This Avocado Tuna Salad Recipe is an easy keto recipe that makes a perfect healthy lunch or low carb meal in less than 10 minutes!

black fork going into Avocado Tuna Salad

Avocado and tuna salad is great keto option to keep in the refrigerator for those days when you need a quick and easy meal or side dish.

One of my favorite avocado recipes with creamy tuna and cilantro, homemade pico de gallo, and fresh avocados, each layer is stacked on the other so that you get a little of each in every bite.

There are lots of different modifications you can make to tuna avocado salad. You can add a drizzle of olive oil to give it a more creamy texture, or add veggies like cucumbers, celery, or garbanzo beans. You can also add it to a leaf of romaine and have it as a lettuce wrap.

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Table of contents

layered Avocado Tuna Salad on a black plate

What is in Avocado Tuna Salad?

  • Tuna – I prefer white albacore tuna in water, but feel free to use your favorite type and brand. Just make sure you drain it before adding to the other ingredients.
  • Avocado – A perfectly ripe avocado is soft and buttery.
  • Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise adds a little extra fat and a great creaminess to the tuna.
  • Cilantro – Cilantro is used in the Pico de Gallo also and it adds a little extra burst of bright flavor. If you aren’t a fan of it, feel free to skip it and just dice up some tomato and red onion instead.
  • Pico de Gallo – I use my homemade Pico de Gallo salsa but you can buy fresh salsa at the grocery store or just dice up tomato if you want to skip the onions and cilantro.
  • Lime – Lime juice is used throughout this recipe and that pop of bright, citrus flavor brings it all together. You can sub with lemon juice if you like.

Avocados are a keto super food. They are full of fiber and healthy fats and they can be used so many different ways. You can use them in avocado hummus, keto avocado coleslaw, avocado chicken salad, or even just slice them up with a little salt and pepper.

Keto salads are always a great option, even if you aren’t following a keto diet. For more keto lunch ideas try our buffalo chicken salad, keto dill pickle salad, curry chicken salad, ham salad or shrimp salad.

How to Make Avocado Tuna Salad

Step 1 – Prepare the tuna- Drain the tuna and place it in a bowl. Mix the tuna, mayonnaise, cilantro and juice from half a lime. Add salt to taste and stir it all together

Avocado Tuna Salad ingredients

Step 2 – Prepare the avocado – Peel and chop the avocado before placing it in a bowl. Squeeze the remaining half of a lime over it and lightly mash the avocado leaving some chunks. Salt to taste.

salting the avocado in Avocado Tuna Salad

Step 3 – Layer – On a plate, make a layer of avocado, then a layer the tuna on top, then finish it with a layer of fresh pico de gallo salsa.

tuna layer of Avocado Tuna Salad

How Do You Dress Up Canned Tuna?

If you are making this dish to impress, or just want to feel a little fancy at lunch, you can use metal food rings to shape the tuna salad. You can go with the classic circle or try different, fun shapes to match the occasion.

When I packed my lunch to take to work, I just layered everything in my food storage container and packed it in my lunch bag. It tastes just as good either way!

A Few Tips

  • This is a really healthy meal that is packed full of flavor, so don’t sweat the details. Don’t let the fancy look stop you from giving it a try. You can simply layer all of the ingredients in a bowl and everything will be just as delicious!
  • Don’t have pico de gallo? No problem! You can use finely diced tomatoes with just a pinch of salt, or buy some premade pico de gallo at the grocery store.
  • This is a great dish for meal prep! Make a big batch of the tuna and keep it in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week in a tightly sealed container. Then whenever you are craving this salad, you can whip it up in just a few minutes.
Avocado Tuna Salad on a black plate with avocado in background

Health Benefits of Avocado Tuna Salad

Avocado tuna salad tantalizes your taste buds and offers numerous health benefits. Let’s explore the nutritional advantages of this delightful salad:

  1. Heart-Healthy Fats: Avocado is rich in monounsaturated fats, which can help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. These healthy fats also promote satiety, helping you feel fuller for longer.
  2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Tuna is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain health and can help reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3s also support heart health by reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
  3. Vitamins and Minerals: Avocado is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamin K, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, while vitamin K supports bone health. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage, and vitamin C boosts immune function.
  4. Protein Power: Tuna is a protein powerhouse, providing all the essential amino acids needed for muscle growth and repair. Protein is also important for maintaining a healthy metabolism and supporting overall body function.
  5. Fiber-Rich: Both avocados and tuna salad contain dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes a feeling of fullness. Fiber also helps regulate blood sugar levels and can contribute to weight management.
  6. Nutrient Absorption: The combination of healthy fats from avocados and protein from tuna enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. This means that the nutrients in other foods you consume alongside avocado tuna salad can be better utilized by your body.
  7. Antioxidant Boost: Avocado contains antioxidants, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye health and protect against age-related macular degeneration. These antioxidants also help fight free radicals, which can cause cellular damage.
fork in Avocado Tuna Salad

