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?
I made it tonight for dinner and my husband was very happy.
Your recipes are great! Greetings from Perú
Hello Diana! I’m happy to hear how much you’re enjoying the recipes. Thanks for following and sharing your great review!
How many carbs?
We are working on adding nutrition labels and metric measurements on all of our recipes. It’s a slow process since it is one recipe at a time. Until all of the recipes are updated, 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!
Would this be a low carb salad?
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 Terri!
How far in advance can you prepare without avocado turning dark?
Hi Cindy, after adding salt, you should enjoy it within 3 hours as salt will soften cucumbers. If you want to make it a day ahead, I would add everything except the salt, cover and refrigerate, then toss with salt just before serving.
Best salad my husband and I ever tasted. Very delicious!!!
I’m glad to hear you both love the recipe! Thanks for sharing your excellent review Tammi!
agreed omg its so yummy
Just made this tonight…. can I just say umm umm delicious. Can’t wait to share with my co-workers!!!
I’m glad you love it Ann! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Oh yummy I just stumbled upon this. I think I’ll try it today. That’s a very colorful blend of ingredients, fresh, light and nutritious. Thanks!
You’re welcome Jocelyn! I hope you love it, please let me know what you think of the recipe!
Hi. My family and I wish to thank you. We enjoyed this w/Mango green tea from scratch! Little do they know I recorded them grunting like Neanderthals😂Very simple recipe yet you get an explosion of flavor. At least once TRY “Wild Planet Albacore Tuna in EVOO. I get from Whole Foods. Wow!
Hello Jocelyn! I’m happy to hear how much your family enjoys the recipe, lol! Thanks for sharing your suggestion and great review!
Yes, and that is what I do when making anything with tuna.
How long does this stay for?
Hi Jordan, because the avocado will slowly start to brown, I would say not more than 2 days. The lemon juice will preserve the avocados and keep them looking fresh overnight but probably not much beyond that.
I’m not a fan of cilantro, is there something else i could substitute? Thanks!
Hi Ellen, you could substitute with chopped fresh dill or even some finely chopped fresh parsley, adding either one to taste.
Looks really good. I would point out one thing — mayo has no carbs!!!! It’s not the big bad dressing it’s made out to be.
It’s a super popular recipe for good reason! Thanks for sharing Jayne!
So tempting and mouth-watering Nath…..really would love to try it but can i replace cilantro with parsley please? Not sure i can get cilantro here in Nigeria?
Hi 🙂 you could substitute with chopped fresh dill or even some finely chopped fresh parsley, adding either one to taste.
This has been my lunch for the last three days! Soooooo fresh and delicious!! Thank you for the recipe!
You’re welcome Glenda! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe. Thanks for sharing your great review!
Hi nathasha,
What about mix with some mayonaise
Hi Maja, you could if you wanted to but the avocado provides just enough creaminess where it is not necessary to add the mayo.
Why tuna packed in oil instead of water?
Hi Colleen, tuna in oil is more flavorful but tuna in water will work fine here as well 😀
Thank you! Looks delicious!
You’re welcome Colleen! 🙂
What is the calorie and nutritional content?
Hi Carol, I don’t typically include calorie counts because of the time constraint that I have. I really need to hire some help to do that for me! When I need a quick answer though; I have used Caloriecount.com (their recipe analyzer is free).
I put it in myfitnesspal and if you split the recipe into 4 servings, it is only 363 cals per serving.
Wow…just tried it this morning, though I added little lettuce to it. It taste great and very delicious and my husband really enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks a lot Natasha for sharing!
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear you both enjoy the recipe. Thanks for sharing your great review!
Hi, I’m wondering how long this keeps. I would love to make it for meal preps for lunch but I’m worried about the avocado oxidizing.
Any suggestions?
Hi Heath, the lemon will help to keep it from browning, but if you are looking to make-it the night before, assemble the full salad, cover with plastic wrap directly over the salad (the less air the better) and refrigerate but add the salt just before serving. If you add it early, the cucumbers will soften. Enjoy!!
This was absolutely DELICIOUS and so full of flavours! Thank you Natasha!! 😀
My pleasure Bianca! I’m glad you love it! 🙂
It would be really great if you could post nutritional information with your recipes! Looks delicious
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 Mattie!
Another hit! I put this tuna salad on a bed of mixed greens & pea shoots. I also used a quarter of a sweet white onion, instead of the red onion. This recipe was simple, quick & easy. Loved the fresh lemon with the cucumbers. Thanks Natasha
I’m happy to hear how much you enjoy the recipe Pam! Thanks for sharing your great review!