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    Home » Meal » Salad

    Published: Jan 22, 2024 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Healthy Tuna Salad Without Mayo

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    Tuna salad without mayo.
    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.
    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.
    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.
    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.
    Tuna salad without mayo on a plate with a fork.
    Tuna salad without mayo.

    This flavorful, healthy tuna salad without mayo uses celery, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, fresh herbs, and extra virgin olive oil to create a super flavorful dish. You can make this tuna salad creamy with Greek yogurt, or keep it dairy-free!

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    Tuna salad without mayo on a plate with a fork.

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    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This No Mayo Tuna Salad Recipe
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Make Tuna Salad Without Mayonnaise
    • Recommended Equipment
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • FAQ
    • How to Serve Tuna Salad
    • Expert Tips
    • More Salad Recipes You'll Love
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This No Mayo Tuna Salad Recipe

    You won't miss the mayo! Whether you love it or hate it, the mayonnaise won't be missed here. This light and refreshing healthy tuna salad recipe is full of flavor, with rich olive oil, bright lemon juice, and fresh herbs. If you haven't tried lemon tuna salad before, I think you're going to like it!

    You have the option to make it creamy with a bit of Greek yogurt instead of using mayo.

    It's adaptable. You can use this tuna salad as the base of different flavor profiles. Make a Mediterranean tuna salad recipe by adding olives or artichoke hearts, Moroccan by adding a little harissa paste, or Italian with a bit of torn basil.

    It's versatile. Serve it in your favorite sandwich, over a bed of lettuce, on crackers, in lettuce wraps, or have a small bowl as a snack.

    It's great to add to a bowl of grains with some dressed greens or cucumbers. I like to have a scoop of tuna salad with some crudités: sliced celery, green and red bell pepper, carrots, radishes. It's a great recipe for a light, healthy lunch!

    It's quick and super easy to make. Ready in less than 10 minutes, this no-mayo tuna salad made with pantry staples will help you have a delicious, healthy meal with a good source of protein on the table quickly. 

    The best part, for me, is it's perfect for meal prep. Try making it into a tuna pasta salad, add it to a pita pocket, 

    I truly believe this is the best tuna salad out there and I hope you love it as much as I do!

    The labeled ingredients for a healthy tuna salad without mayo are shown on a white marble counter.

    What You'll Need

    Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

    • Canned Tuna Oil-packed or water-packed tuna is fine here. A good quality tuna will shine, but anything you have on hand will be great. I personally like the solid white albacore tuna packed in oil. There are some wonderful Italian brands, like Tonnino.
    • Olive Oil I love to use good-quality extra virgin olive oil. This is my favorite brand. 
    • Lemon Juice If you can't find fresh lemons, this bottled lemon juice will work just fine.
    • Celery Adding a bit of crunchy celery adds a fresh, vibrant flavor and texture to this tuna fish.
    • Red Onion A sweet onion would work well, too. If you want more onion flavor, try adding some green onions to the dish in addition to your red onion.
    • Fresh Parsley Adding fresh herbs to this recipe make it lighter and more flavorful than traditional tuna salad. I love using parsley and fresh dill, but you can also try adding fresh basil or even cilantro.
    • Fresh Dill I would not substitute with dried for either herb, but you can use just one (parsley or dill) if you'd like.
    • Kosher Salt and Pepper I love to use kosher salt in my recipes. It is less salty by volume than table salt or sea salt, making it easier to season as you go. This is my favorite brand of kosher salt.
    Labeled cornichons, capers, and dijon mustard are shown in a clear bowl.

    Optional

    • Greek Yogurt I would only use plain Greek yogurt here, not regular yogurt. They have distinctly different flavors.
    • Dijon Mustard If you aren't a mustard fan, just omit this. A whole-grain mustard would also be delicious here. 
    • Capers Capers add a briny, salty flavor to this easy tuna salad. 
    • Cornichons These are those adorable baby pickles, You could also chop some regular dill pickles if you prefer.

    How to Make Tuna Salad Without Mayonnaise

    Thinly sliced onions soak in lemon juice in a white dish.

    Step One: Thinly slice the onion. Drizzle over the lemon juice and let sit a few minutes to absorb the flavor.

    Step Two: Pick the herbs from their hard stem. Chop roughly or tear into small pieces.

    Chopped celery and a kitchen knife sit on a white cutting board.

    Step Three: Finely chop the celery.

    The ingredients for healthy tuna salad without mayo are shown in a white bowl.

