Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2024)

This no mayo avocado tuna saladrecipe is an easy healthy lunch or snack that's ready in 5 minutes with just 4 ingredients. And it's a gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, Whole30, and keto tuna salad recipe.This quick meal is packed with protein and so delicious!

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (1)

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I love this avocado tuna salad. It makes a great quick and easy healthysnack or a perfect lunch. And it's another great way to eat one of my favorite foods—avocados.

This recipe uses just four essential ingredients, but it reminds me of the old school classic tuna salad I used to eat as a kid. For me, it's true comfort food.

And it's really simple to put together. Best of all, it requires NO cooking, so it’s perfect if you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like heating up the stove.

Unlike traditional tuna salad, it requires no mayo! This healthy tuna salad recipe without mayonnaise gets its creaminess from the avocado instead.

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Ingredients for no mayo tuna salad

Avocados are in season throughout most of the year. Choose a ripe avocado that’s firm but with a little “give.”

You can check for ripeness by pulling the small piece of stem. If the stem comes off easily, the avocado is ripe. If it holds firm, then it’s not ready quite yet.

The spot where the stem meets the avocado should appear green underneath. If the stem falls off easily and the spot underneath is brown, the avocado is overripe and may be brown inside.

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2)

When it comes to selecting the fish, you can use whatever tuna you have—leftover tuna from last night's dinner works great in this recipe. In fact, home-cooked tuna may be even better than canned!

Of course, most of us opt for cans of tuna out of convenience. Be sure to select a good quality canned tuna.

White albacore tuna has a firm, meaty texture, light white color and mild flavor. Chunk light tuna is made from smaller varieties of tuna fish and has smaller flakes and a stronger flavor.

With a recipe this simple, choosing the best tuna and avocado will make a huge difference. When there are only four components to a dish, you want to choose the best items you can find—this means perfectly ripe avocados and high-quality tuna. You won't even miss the mayo!

How to Make a Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

Cut the avocado in half,remove the pit (carefully) and scoop out the middle of both halves leaving a shell of avocado flesh. You want to have about half of the avocado in the mixing bowl to use for the salad.

Add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice, stir in a bit of finely chopped onion to taste, and mash all the ingredients together. Once the other ingredients are combined, gently mix in the tuna to finish this easy tuna salad.

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (3)

The key to making this recipe truly great is tasting it as you make it. Because avocados and lemons vary in size, it's important to taste as you go along to make sure you have the right balance of creaminess and acidity in the tuna salad. Add a little more avocado or lemon juice if needed to strike the right balance.

I love how perfectly simple this recipe is—yet you can easily customize it to suit your taste by adding dill pickles, red onion, dijon mustard, fresh herbs, bell pepper or even hot peppers for a little kick. You could even use lime juice instead of lemon. Just add whatever else you like in your tuna salad.

When you’ve got your perfect tuna salad blend, you simply scoop into the avocado cups and enjoy.You get a few bonus bites of avocado left in the shell (who can complain about more avocado?!).

This stuffed avocado boat is a simple, healthy meal. It’s low carb, high in protein and full of healthy fats, so it will keep everyone full and satisfied for hours. It’s an easy lunch with simple ingredients and a great quick meal or snack to make any time.

To round this main dish out, you could pair it with a delicious soup. Avocado stuffed with tuna salad along with a quick tomato souporbroccoli soup makes a perfect fast meal.

More Easy Healthy Salad Recipes

Try these healthy recipes for a light lunch, snack or side dish for something a little different.

  • Antipasto Salad
  • Broccoli Salad with Bacon
  • Avocado Caprese Salad
  • Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
  • Shrimp and Arugula Salad

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (4)

Avocado Tuna Salad (Paleo, Keto, Whole30)

An easy no-mayo quick and easy healthy snack or lunch.

4.58 from 19 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 2 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: AIP, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo, Whole30

Author: Lisa Wells

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut the avocado in half and scoop the middle of both avocado halves into a bowl, leaving a shell of avocado flesh about ¼-inch thick on each half.

  • Add lemon juice and onion to the avocado in the bowl and mash together. Add tuna, salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust if needed.

  • Fill avocado shells with tuna salad and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal Carbohydrates: 14g Protein: 16g Fat: 15g Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 25mg Sodium: 183mg Potassium: 688mg Fiber: 8g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 185IU Vitamin C: 38.7mg Calcium: 38mg Iron: 2mg

Keyword: avocado tuna salad, tuna salad without mayo

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Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30) (2024)

FAQs

Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe (Paleo, Keto, Whole30)? ›

That's why Safe Catch tuna is the very first Whole30 Approved canned tuna. Keep a stash of Safe Catch in your Whole30 pantry for a convenient on-the-go protein; quick, nourishing lunches; and creating delicious dinners. (Scroll to the end of this post to see exclusive Whole30 recipes using Safe Catch tuna.)

