Recipes & Cooking Recipes by Ingredient Fish Salmon & Tuna The Best Tuna Salad Recipes, Whether You Like Them Creamy or Filled with Veggies Would you rather dive into a nostalgic tuna melt or a thoroughly-modern kale and quinoa bowl with grilled tuna steak? We have recipes for both—and much more. By Karla Walsh Published on January 7, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Andy Lyons These tuna salad recipes range from creamy, mayo-tossed blends to seared tuna steaks atop a bacon-studded spinach. Tuck into our best tuna salad recipes to feature as part of open-face tuna melts, wrap sandwiches, grain bowls, scoopable appetizers, and beyond. 01 of 14 Chickpea Salad with Tuna Carson Downing We’ll coach you through how to transform canned food into something that looks and tastes like you’d snag it at a gourmet grocery store. A bright lemon vinaigrette, crunchy green onions, verdant fresh parsley, smoky roasted red peppers, and salty feta perk up the often-plain-tasting canned beans and tuna. Available with zero special trips required, for far less money, and after just 20 minutes of hands-on time, this refreshing tuna and chickpea recipe is “perfect,” according to one BHG fan who enjoyed a serving for lunch with pita crackers and hummus. View Recipe 02 of 14 Avocado Ranch Tuna Melts Karla Conrad This open-faced sandwich is at the center of the matrix of craveable creamy tuna salad and a nutritious, well-balanced lunch. Instead of mounds of mayo, the tuna salad recipe is accented by smashed avocado, a splash of light ranch dressing, Dijon-style mustard, and just enough light mayo. Surrounding that hearty protein-packed salad: a nutty slice of whole wheat bread, crunchy broccoli slaw, and a crown of melted cheddar cheese. View Recipe 03 of 14 White Bean Tuna Salad Andy Lyons “Healthy and light, but with lots of flavor” plus “easy to prepare,” BHG home cooks confirm that this is one of the best adult lunch ideas in our archives. Canned tuna and cannellini beans join forces for a seriously satisfying and high-protein main, that’s ideal to enjoy over a bed of greens or a slice of crusty toasted bread. The supporting cast is certainly worth mentioning too. According to one five-star reviewer, “fresh parsley and lemon juice absolutely make this dish.” View Recipe 04 of 14 Tuscan Tuna Salad Andy Lyons This easy 10-minute recipe takes that last white bean tuna salad recipe and leans into the leaves. Tuna, white beans, lemon, and red onion are still on the menu. But rather than letting the cannellinis take the lead, we aimed for similar-sized roles for the beans, greens, and tuna—then add a couple handfuls of juicy tomatoes for a burst of acidity and enticing color. View Recipe 05 of 14 Lemony Tuna Salad Blaine Moats We turn to this light and colorful tuna salad recipe as an appetizer or as a starting point for a healthy lunch. It’s short on ingredients (just six) but not on flavor. After combining the greens, fennel, tomatoes, onion, flake tuna, and a squeeze of lemon, the stage is set to stuff this inside a pita, pair it with a side of pasta, or enjoy alongside a sandwich. View Recipe 06 of 14 Kale-Quinoa Bowls with Miso Dressing and Tuna Carson Downing Creators of those ho-hum, skimpy bowl recipes and menu items, take notes. This is how you build a bowl that’s actually a meal! Atop a base of quinoa and edamame, we showcase miso-massaged kale, slices of seared tuna steak, orange and cucumber slices, and a shower of sesame seeds. View Recipe 07 of 14 Tuna and Hummus Wraps Mayo shouldn't get all the glory in tuna salad recipes. Two tablespoons of olive oil are all you need to bring flaky tuna, chopped tomato, chopped cucumber, and fresh dill together into one fantastic sandwich filling. Enjoy that, plus a handful of lettuce, tucked inside a tortilla or a couple slices of bread slathered with hummus, and you’re seconds from tasting why this 20-minute masterpiece is a BHG editor favorite. View Recipe 08 of 14 Tuna-Ramen Salad Andy Lyons Chances are high that you’ll never think of two of the most affordable pantry staples in the same way after digging into this Asian-inspired tuna and ramen noodle recipe. Blanched snap peas and carrots get the flavor party started. Crushed ramen noodles (no need to cook!) act as pleasantly-crunchy “croutons,” which are ideal to accent the napa cabbage, Thai basil, and green onions that round things out. Finish with our signature ingredient, tuna, and a generous drizzle of sesame-miso vinaigrette. View Recipe 09 of 14 Bacon, Egg, Spinach and Tuna Salad Andy Lyons We’re suckers for a thoughtfully-constructed BLD. By that, we mean a recipe that works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; this tuna salad recipe certainly does! Jammy eggs meet crispy bacon (hey, breakfast!). Mustard vinaigrette-dressed greens usher in the lunch energy, and the seared tuna steaks deliver a dose of dinner vibes. Regardless of the time of day you choose to consume it, this low-carb recipe is high in flavor. View Recipe 10 of 14 Mediterranean Tuna Salad with Olive Dressing Andy Lyons Salade niçoise, which has roots in the French city of Nice, has grown to become one of the most popular tuna salad recipes around the globe. Traditionally, this features Niçoise olives, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, potatoes, anchovies, olives, and (you guessed it!) tuna. We like to think of this Mediterranean tuna toss as a remix of that concept. Skip the tomatoes, eggs, and anchovies, and add a beautifully-briny dressing made with pimiento-stuffed green olives instead. View Recipe 11 of 14 Niçoise Salad Sandwich Scott Little For another fan-favorite riff on that timeless French salad, try this no-cook lunch idea. Between two pieces of bread (or inside a pita or wrap), invite the starring cast members: lettuce, thin green beans, sliced tomato and red onion, olives, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and lemon-pepper marinated tuna. The hits just keep on coming—this sandwich-style tuna salad recipe jumps from awesome to irresistible status once it’s garnished with a spoonful of zippy fresh parsley gremolata. View Recipe 12 of 14 Sicilian Potato and Green Bean Salad Andy Lyons This tuna salad recipe is what we imagine might happen if we invited that niçoise salad on vacation to Southern Italy. One small addition, fresh basil, makes a world of difference to transform this tuna salad recipe into something new. Since it’s too good not to share, we also adjusted the line-up to omit the lettuce and add even more of one potluck-perfect ingredient: potatoes. View Recipe 13 of 14 Tuna or Salmon Salad Listen up, pickle lovers. This tuna salad recipe might look like a fairly standard creamy tuna salad. Don’t be fooled, though. Hiding behind the chopped celery and sliced green onions, you’ll find both fresh dill and chopped sweet pickles. We suggest serving it over greens, and pairing this protein-rich dish with crostinis or crackers—and an extra side of pickles. (“Too many pickles” is a concept we’ve yet to experience.) View Recipe 14 of 14 Rosemary Garlic Flatbread with Spicy Tuna Salad Pretend like you’re at a trendy Asian fusion or sushi restaurant with this vibrant raw tuna salad recipe. As the semi-homemade flatbread bakes until golden and bubbly (psst…you can, and should, take a shortcut by snagging pizza dough at the supermarket or a local pizza parlor), toss together the almost-instant tuna mixture. This is one simple yet impactful party snack, so the high-quality tuna can really shine. Lemon juice perks things up, while sriracha brings the heat. The results are worthy of a very large tip, if you ask us! View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit