This Avocado Tuna Salad has a simple and surprising combination of ingredients but it just works! This tuna salad can be served on the side with dinner or as a very satisfying lunch because it comes together quickly and is loaded with protein.
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The avocado gives this tuna salad recipe a healthy and highly satisfying creaminess without needing mayo. The lemon juice and cilantro give it incredible fresh flavor – this may just become your new favorite tuna salad.
P.S. Want to know a little secret? This salad is a close relative to the #1 recipe on my site of all time – that’s where the inspiration came from and it was an instant hit!
Ingredients for Avocado Tuna Salad (print the recipe below):
This Avocado Tuna Salad has such simple ingredients and you may already have everything you need to make it (I love it when that happens!!).
What Kind of Tuna is Best for Tuna Salad?
We used drained Solid White Albacore Tuna in oil for more flavor and it seems to hold its form better, but you can substitute for well-drained tuna in water if you prefer.
Make-Ahead Tip: Once you add salt, the salad should be enjoyed within 3 hours of making, or the cucumbers start to lose their crispness. To prep the salad in advance, combine all of the ingredients except the salt, cover and refrigerate. Season with salt just before serving.
I would pass you a fork if I could so you could experience this amazing tuna salad for yourself. It’s worth discovering and this tuna salad recipe is meant to be shared!
KITCHEN EQUIPMENT (affiliate links):
Boos Cutting Board
OXO Fruit Scoop
Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Inch Santoku Knife
VIDEO GEAR (if you’re curious!):
CANON 6D Camera
Canon 80D Camera (auto-focus for overhead shots)
Canon EF 24-105 F4 Camera Lens
Canon EF 100mm 2.8L IS Camera Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L IS USM Camera Lens
Manfrotto Tripod
Manfrotto Video Head
Rhino Slider with Motion Controller
Rhino Arc Motorized Pan Head for Motion
Camera Mount Wireless Lavalier Mic System
Avocado Tuna Salad Video Tutorial:
Watch Natasha make this Tuna Salad Recipe with Avocado! It is mouthwatering good and so simple – definitely an upgrade on classic tuna salad.
Is your mouth watering yet??
Print Friendly for Avocado Tuna Salad:
Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 oz tuna in oil, drained and flaked, (3 small cans)
- 1 English cucumber, sliced
- 2 large or 3 medium avocados, peeled, pitted & sliced
- 1 small/medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, (1/2 of a small bunch)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, combine: sliced cucumber, sliced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, drained tuna, and 1/4 cup cilantro
- Drizzle salad ingredients with 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper (or season to taste). Toss to combine and serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
It really is as good as it looks. Avocado and tuna are a winning combination.
So much juiciness and flavour!!! Make this for your next party and your guests will rave about your avocado tuna salad. I hope you love this so much that it becomes a new favorite for you.
Q: What are YOUR favorite tuna recipes?
This salad is gorgeous!!
Thank you Brittany! It tastes even better!
Wonderful, thank you!
You’re welcome Rhonda! I’m so glad you like it!
Sounds awesome. I don’t eat cilantro or cakes. Any suggestions.
I’m not sure what you mean by cakes, but you might try dill instead of cilantro. 🙂
Probably she meant cukes for cucumbers.
It would be so helpful if the nutritional information was available with the recipe.
Due to time constraints, I don’t typically include nutritional info, but check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you!
Delicious healthy and flavorful! I added 1 tsp of Webers Roasted Garlic and pepper . Doubled the cilantro and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Used two cans of chunk tuna packed in oil…and one can of solid packed albacore packed in water. Wonderful! So happy with the result we we thinking could be great on a panini with a slice of smoked Gouda. Healthy version of a Tuna Melt. Enjoy!
Oh my goodness, what a great suggestion! I’m actually going to try that! I’m happy you love the recipe! Thanks for sharing Melissa 🙂
I’m a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and a GAPS Practitioner. Just posted this recipe to my Facebook page. This is a great and super healthy recipe that my family loves!! I love many of your recipes btw 😊😊.
