The key to a really delicious tuna salad is keeping it simple. Buy fresh ingredients to mix with the canned tuna and everything will come together. For this low carb tuna salad recipe, we’re going to add in crunchy celery, snappy shallots and the secret ingredient: celery seeds. Take a look at the full recipe for how it all comes together.

This low carb tuna salad recipe is: Gluten Free, Paleo Friendly, Low Carb and really tasty.

A Super Easy Low Carb Tuna Salad Recipe

I’ve been making tuna salad as far back as I can remember. It is one of my favorites for lunch or a quick afternoon snack. Over the years, I’ve been tinkering with the recipe… some days adding in different mustards, relishes and other combinations that sometimes turn out good and other times, not-so-good. The recipe in this post is the perfect balance of tuna, crunch, flavor and texture. You have to try it!

You’re going to see a couple ingredients in this low carb tuna salad that you might not see in a lot of recipes. The first of these ingredients is shallots. I love shallots with tuna. The mixture of mellow garlic and onion flavors really compliment the tuna while adding brightness to the overall dish. It’s a lovely ingredient. We’re also going to use celery seeds. These little seeds aren’t sold in every grocery store, so you might want to call to see if your local market stocks them before heading off to pick some up. I know that overseas you can search for days and never find celery seeds. Why add them since we already have celery? Because they provide a really vibrant celery flavor and aroma that is really delightful. When you open the jar of celery seeds you’ll see just what I mean. Lastly, we’re going to add lemon juice for brightness. Lemon and fish are perfect with one another…a relationship which is no different with this tuna salad recipe.

Differences in Canned Tuna

Way back in the day, my mom told me that I should only buy canned tuna that was labeled as solid white Albacore tuna in water. She told me that the whole tuna is higher quality than the chunk type. She also said that if it was in water it was better for you than packed in oil. Pretty solid advice. I can’t say that I disagree with any of these points over 30 years later.

On a more practical note, I like using the tuna in water more than oil for two reasons. First, it stinks up my kitchen less. The oil tends to have a lingering smell that I don’t find appealing. Second, the tuna in oil has a richer flavor but I find it more difficult to control how much mayonnaise I add into the recipe. Sometimes it just needs less than my recipe calls for and I end up with a loose tuna salad. Nobody wants a loose tuna salad. Gross.

I love adding the low carb tuna to lettuce wraps. The crunch is delicious and refreshing!

Mayo in Tuna Salad

For this recipe, I used Olive Oil Mayo off the shelf. I realize this is not a preferred paleo option. If you are strictly paleo, substitute in your own mayo and it will be even more delicious! I like to make a lemon shallot mayo that tastes incredible. If you make your own, the possibilities are just about limitless.

When you are choosing your mayo off the shelf, take a look at the ingredients and choose the one that has the LEAST amount of ingredients…and no high-fructose corn syrup at all! Leave the “whips” on the shelf. They’re just chock full of stuff that you don’t want to eat.

QUICK COOKING TIP: I like to add in everything to the bowl before I start to mix. Why? A couple reasons come to mind: first, I can see if I have added everything I need really easily. It’s harder to see once everything is mixed up. Second, I find that if you have to break up the tuna while you’re mixing everything together, the salad tends to bind together better than if you break up the tuna beforehand. I’m not sure why, but it just seems to work.

After everything is mixed up, I like to give it a quick taste and adjust the seasonings. Depending on the day, I add a little more lemon or a touch more mayo to taste. Remember that we are working with a lot of fresh ingredients that have different flavor potency. You have to taste, adjust and taste again!

Let’s mix it up with this delicious low carb tuna recipe.

Final thoughts on the Low Carb Tuna Salad Recipe:

When you first bite into this tuna salad you’re going to be sold. All the flavors just work really well with one another, begging you to take a second bite. And it’s going to taste incredibly fresh with the crisp celery and mellow shallot flavor. You’re going to love it.

Want a perfect pairing? If you’re a potato chip lover, buy some Sea Salt & Vinegar chips. When I was eating potato chips, this combination was my absolute favorite. The high acid on the chips balanced out the creamy deliciousness of the low carb tuna salad. Just perfect. If you’re not eating chips, add the tuna salad into a lettuce wrap. The crunch is delightful and the experience will bring a smile to your face.

As always, if you like what you’re reading, let me know! Happy eating.

Eat. This. Tuna. Salad.