Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2024)

This no mayo avocado tuna saladrecipe is an easy healthy lunch or snack that's ready in 5 minutes with just 4 ingredients. And it's a gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, Whole30, and keto tuna salad recipe.This quick meal is packed with protein and so delicious!

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (1)

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I love this avocado tuna salad. It makes a great quick and easy healthysnack or a perfect lunch. And it's another great way to eat one of my favorite foods—avocados.

This recipe uses just four essential ingredients, but it reminds me of the old school classic tuna salad I used to eat as a kid. For me, it's true comfort food.

And it's really simple to put together. Best of all, it requires NO cooking, so it’s perfect if you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like heating up the stove.

Unlike traditional tuna salad, it requires no mayo! This healthy tuna salad recipe without mayonnaise gets its creaminess from the avocado instead.

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Ingredients for no mayo tuna salad

Avocados are in season throughout most of the year. Choose a ripe avocado that’s firm but with a little “give.”

You can check for ripeness by pulling the small piece of stem. If the stem comes off easily, the avocado is ripe. If it holds firm, then it’s not ready quite yet.

The spot where the stem meets the avocado should appear green underneath. If the stem falls off easily and the spot underneath is brown, the avocado is overripe and may be brown inside.

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2)

When it comes to selecting the fish, you can use whatever tuna you have—leftover tuna from last night's dinner works great in this recipe. In fact, home-cooked tuna may be even better than canned!

Of course, most of us opt for cans of tuna out of convenience. Be sure to select a good quality canned tuna.

White albacore tuna has a firm, meaty texture, light white color and mild flavor. Chunk light tuna is made from smaller varieties of tuna fish and has smaller flakes and a stronger flavor.

With a recipe this simple, choosing the best tuna and avocado will make a huge difference. When there are only four components to a dish, you want to choose the best items you can find—this means perfectly ripe avocados and high-quality tuna. You won't even miss the mayo!

How to Make a Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

Cut the avocado in half,remove the pit (carefully) and scoop out the middle of both halves leaving a shell of avocado flesh. You want to have about half of the avocado in the mixing bowl to use for the salad.

Add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, stir in a bit of finely chopped onion to taste, and mash all the ingredients together. Once the other ingredients are combined, gently mix in the tuna to finish this easy tuna salad.

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (3)

The key to making this recipe truly great is tasting it as you make it. Because avocados and lemons vary in size, it's important to taste as you go along to make sure you have the right balance of creaminess and acidity in the tuna salad. Add a little more avocado or lemon juice if needed to strike the right balance.

I love how perfectly simple this recipe is—yet you can easily customize it to suit your taste by adding dill pickles, red onion, dijon mustard, fresh herbs, bell pepper or even hot peppers for a little kick. You could even use lime juice instead of lemon. Just add whatever else you like in your tuna salad.

When you’ve got your perfect tuna salad blend, you simply scoop into the avocado cups and enjoy.You get a few bonus bites of avocado left in the shell (who can complain about more avocado?!).

This stuffed avocado boat is a simple, healthy meal. It’s low carb, high in protein and full of healthy fats, so it will keep everyone full and satisfied for hours. It’s an easy lunch with simple ingredients and a great quick meal or snack to make any time.

To round this main dish out, you could pair it with a delicious soup. Avocado stuffed with tuna salad along with a quick tomato souporbroccoli soup makes a perfect fast meal.

More Easy Healthy Salad Recipes

Try these healthy recipes for a light lunch, snack or side dish for something a little different.

  • Antipasto Salad
  • Broccoli Salad with Bacon
  • Avocado Caprese Salad
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
  • Shrimp and Arugula Salad

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (4)

Avocado Tuna Salad (Paleo, Keto, Whole30)

An easy no-mayo quick and easy healthy snack or lunch.

4.58 from 19 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 2 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: AIP, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo, Whole30

Author: Lisa Wells

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut the avocado in half and scoop the middle of both avocado halves into a bowl, leaving a shell of avocado flesh about ¼-inch thick on each half.

  • Add lemon juice and onion to the avocado in the bowl and mash together. Add tuna, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust if needed.