I’m glad to hear your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine does! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review 😀
Love Love Love it !!! Fantastic .. I half the recipe because I wanted to sample it first , just me and by BOO !! So thirds cans is a lot .. But the next potluck or event !!! Great options and for sure a nice light dinner option especially after a workout
That’s great to hear Teffaney! I’m glad you both enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review 😀
Love your recipes. Thank you
Thank you for the compliment Roxanne and you are very welcome 😬.
My husband doesnt eat onions or tuna and it was good even without those two ingredients. I am thinking feta cheese might be a good substitute.
You might try one of my other avocado salads. I think it would still work without those two ingredients, but the tuna is a main ingredient in this one, so you might appreciate one of my other avocado salads more. If your husband likes shrimp, you should try the shrimp avocado salad. So good!
Made this today and loved it! Nothing like guiltless eating!
Yes, I love that! No guilt and all the pleasure! Thanks for sharing Jolonda 🙂
So good I didn’t have a chance to take a picture. Delicious
LOL, I’m glad you love it Renee! 😀
We LOVED this salad. We added red leaf lettuce to make it more like a summer salad. My husband commented several times how much he liked it during the meal.
I’m so happy to hear you both love the recipe Terrie! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review! 😀
hi Natasha, I saw this on Facebook a while ago and finally decided to try it. It was absolutely amazing. This is one of my favorite and so easy to make! I am trying one of you other recipes tomorrow for dinner! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome Carlene! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review! 😀
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
What would you suggest a substitute for cucumber..Cucumber gives severe heartburn. Thank you. It looks delicious 😋….
Hi Susan, Oh I’m sorry to hear that!! I think you could add a little celery if you enjoy celery or some freshly cooked corn, cut off the cob would be nice. You might even just omit them and leave everything else the same or add some halved cherry tomatoes.
i did it with celery.. so good!
Yum! I love the crunchy texture!
I tried the recipe today for the first time. I had some shrimp on hand at the time which was added. Yum. Love the recipe.
YUM! That does sound like a great addition Ron! Thanks for sharing your great review! 🙂
I randomly came across your recipe while trying to find a good tuna salad recipe and wow, this was fantastic! So simple to make, ingredients I typically have on hand, and so so tasty! I will definitely be making this more often for lunch. Thanks!
You’re welcome Robyn! I’m glad you love the recipe! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review! 😀
Is there any particular reason to use tuna in oil vs. water? Thank you!
Hi Tina, it is more flavorful with tuna in oil and doesn’t seem as wet, but if that is all you have, feel free to use it well drained and it will still taste great 🙂
Thank you! I have made this several times now and I love it 🙂
You’re welcome Tina! I’m happy to hear that!
I used the tuna with water and the turn had a dry taste even though I added olive oil. Next time I’ll use the tuna with oil.
Thank you for sharing your feedback! 🙂
Love this recipe Natasha! Made this for the second time the other day, this time subbing the olive oil for avocado oil, & the cilantro & red onion with fresh curly leaf parsley and sweet onion, adding fresh chives, both lemon & lime juice, and about 1 T. of giardiniera to spice things up a bit. Served on a party platter with half wrapped in romaine lettuce, and half in avocado wraps with a spicy ranch dipping sauce; EVERYONE LOVED THEM!! They raved about it & wanted to know where I purchased it! I referred them to your site, and had to go to the kitchen to make more!!! Next time, i’ll triple the recipe!! AWESOME RECIPE Natasha!
You’re welcome Linda! I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoys the recipe! Thanks for following and referring my site! 😀
What other substitutions can you recommend for onion & cilantro that will still compliment the flavor pallet?
Hi Shelby, that’s a tough question because I think they both compliment this salad really well but you could try dill and chives or omit the onion all-together.
Do you happen to know nutritional value of this recipe? Thank you!
Due to time constraints, I don’t typically include nutritional info, but check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you Beth!