How to Store It

Storing avocado tuna salad properly is essential to maintain its freshness and prevent it from spoiling. Here’s a guide on how to store your avocado tuna salad:

  1. Refrigerate promptly: After preparing or serving the avocado tuna salad, place any leftovers in an airtight container. Ensure that the container has a tight-fitting lid to prevent air exposure.
  2. Cover and seal: Before sealing the container, cover the salad with plastic wrap, pressing it gently onto the surface of the salad. This helps create a barrier that minimizes contact with air, which can cause the avocado to brown.
  3. Store in the refrigerator: Once properly covered and sealed, place the container in the refrigerator. The cold temperature slows down the oxidation process and helps maintain the salad’s freshness.
  4. Consume within 2 days: Avocado tuna salad is best enjoyed when fresh. Consume any refrigerated leftovers within 2 days to ensure optimal taste and quality. After this time, the salad may become less flavorful and the texture may change.

By following these storage guidelines, you can enjoy your avocado tuna salad for up to 2 days while maintaining its taste and quality. Note: Avocado will begin to darken once it is exposed to air. It is still ok to eat in that 2 day window!

Remember, avocado tuna salad is at its best when freshly made. If you’re planning to enjoy it as leftovers, consider storing the avocado and tuna mixture separately and combining them just before serving. This helps prevent the avocado from browning and maintains the desired texture of the salad.

eaten Avocado Tuna Salad

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Put in My Tuna Instead of Mayonnaise?

Not a fan of Mayo? No problem! You can use a high quality plain Greek yogurt, but if you are following a low carb or keto diet you need to be conscious of the amount of carbs in yogurt. The same goes if you wish to sub with Miracle Whip.

You can also substitute with sour cream. Again, if you are following a keto diet sour cream will not have as much fat in it as mayonnaise so you’ll need to account for that in your macros.

Is Tuna and Avocado Good for Weight Loss?

Both are great for any diet whether it’s low carb, keto, low calorie, or whatever your regimen.  For a keto diet, this is a great mix of healthy fats and protein that will keep you feeling full for hours.

Avocados are full of omega-3, vitamin C and B6, as well as tons of other vitamins and nutrients. Tuna is also chock full of vitamins as well as helping to lower cholesterol. This makes both of these foods an excellent choice, no matter what diet you are following.

How Many Calories in Avocado Tuna Salad?

There are approximately 316 calories in a serving of avocado tuna salad. Keep in mind that this number may change depending on what substitutions you use.

How Many Carbs in Avocado Tuna Salad?

There are approximately 13 g carbs 8 g fiber for a total of 5g net carbs per serving. Keep in mind that this number may change depending on what substitutions you use.

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Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Avocado Tuna Salad

Tuna layered with avocado and fresh salsa. This avocado tuna salad recipe is a healthy low carb lunch recipe you’re going to love!
black fork going into Avocado Tuna Salad
Print Recipe
4.93 from 26 votes

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces Albacore Tuna, drained
  • 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Cilantro, fresh
  • 2 tablespoon Lime, juiced
  • 1 Avocado
  • 1/2 cup Pico de Gallo
  • 1/8 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

  • Drain the tuna in the can.
  • In a bowl mix tuna, mayonnaise, cilantro and juice from half a lime. Add salt to taste and stir it all together
  • Peel and chop the avocado before placing it in a bowl. Squeeze the remaining half of a lime over it and lightly mash the avocado leaving some chunks. Salt to taste.
  • On a plate make a layer with half of the avocado. Then layer half of the tuna on top of that. Finish it with a layer of fresh pico de gallo salsa. Repeat for a second serving.

Notes

Total of 5 Net Carbs per serving. 

Nutrition

Serving: 3oz, Calories: 316kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 540mg, Potassium: 793mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 156IU, Vitamin C: 25mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. Results may vary.
Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: avocado recipes, keto avocado recipe, keto tuna salad, tuna salad recipe