.
Storage Guidelines
This tuna salad is best when consumed fresh due to the presence of the avocado.
If you do have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge tightly wrapped with saran wrap for up to two days. Beyond that, the avocado will start to brown and won’t be all that appealing.
Can this tuna salad be made in advance?
You can make this tuna salad in advance, however, I would recommend mixing up all of the ingredients with the exception of the avocado and adding the avocado just before serving to keep it extra fresh.
Serving Suggestions:
This tuna salad can be served in so many different ways!
Try it on:
- A wrap
- Sandwich
- A bed of greens
- Lettuce wrap
- On crackers
It also tastes great on one of these toasted Low Carb Bagels or Protein Bagels!
Other Delicious Lunch Recipes
- Healthy Tuna Macaroni Salad
- Avocado Egg Salad
- Chickpea Avocado Feta Salad
- Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Egg White Wrap
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Healthy Tuna Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 1 can tuna drained
- 1 tbsp minced green onion
- 1/4 cup finely diced carrot
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)
- 1 medium ripe avocado roughly diced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix the tuna, green onion, diced carrot, garlic powder and salt.
- Next, add in the diced avocado and lemon juice. Mix to combine. You can mash the avocado up more if you prefer a creamier consistency or leave some chunks of avocado present.
- Serve on a sandwich, wrap, lettuce wrap, salad or crackers!
Notes
Nutrition
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I made it this evening. I love it. however, I will buy lettuce and have it as a veggie/tuna wrap,
So happy you enjoyed the tuna salad! Love the idea of making it into a veggie tuna wrap :)
This is super handy for lunches. I also make your egg salad avocado recipe too. The avocado is a perfect substitute for mayonnaise and way more tasty!
Yes!! Such a quick and easy lunch! And I totally agree about the avocado — you don’t even miss the mayo!