Can I eat canned tuna on Whole30? ›

That's why Safe Catch tuna is the very first Whole30 Approved canned tuna. Keep a stash of Safe Catch in your Whole30 pantry for a convenient on-the-go protein; quick, nourishing lunches; and creating delicious dinners. (Scroll to the end of this post to see exclusive Whole30 recipes using Safe Catch tuna.)

Why should avocado not be added to a salad until immediately before serving? ›

Avocados can brown when exposed to the air, so let them be the last ingredient you add before serving to help keep them green for your presentation.

What are the benefits of eating tuna and avocado? ›

Canned Tuna: Canned tuna is a rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids. Avocados: Loaded with heart-healthy fats and antioxidants.

Is canned tuna paleo? ›

Can you eat tuna on a paleo or keto diet? Yes, tuna is both paleo- and keto-friendly. Because it contains essentially zero carbohydrates, it fits easily into any high-protein diet. However, if you're on a keto diet, you may want to choose oil-packed tuna because it's higher in fat.

Why can't you have mayo on Whole30? ›

Okay, in case we do, there are several ingredients in a lot of store-bought mayos that will rule it out for the Whole30—usually soybean oil and some form of sugar. Don't be fooled by “healthy” labeling, either… even some “olive oil” mayos contain far more vegetable oil than olive oil.

Is StarKist tuna Whole30 approved? ›

The no-drain Flavor Fresh Pouch® makes it easy to add lean protein to any of your favorite meals – just tear, eat and go! It also works well with Keto, Paleo, Whole30, Mediterranean and Weight Watchers diet plans.

What not to mix with avocado? ›

The combination you want to stay away from is eating avocados (a fat) with nuts (a protein). The raw fat properties of the avocado have an inhibiting effect of the digestion of the protein in nuts.

What happens when you eat avocado first thing in the morning? ›

According to one study , people who ate a whole avocado with their breakfast felt more satisfied and less hungry than those who ate a similar breakfast but with less fat and fiber. Therefore, avocadoes may help with appetite regulation and weight loss.

Why shouldn't you eat avocado and toast in the morning? ›

They're not a complete breakfast.

Being that they're a fruit, avocados are very low in protein. Protein is super important in the morning — it gives you a boost of energy and keeps you full longer. Avocado toast is essentially carb + fat.

What happens to your gut if you eat avocado everyday? ›

Your digestion may improve

“Eating [an] avocado every day can benefit our gut health thanks to its dietary fiber content,” Wells says. She explains that a fiber-rich diet can increase the diversity of beneficial bacteria in our gut.

Do avocados fight belly fat? ›

Studies show that women who regularly consume avocados typically have reduced abdominal (belly) fat. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Illinois, women who ingested avocados daily lost deep visceral abdominal fat.

What if I ate an avocado every day? ›

Is it OK to eat an avocado every day? A daily dose of avocado is good for your heart. Research has shown that people who eat avocados every day have higher levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Avocados also may be good for your gut biome.

Are bananas OK on paleo diet? ›

Many paleo followers wonder if bananas are paleo because of their higher sugar content. They are considered paleo. One medium banana has 113 calories, 2 grams of fiber and 26 grams of carbohydrates. Bananas are an unprocessed, whole food with a good source of potassium.

What fruit can you eat on paleo? ›

Of course, any and all fruits are welcome on the paleo diet including apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and more. And don't forget tubers such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, yams, and so on.

When should you not eat canned tuna? ›

If you are pregnant, avoid canned tuna altogether.

You can get omega-3 fatty acids from other seafood that are low in mercury, such as oysters, salmon, and sardines.

Is canned tuna edible out the can? ›

If you're a fan of canned tuna, you'll be happy to know it's safe and ready to eat straight out of the can since it is pre-cooked for your convenience. Canned tuna is a wonderful seafood option, considering not everyone has access to fresh fish, not to mention it's super affordable.

Is canned tuna considered a whole food? ›

Make these real, whole foods the basis of your diet. Processed foods: When ingredients such as oil, sugar or salt are added to foods and they are packaged, the result is processed foods. Examples are simple bread, cheese, tofu, and canned tuna or beans.

What is the safest canned tuna to eat? ›

The FDA recommends consuming fish lower in mercury. For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury.

Can you have Hellmans Mayo on Whole30? ›

No, Hellman's mayo is NOT Whole30 compliant! It contains soybean oil and sugars. Be sure to read your labels! Many mayo's that are advertised as being made with olive oil STILL contain soybean or canola oil!

References

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