Tuna Salad, it’s one of those classic, old-school staples of lunch. Snore.  But, HELLO Low-carb Avocado Tuna Salad for Two, this low-carb, crazy-good take on traditional tuna salad is one hundred percent “yum” and zero percent “yawn.” Plus, you have enough in the recipe to share – or have leftovers the next day!

Read on to get this easy tuna recipe that is friendly for Keto, Paleo and Whole30 diets:

Back in college days, my husband would call “tuna salad,” simply popping open a can and squeezing lemon juice on top – and eat right out of the tin, no need to dirty a dish. The matriarchs in my family had their ways too, mayo with minced onions and pickle relish were non-negotiables.  No arguing, that using a can of tuna fish is an excellent way make a high-protein, convenient, cost-effective meal. But, there were some arguments about whether I like tuna fish salad served either of these ways!

How do you make Tuna Salad with Avocado?

But, enter the avocado, the rich, creamy, better-fier of all foods, including canned tuna! Making tuna salad with avocado is super easy, you just need the right avocado – one that is not too hard, not too soft. Then, you just cut in half and dice right in the avocado peel before “popping” out the peel to release all the little bits of avocado into the bowl with the remainder of the keto tuna salad.

Alas, if your avocado is overly ripe – you can also mash up the green fruit and stir it into the tuna salad that way as I did in my Southwest Tuna Salad recipe. There is no bad way to make tuna salad with avocado, IMO!

Additionally, my Keto Avocado Tuna Salad has celery, mayo, and a few diced cherry tomatoes for a pop of red color.

Is tuna salad okay for the Keto Diet?

The good news is that canned tuna is pretty much all protein with virtually no carbs. It’s also a good source of important nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, high quality protein, selenium and Vitamin D. While tuna isn’t the fattiest fish around, adding full-fat mayonnaise and avocado to this keto tuna salad recipe help increase the overall fat ratio.  For that signature tuna salad “crunch,” I’ve added celery, a cruciferous vegetable that is very low in new carbs (the half cup I add, only brings .5g carb to the recipes). I have added some tomato to the recipe, but only a very few grape tomatoes (about 5) diced up fine to help them “go” farther – mainly for a little natural sweetness and pop of color. This adds about 3g net carb., feel free to omit if you are max-ing out at your carb limit.

Is low carb tuna salad okay for the Paleo Diet or Whole30 Diet?

Yes, tuna salad is okay for the Whole30 and Paleo Diet if you are using a mayonnaise that does not contain ingredients like sugar, canola oil, soybean oil and such that many mainstream mayonnaise brands have. Today there are more options in Paleo and Whole30 mayonnaise – check out this Whole30 and Paleo-friendly mayonnaise I like. I have also made a homemade recipe using eggs, lemon juice and avocado oil (I MUST post about that soon).

“Low Carb Avocado Tuna Salad for Two” Nutrition Facts: Macros per serving (makes 2 servings): 354 calories, 32g fat, 2.6g net carb, 17.3g protein (see the full breakdown in recipe card). 

How to serve Low Carb Avocado Tuna Salad:  Of course, delicious right out of the bowl, but I often serve on baby spring mix lettuce as a bigger salad, rolled up in heartier leafy greens for a tuna wrap, smashed into the grooves of celery stalks – or, if I need that “sandwich” feel, then on a piece of purchased keto-friendly bread.

It’s also easy to make a variety of homemade keto breads to serve your low-carb Tuna Avocado Salad – check out the new cookbook, Keto Bread: From Bagels and Buns to Crusts and Muffins, 100 Low-Carb, Keto-Friendly Breads for Every Meal

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Low Carb Avocado Tuna Salad

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

A not-so-traditional tuna salad with avocado -- it's friendly for keto, paleo and whole30 diets.

Course: dinner, entree salad, lunch, main, Salad, Sandwich

Keyword: avocado, keto, paleo, tuna, whole30

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 354 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 5- oz. can albacore tuna
• ¼ cup full-fat mayonnaise Whole30 and Paleo compliant variety
• ½ cup finely chopped celery
• 6 grape tomatoes finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ large avocado

Instructions

1. Add drained albacore to bowl, separate into large flakes with a fork.
2. Add mayonnaise, chopped celery, chopped tomatoes and stir until incorporated.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. With avocado halved and seeded, but still in skin, score cross-hatched lines without breaking through the peel.
5. Over bowl, push avocado forward to “pop” out all the diced piece – use a spoon to remove stragglers.
6. Gently stir avocado into tuna mixture. Serve as desired.
7. Note: if avocado is overly ripe and too soft to dice well, you can simply mash it up and stir it into the tuna mixture for a different effect that tastes the same.

Recipe Notes