This easy Avocado Tuna Salad is the BEST recipe for Tuna Salad! Fresh avocado, lime, jalapeno, and cilantro create the base for a fresh and wholesome tuna salad that is perfect for wraps, sandwiches or to eat alone.
Tuna Salad gets a fresh makeover with the addition of bright, bold flavors and avocado in place of mayonnaise. This recipe is a healthier version of a classic and makes a delicious lunch when served rolled up in a homemade flour tortilla, topped on whole wheat bread, or served on greens.
Made with creamy avocados, fresh lime juice and bright cilantro, this easy tuna salad recipe is anything but traditional or boring.
Instead of heavy mayonnaise, creamy avocado binds this tuna salad together. And the lime juice makes this recipe pop with flavor and freshness.
If you THINK you don’t like tuna salad, give this Avocado Tuna Salad a try. You may become a tuna lover thanks to this fresh spin on a classically heavy recipe.
Key Ingredients
- Tuna: Use canned or pouch flaked tuna. I prefer tuna sold in pouches. It is mild and perfectly flaky and has no “canned” food taste. And I LOVE that I do not have to drain it. If you used canned tuna, be sure to drain well.
- Avocado: Be sure your avocados are ripe for easy mashing.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is key to making this tuna salad taste so fresh! Be sure to use FRESH lime juice. A tip for juicing limes is to heat the lime for 30 seconds in the microwave and then juice well. Fresh lemon juice can be substituted if that is all you have on hand.
- Crunch Factor: Most classic tuna salad recipes add in celery for crunch. Instead of celery, I opt to add in finely minced jalapeno and onion. The crunch of the onion and fresh jalapeno will be a great textural element that also imparts BIG flavor! If you do not like raw onions but still want crunch, mix in some diced celery. And feel free to omit the jalapeno if you do not care for heat.
- Seasoning: This recipe needs quite a bit of salt, as salt is really needed to make the avocado pop! The garlic powder also helps to add flavor.
- Cilantro: I love the flavor of cilantro paired with avocado and lime but omit the cilantro if you are not a fan. I would not substitute parsley for it, just leave it out completely.
How to Make Avocado Tuna Salad
- In a mixing bowl, mash the avocado with the salt, lime juice, and garlic powder until creamy and well combined.
- Mix in the jalapeno, onion, and cilantro until well combined.
- Add in the tuna and mix until tuna is evenly distributed.
- Serve as desired–on a sandwich, in a wrap, in lettuce cups, or with crackers.
More Easy Lunch Recipes
- Ranch Veggie Wrap
- Mexican Quinoa Salad
- Turkey Club Wrap
- Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
- Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Easy Avocado Tuna Salad
Ingredients
- 3 ounces tuna canned, or in a pouch
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon minced red onion
- 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mash the avocado with the salt, lime juice, and garlic powder.
- Mix in the jalapeno, onion, and cilantro until well combined.
- Add in the tuna and mix until tuna is evenly distributed.
- Serve on a sandwich, in a wrap, in a lettuce wrap, on crackers or alone.
Notes
- I love the heat a bit of diced jalapeno adds to avocado tuna salad, but if you like your dishes mild, either omit the jalapeno or be sure to remove seeds and ribs of jalapeno and cut down to only 1/2 teaspoon for this tuna salad recipe.
- The lime juice in this tuna salad adds such freshness and flavor and helps to keep the avocado from browning. If you don't have lime juice, you can use lemon juice. Just be sure that whether using lemon or lime juice, it is fresh.
- Tip for juicing a lime/lemon: Place in microwave for 30 seconds before squeezing.
- If you want this tuna salad to be heavier on the tuna, use 2 pouches for the same amount of other ingredients in the recipe. Just add in an additional 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Nutrition
We are addicted to this recipe. Thank you!