    Step Four: Add the 2 cans of tuna, olive oil, celery, herbs, dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the Greek yogurt, capers, and cornichons if using.

    The ingredients for healthy tuna salad without mayo are mixed in a white bowl.

    Step Five Mix together well and taste for seasoning.

    Recommended Equipment

    Can Opener

    Cutting Board

    Kitchen Knife

    Large Mixing Bowl

    Variations

    Creamy You can have a more classic tuna salad creaminess by adding Greek yogurt. 

    Mediterranean Add some olives, kalamata olives, or artichoke hearts to your finished tuna salad.

    Spicy Add red pepper flakes, chopped hot peppers like jalapeno, or pickled peppers for a bit of zest.

    How to Store

    This tuna salad is best stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days.

    Be sure to move to the fridge within 2 hours.

    I do not recommend you freeze tuna salad.

    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.

    FAQ

    What can you use instead of mayo in tuna?

    If you're not a huge fan of mayo but you want to mimic its creaminess, I recommend using Greek yogurt. However, tuna is also delicious with just a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice for a nice change of pace.

    Is tuna salad good for weight loss?

    It can be. High in protein and low in calories and carbs, tuna is a great source of fuel for your body. Ready more about the health benefits of tuna here.

    What should I mix with canned tuna?

    Outside of the Greek yogurt and olive oil and lemon mentioned above, some of the best things to add to canned tuna are fresh herbs, bright, pickled things like cornichons, capers, or pickled peppers, lots of cracked black pepper, and a bit of dijon mustard.

    How to Serve Tuna Salad

    Try this Greek yogurt tuna salad recipe in...

    Sandwiches: Serve tuna salad on your favorite bread with cucumber slices. You can also make tuna wraps with a tortilla with fresh veggies or tuna lettuce wraps for a light lunch. Try adding cheese and toasting the sandwich for tuna melts (or my favorite, open-face tuna melts).

    Salads: Try this over a green salad with your favorite salad dressing for a perfect lunch. I like this harissa vinaigrette, this jalapeno lime vinaigrette, or this lemon herb vinaigrette. You can also add it to this delicious Greek green salad with feta cheese.

    Snack: Have a little bit of tuna with crackers or some crudités for a high protein snack.

    Grain Bowls: Use this recipe for the protein in your favorite grain bowl. It's wonderful in this Mediterranean grain bowl.

    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with lettuce and onions.

    Expert Tips

    • Find the flavor combinations that work best for you. If you want a simple tuna salad with no frills or herbs or lemon, it's your salad - enjoy it how you like it!
    • Taste as you go. No need to serve up your tuna only to find it's bland and needs more salt. Taste every step of the way and make adjustments as needed. If anything tastes out of balance, add more of the other ingredients to even out the flavor. If it's too creamy, add more acidic ingredients, like capers or dijon. If it's dry, add some olive oil.
    • It's easy to scale. If you want to make this recipe for a crowd (or meal prep for the week), you can easily double or triple this recipe. Just select the number next to "servings" in the recipe card and slide the arrow to the right until you reach your desired number of servings.

    More Salad Recipes You'll Love

    If you're in the mood for more easy lunch recipes, try these:

    • Salmon quinoa salad in a white bowl surrounded by cherry tomatoes, fresh parsley, and a cut lemon.
      Salmon Quinoa Salad
    • Closeup side view shot of Prasini salad in a white dish.
      Prasini Salad (Greek Green Salad)
    • A bowl of burrata caprese salad with olive oil being poured over it.
      The Perfect Burrata Caprese Salad
    • beet cucumber salad with feta and dill in a pink dish.
      Beet Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill

    📖 Recipe

    A bowl of tuna salad without mayo with a fork.

    Healthy Tuna Salad without Mayo

    This flavorful, healthy tuna salad without mayo uses celery, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, fresh herbs, and extra virgin olive oil to create a super flavorful dish. You can make this tuna salad creamy with Greek yogurt, or keep it dairy-free!
    5 from 112 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 158kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Knife
    • Large Bowl
    • Citrus Juicer (optional)

    Ingredients

    Tuna Salad

    • 2 cans tuna 5 ounces each, oil-packed or water-packed
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
    • ¼ cup red onion sliced thin, about ¼ of an onion
    • 4 tablespoons lemon juice or to taste
    • 2 stalks celery finely chopped
    • ¼ cup fresh dill picked from the hard stem and roughly chopped or torn into pieces
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley picked from the hard stem and roughly chopped or torn into pieces
    • kosher salt and black pepper to taste

    Optional

    • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or to taste
    • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard optional
    • 2 tablespoons capers or chopped cornichons

    Instructions

    • Add the onion to a bowl and drizzle the lemon juice over. Let sit for a few minutes to let the flavor absorb.
    • Add the tuna, celery, olive oil, herbs, dijon, salt and pepper, and Greek yogurt if using, to the bowl. Mix thoroughly and taste for seasoning.
    • If using capers or cornichons, sprinkle over the top of the finished tuna salad. Serve.

