(Best Ever!) Classic Tuna Salad - Little Pine Kitchen (2024)

Tuna and dill pickles, one of the most time-tested combos, are the base for this creamy classic tuna salad that’ll make you excited to eat lunch!

Looking for more salads? Try this avocado tuna salad, this spicy tuna salad, or this ahi tuna salad.

Keto Tuna Salad Video Tutorial

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Pickles + Tuna, A Match Made In Heaven

Let me tell you about my cat. I love her. She’s purrfect. But she’s got a real problem. She just can’t help herself around fish. Any time I cook seafood for dinner, I have to watch her. She’ll be lurking. The moment I let my guard down she’ll rush up, steal a filet, and be gone before I know what happened. And she won’t be sorry.

So when I settle down with a keto tuna salad sandwich, she’s never far away. Suddenly she wants to cuddle– as if I don’t know she only likes me for my sandwich. I can’t blame her, this keto tuna salad is the perfect blend of textures. It’s got that classic tuna plus dill flavor combo, PLUS a bit of curry powder to add depth and complexity.

So try this keto tuna salad, but don’t take your eyes off of your cats (if you have any) when you do! Neither human nor feline can resist! 🐱 – Linds x

What You’ll Need

Simple ingredients are what make this dish a classic for keto lunch ideas. My version of keto tuna salad has a few additions to add pizzazz to this classic dish:

• Canned tuna, flaked and drained. The best tuna salad is flaked really well, so use a fork to pick apart the tuna until it’s nice and fluffy.
• Celery adds a delicious crunchy texture to this dish, which would otherwise be considered “mushy”. Don’t skip!
• Pickles – A lot of the carbs in tuna salad recipes come from the addition of sweet relish. Instead, we’ll use chopped dill pickles to get that same tasty flavor without added sugars.
• Onions – more crunch, sweetness, and flavor.
• Parsley
• Mayonnaise adds creaminess and fat. Go for the good stuff— It really makes a difference. I love avocado oil mayonnaise by Primal Kitchen.
• Lemon juice, for a little acid
• Spices: Curry powder + garlic powder

How to Eat it

You’re going to want to eat this keto tuna salad straight from the mixing bowl! But if you want to turn it into more of a meal, here are some ideas:

1. Stuffed inside a bell pepper, avocado, or tomato – bonus points if you bake with shredded cheese on top
2. With sliced keto bread
3. Scoop it up with chopped veggies, like mini bell peppers, cucumbers, or celery sticks
4. Parmesan crisps or keto chips

Recipe Variations

As is, this is our family’s best tuna salad recipe to date. But, if you want to change things up a little, here are some ideas for you:

• Add bacon. Is this my answer to everything? It’s always a nice touch.
• Swap mayo for another creamy ingredient, such as mashed avocado, or Greek yogurt (like my greek yogurt chicken salad)
• This healthy tuna salad recipe can always do with more keto vegetables—Try adding some chopped bell peppers, diced green onions, or serve it over a bed of lettuce!
• Swap the protein – this recipe can be used to make egg, chicken, or canned salmon salad.

More Keto Salad Recipes

• Cauliflower Potato Salad
• Canned Chicken Salad
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Thai Chicken Salad
• Keto Chicken Salad

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