Healthy Tuna Salad

Name: Healthy Tuna Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ⅓ cup plain whole milk yogurt; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon dill or parsley (chopped ); 2 5-ounce white albacore tuna in water (drained); 2 celery stalks (minced); 2 tablespoons red onion (minced )

Yumna Jawad
July 16, 2020 Updated January 12, 2022

5 from 3331 votes

This recipe for Healthy Tuna Salad is lightened up by using greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise; it has less calories and less fat, but is still so flavorful

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This healthy tuna salad is one of my favorite lunchtime meals that makes me full and satiated. I make it healthier by swapping the mayonnaise for greek yogurt, loading it up with crunching celery. You can serve it on its own, on top of greens or in a sandwich. It’s a delicious lightened up tuna salad.

Tuna salad on a slice of bread with lettuce

A healthier tuna salad

A lot people who are on a weight loss diet will turn to tuna because of its high level of protein – 3 oz of albacore tuna has 20g of protein but only about 100 calories. However, if you’re eating tuna as a traditional tuna salad with mayonnaise, you may be consuming unnecessary calories and fat. 1 cup of mayo has more than 1400 calories and 24g of fat.

This healthy tuna salad is full of flavor, light on calories and super easy to whip for lunch any day of the week! Swap the mayo for greek yogurt and dijon mustard and save those calories for a treat later.

Ingredients to make tuna salad

Tuna: I like to use white albacore as it has a great chunky and firm texture that doesn’t disappear when you mix it with the other ingredients
Celery: Celery adds a wonderful crunchy texture as well as a hit of freshness.
Red onions: I prefer to use red onion in salads as it is much milder than white. Mince it finely so that it’s not overpowering.
Greek yogurt: I use Greek yogurt rather than mayonnaise, to make this wonderfully creamy. Greek yogurt is also a great source of protein and probiotics.
Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for a wonderful zingy taste that cuts through the yogurt.
Dijon mustard: Mustard adds some tang and spice and works so well with the other ingredients.
Salt and pepper: To help bring out all of the other flavors.
Parsley: Fresh parsley really lifts this dish and makes it light and fresh tasting. You can use other fresh herbs like cilantro or dill.

Ingredients to make the recipe gathered in bowls

RECIPE VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to make healthy tuna salad

In a mixing bowl, stir together the ingredients for the dressing: Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and parsley until well combined.
Add the drained tuna on top, along with the celery and red onions and gently mix
You can serve it immediately or let it cool in the fridge for half hour.

Step by step photos for how to mix the tuna salad

Tips To Make Tuna Salad

Dice all of the ingredients very finely. This will make everything easier to combine and eat.
Use tuna in water not oil. Oil packed tuna has more fat, but water packed tuna is more solid, making it perfect for this salad.
Customize this healthy tuna salad with add-ons. You can add in additional ingredients like capers, pickles, cucumbers, tomatoes or boiled eggs.

Frequently asked questions

How long does tuna salad keep?

Once you have made the salad, place it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. It will keep well for 3 to 4 days.

How do you serve tuna salad?

This is great on its own or served on top of a simple green salad. It makes a great sandwich spread or serve in in lettuce leaves for a light low carb lunch. It’s also a great topping for baked potatoes.

Can you freeze tuna salad?

Yes, you can freeze tuna salad. However the Greek yogurt may release extra moisture, so you may find that you need to drain it after you thaw the tuna. You can liven it up with fresh celery and onions if necessary.

Final tuna salad in a large bowl with bread slices nearby

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If you make this healthy-ish feel good Healthy Tuna Salad recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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