  • Fill avocado shells with tuna salad and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal Carbohydrates: 14g Protein: 16g Fat: 15g Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 183mg Potassium: 688mg Fiber: 8g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 185IU Vitamin C: 38.7mg Calcium: 38mg Iron: 2mg

Keyword: avocado tuna salad, tuna salad without mayo

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Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat canned tuna on Whole30? ›

meaning it's safe even for pregnant women and children! That's why Safe Catch tuna is the very first Whole30 Approved canned tuna. Keep a stash of Safe Catch in your Whole30 pantry for a convenient on-the-go protein; quick, nourishing lunches; and creating delicious dinners.

Can you eat canned tuna on AIP diet? ›

Canned tuna in extra virgin olive oil, is one of those #bloodyfabulous, AIP-friendly pantry staples. It's an inexpensive and easy way to add more fish to your diet, even if you're not a the biggest fan of fish recipes (<– like me!)

How to make tuna salad Martha Stewart? ›

directions. Combine tuna, celery, apple, mayonnaise, basil, and lemon juice; mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Note: The original recipe calls for Lemonaise instead of Mayonnaise.

Why are lentils not allowed on Whole30? ›

Legumes, including peanuts, soy, and lentils, are only allowed on the Plant-Based Whole30 to ensure adequate levels of protein during the reset.

Why is mayo not Whole30 compliant? ›

Because ingredients. Need we say more? Okay, in case we do, there are several ingredients in every single store-bought mayo that will rule it out for the Whole30—usually soybean oil and some form of sugar.

What canned tuna is Whole30 compliant? ›

WHOLE NEW YOU!

Whether you're creating the delicious tuna burgers from the recipe below, or mixing Safe Catch with Primal Kitchen mayo and tossing it over greens for a quick and easy lunch, we think you'll enjoy eating Safe Catch tuna even more knowing that it is Whole30 approved.

Can you eat canned tuna on paleo? ›

Fish is a lean protein and food that is encouraged for the paleo diet. Our StarKist® Chunk Light, Albacore Tuna, Wild Pink Salmon as well as our StarKist E.V.O.O. are all great choices to incorporate into easy, paleo-friendly recipes.

Is canned tuna inflammatory or anti inflammatory? ›

Fish such as sardines, salmon, and tuna are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids and considered to be anti-inflammatory. One large study 12. Long-term intake of dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study of women.

What happens when you start eating avocado everyday? ›

In addition to a high quantity of fiber, avocados possess phytochemicals and other nutrients which aid in many physical health processes such as: Lowering blood pressure (due to high levels of potassium) Lowering cardiovascular inflammation. Prevention of cataracts and protection against UV light damage.

Do avocados fight belly fat? ›

Studies show that women who regularly consume avocados typically have reduced abdominal (belly) fat. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Illinois, women who ingested avocados daily lost deep visceral abdominal fat.

Why can't you eat canned tuna everyday? ›

Certain types of tuna are high in mercury, which can have harmful effects on health in high amounts or in certain populations. For most healthy adults, it's recommended to consume at least 2 servings of fish per week, which can include tuna.

What can I add to tuna instead of mayo? ›

Since mayo is out, you can substitute a vinaigrette instead. Try finely dicing some red onion and celery, chopping up some capers, and mixing them with the tuna. Drizzle the mixture with some good olive oil and give it a healthy squeeze of lemon and a little salt and pepper.

Why is restaurant tuna salad so good? ›

Mayonnaise-rich tuna salad has a very soft, moist texture. To provide textural contrast, many restaurants add crisp ingredients to the mixture, including diced celery and onions. If served in a sandwich, simply toasting bread or adding lettuce to the sandwich results in a gripping textural contrast.

Is it safe to eat tuna out of a can? ›

While canned tuna is technically cooked during the canning process, it's generally safe to consume directly from the can. However, some people prefer to cook it further or mix it with other ingredients for various dishes.

Is canned tuna considered a whole food? ›

Make these real, whole foods the basis of your diet. Processed foods: When ingredients such as oil, sugar or salt are added to foods and they are packaged, the result is processed foods. Examples are simple bread, cheese, tofu, and canned tuna or beans.

What is the safest canned tuna to eat? ›

For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury. Before consuming canned tuna, it is best to consult with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Is canned tuna edible out the can? ›

If you're a fan of canned tuna, you'll be happy to know it's safe and ready to eat straight out of the can since it is pre-cooked for your convenience. Canned tuna is a wonderful seafood option, considering not everyone has access to fresh fish, not to mention it's super affordable.

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