Tuna Salad Without Mayo

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Looking for a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional tuna salad? This creamy tuna salad without mayo is full of flavour, high in protein, and perfect for a quick lunch or meal prep. Using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise gives it a lighter taste while keeping it satisfyingly creamy.

This is my absolute go-to summer lunch! I eat it at least a couple times a week, it's just so super easy and flavorful, healthy and just so good! And, if you're trying to eat healthy, it's a great lunch option, I usually make a huge batch, so I can eat it again the next day!

healthy tuna salad with no mayo in a blue salad bowl

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE FOR HEALTHY TUNA SALAD WITHOUT MAYO

⭐️ Quick to make with just a few pantry staples

⭐️ No mayonnaise = lower fat and fewer calories

⭐️ High in protein and super satisfying

⭐️ Ideal for lunchboxes, meal prep or a healthy snack

INGREDIENTS FOR NO-MAYO TUNA SALAD

Everything you need to make our tasty healthy tuna salad without mayonnaise

no-mayo tuna salad with cannellini beans and salad veggies

Tuna - I use the tuna in spring water for this recipe and buy the no-drain cans so the tuna isn't overly wet.
Cannellini Beans - these are my go-to bean for this recipe, but I do sometimes use borlotti beans instead.
Celery - finely chopped
Red Bell Pepper - finely chopped
Red Onion - finely chopped
Chili - deseeded and finely chopped, if you really like a kick of heat, keep the seeds in.
Flat Leaf Parsley - finely chopped
Capers
Greek yogurt (or dairy-free alternative)
Juice of Lemon
Dried Oregano
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Dried Parsley
Black Pepper
Sea Salt

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Chopping board
Vegetable knife
Colander
Teaspoon
Tablespoon
Lemon juicer - I use a hand held lemon squeezer I think they get more juice out than the regular ones.
Large bowl
Salad servers

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY TUNA SALAD WITHOUT MAYO

Serves 4 | Prep Time - 15 minutes

In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt with the seasonings (add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard too if you like)
Add the drained tuna, chopped celery, onion, red bell pepper, beans and capers.
Mix everything together until well combined - taste and season with extra salt and pepper if necessary.
Serve - I usually add some sourdough bread and pickled beets or cucumbers on the side.

HOW TO SERVE

Serve in wholemeal sandwich or pitta
Add to a baked sweet potato for a healthy lunch
Scoop into lettuce wraps for a low-carb option
Use as a topping for crackers or rice cakes.

INGREDIENT SWAPS AND ADD-INS

Swap the beans - I make these with whatever beans I have in the cupboard - it can be cannellini beans, borlotti beans or often I use a can of chickpeas.

Swap the Greek yogurt - try mashed avocado or cottage cheese.

Add some extra protein - add in a chopped boiled egg for extra protein,

Add-ins - you could add in some finely diced fresh tomatoes, stir in diced cucumber or sweetcorn, or sun-dried tomatoes you can add in some Kalamata olives too if you like. Or try adding some cooked small pasta shapes, or some finely chopped spinach leaves. It's also nice with some extra fresh herbs sprinkled in, try dill or basil. We grow these in our little kitchen herb garden.

Make it spicy - add a pinch of chilli flaked or freshly chopped jalapeño

TOP TIPS FOR MAKING The best tuna salad without mayo

⭐ Be generous with the seasonings, you want loads of flavour in this salad.

⭐ Be sure to drain the tuna and beans extra well to avoid a soggy salad.

LOVE YOUR LEFTOVERS

Leftover no-mayo tuna salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-days.

And.. I get it, if you've bought ingredients just to use in this recipe, it's a good idea to have some ways of using them up - so I've popped my favourite use-ups below!

Capers - you can use these up in salads, stir through pasta dishes, and one of my favourite ways to use them is to sprinkle them on cooked broccoli with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. Delicious!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of mayo in tuna salad?

Yes! Greek yogurt is a creamy, protein-rich alternative to mayo and works perfectly in tuna salad.

Is tuna salad healthy without mayonnaise?

Absolutely. By removing mayo and using Greek yogurt, you cut down on saturated fats while keeping the protein content high.

What else can I mix tuna with besides mayo?

Avocado, hummus, cottage cheese, or even pesto are all great mayo-free options for mixing with tuna.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Yes – just use a dairy-free yogurt like coconut or soy-based alternatives.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS

Protein: Tuna and Greek yogurt both offer a protein punch
Omega-3s: Tuna is a great source of healthy fats
Calcium: Greek yogurt adds calcium for bone health

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