    Notes

    General
    • 1 can of tuna can be used for 1 to 2 people, depending on appetites.
    • Approximate calories are based on half of a can of tuna per person and include the option for Greek yogurt, dijon, and capers.
    Storage
    • This tuna salad is best stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days.
    • Be sure to move to the fridge within 2 hours.
    • I do not recommend you freeze tuna salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 690IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Comments

    1. Jami says

      October 22, 2024 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was healthy with a fantastic flavor profile. I liked all the choices. I used everything except for the Greek yoghurt (and used Italian parsley) and served it wrapped in lettuce leaves. Had a side of vegetarian corn chowder. Yumm.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        November 03, 2024 at 10:57 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Jami!

        Reply
    2. Nadine says

      July 31, 2024 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic recipe. I added chopped pickles and a can of peas and carrots. Left out the capers. I did add Dijon mustard and the Greek yogurt.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 05, 2024 at 9:09 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it, Nadine!

        Reply
    3. Delaney Re says

      January 23, 2024 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      I'm a tuna lover again. Why I never thought to put Greek yogurt in tuna instead of mayo never occurred to me, but I love it so much better. I also loved the addition of the dill and capers. So much good flavor!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 23, 2024 at 11:45 am

        Thanks so much Delaney! I'm so glad to hear you're loving tuna again.

        Reply
    4. Sue says

      January 25, 2023 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      I tried this with Greek yogurt and loved the taste. So delish and healthy!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 27, 2023 at 2:41 pm

        Wonderful! So happy to hear it, Sue.

        Reply
    5. Shilpa says

      January 24, 2023 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Love this tuna salad. It’s a lovely change from the regular mayo dressing the I use. Next time I’m going add some yogurt and try it.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 27, 2023 at 2:41 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Shilpa!

        Reply
    6. Jenn says

      January 24, 2023 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      I think mayo is nasty so I'm delighted to see this recipe! It was fresh and tasty and delish! I'll be making it again for sure!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:06 pm

        Haha, this is definitely for all the mayo haters! Thanks so much, Jenn!

        Reply
    7. Kris says

      January 24, 2023 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      This was so refreshing and vibrant and the flavors were just perfect! We are already making it again to have on hand throughout the week. Thank you for another wonderful recipe! 🙂

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:06 pm

        Thank you, Kris! Always happy to hear you enjoyed a recipe.

        Reply
    8. Gina says

      January 24, 2023 at 6:51 am

      5 stars
      As a non-mayo loving person, this recipe is right up my alley! All the same creaminess and flavor for a delicious lunch.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

        Thanks, Gina! Glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    9. Karen Kelly says

      January 24, 2023 at 5:41 am

      5 stars
      I made this for my husband to have on hand for lunches because he dislikes mayo and we both loved it. It's such a treat to have it ready and waiting for quick meals!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

        Fantastic! Glad it passed the husband test.

        Reply
    10. Bella B says

      January 23, 2023 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      We just LOVED this! I added in some capers like you suggested and it was perfect. We love capers lol.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:05 pm

        Big caper fan myself! So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Bella.

        Reply
    11. G. Sue says

      January 23, 2023 at 5:37 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for this simple, delicious lunch recipe. It's so easy to put together quickly in the mornings before work. And, it's such a delight to open up a lunch that is packed with flavor and good for me. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        Wonderful, thank you so much!

        Reply
    12. Glenda says

      January 23, 2023 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      This made such a light ad fresh tasting tuna salad. I used your tip and added Dijon mustard. We served it on gluten free rolls with lettuce and tomato slices. Absolutely delectable lunch! We didn't miss the mayo a bit. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        Yay! Thanks Glenda!

        Reply
    13. Molly P says

      January 23, 2023 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      So fresh and delicious! I love how healthy this recipe is, and all your options for making it a little different every time.

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        January 24, 2023 at 2:04 pm

        Thanks so much, Molly! I always make it a little different, too. 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 112 votes (99 ratings without comment)

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