This Caesar Tuna Salad is so good and so easy, you’ll make it every chance you get. You just need 3 ingredients for a protein-packed lunch: canned tuna, store-bought Caesar dressing and capers for a briny, tangy touch.
And it’s easy to make this dairy-free, keto, Paleo and Whole30 friendly.
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Why this recipe works
Usually tuna salad is made with canned tuna and mayonnaise, plus other ingredients like celery, onion, fresh herbs and mustard. And while that’s great, there’s another way you can make it: use Caesar dressing!
Caesar salad dressing usually contains garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and maybe anchovies. It’s thick, creamy and tangy, making it a tasty replacement in tuna salad. It’s great if you can make it from scratch but store-bought versions are perfectly good, which also make this recipe incredibly simple.
My preferences are Primal Kitchen Caesar dressing and Tessamae’s Caesar dressing. Both are dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, Paleo and Whole30 friendly.
But use whichever dressing you like best.
What you need
Ingredients:
- 4 (5-6 oz.) cans of tuna, no salt added, packed in water
- 3/4 cup Caesar dressing (from about one 8-10 oz. bottle), such as Primal Kitchen or Tessamae’s
- 2 teaspoons capers
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, if necessary
- optional: finely diced celery or red onion or finely sliced chives
- serving ideas: your favorite bread; Romaine or Boston lettuce for lettuce cups; bell peppers cut in half with the stems and seeds removed; cucumber slices; celery stalks
Equipment:
- a medium mixing bowl
- measuring spoons
- a fork
- a can opener
- a measuring glass
How to make Caesar Tuna Salad
Step 1
Drain the cans of tuna.
Step 2
Add the tuna to a medium mixing bowl. Add the Caesar dressing and use a fork to mix it all up and break up the chunks of tuna.
Step 3
Drain and add the capers (and anything else you might like, such as diced celery or red onion) and gently mix again.
Taste and add salt or black pepper, if necessary. Serve on bread or with your favorite accompaniments.
FAQ
Use any Caesar dressing you like.
This recipe also works well with canned chicken or canned salmon instead of tuna.
Use chopped olives instead of capers, such as black, green or Kalamata olives.
Add chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil or tarragon.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a bit of spice.
Yes, this can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
I do not recommend freezing this.
For gluten-free or dairy-free, check the labels for all your ingredients.
For Paleo or Whole30, use a compatible dressing such as Primal Kitchen or Tessamae’s.
No matter which dressing you use, tuna Caesar salad will be low carb. The recipe has only 3 grams of carbs per serving, making it appropriate for a low carb lifestyle (unless you eat it with bread).
Caesar Tuna Salad will almost always be keto friendly. The recipe has 3 grams of carbs (unless you serve it with bread) and about 0 grams of fiber (not counting if you add/eat it with any vegetables), so it has 3 net grams of carbs. It’s also a good source of protein and fat, making it appropriate for a keto lifestyle.
Other recipes you might like:
- Buffalo Tuna Salad
- Tuna Sardine Salad
- Pecan Blueberry Chicken Salad
- Anchovy Ricotta Dip/Spread
- Dairy-Free Veggie Dip
Caesar Tuna Salad (Paleo, Whole30)
Ingredients
- 4 (5-6 oz.) cans of tuna no salt added, packed in water
- ¾ cup Caesar dressing see below for notes
- 2 teaspoons capers
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper if necessary
- optional: finely diced celery or red onion finely sliced chives
- serving ideas: your favorite bread; Romaine or Boston lettuce for lettuce cups; bell peppers cut in half with the stems and seeds removed; cucumber slices; celery stalks
Instructions
- Drain the cans of tuna.
- Add the tuna to a medium mixing bowl. Add the Caesar dressing and use a fork to mix it all up and break up the chunks of tuna.
- Drain and add the capers (and anything else you might like, such as diced celery or red onion) and gently mix again.Taste and add salt or black pepper, if necessary. Serve on bread or with your favorite accompaniments.
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