Tuna Sardine Salad (keto, Whole30)

Tuna Sardine Salad is a healthy tuna salad recipe with a twist.

Mixing in sardines is a great way to add them to your diet, upgrading your classic creamy tuna salad. So you get all the great protein, healthy fats and nutritional benefits of both fish in one fast, easy, filling recipe!

Serve it on bread, leafy greens or apple slices and lunch is ready.

Plus it’s Paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly!

Tuna Sardine Salad on a wooden board with lettuce wraps, apple slices and crackers

Why tuna and sardines?

Both canned tuna and canned sardines are great on their own.

If you’re not familiar with sardines, they’re milder than tuna and don’t smell quite as strong.

They smell like what you think clean, fresh fish would smell like.

So by combining them you mellow out tuna’s somewhat pungent flavor while giving sardines a bit of a flavor boost.

If you like sardines, this is another great way to eat them.

If you don’t or you’re not sure, this is a great way hide them because they don’t taste that different from tuna.

They’re also both full of protein and omega 3 fatty acids.

And while they’re both full of other nutritional benefits like calcium, vitamin B12 (an essential vitamin – meaning our bodies can’t make it on their own – found mostly in animal foods; read more here), their nutritional profiles do differ a bit.

But for more info, take a look at what these reputable sources have to say:

Livestrong: Tuna vs. Sardines
Men’s Journal: Why Sardines (Yes, Sardines) Are Basically the Perfect Protein
Consumer Reports: Is canned fish as healthy for you as fresh fish?

By mixing both of them together, you get the best of both worlds.

You get your favorite, familiar creamy tuna salad with a low-key twist.

And since it’s low carb, you’ve got yourself a keto tuna salad as well.

If you’re looking for different tuna salad recipes, this is the one to try.

Once you do, you’ll start making it so many times you won’t even need a recipe anymore.

a closeup of sardine salad with tuna on a wooden board with lettuce wraps, apple slices and crackers

What you need for this Tuna Sardine Salad

2 (5 oz.) cans no salt tuna, packed in olive oil
2 (4.4 oz.) cans no salt sardines, packed in olive oil or water
6-8 tablespoons avocado oil mayonnaise – To keep this Paleo- and Whole30-friendly, I use an avocado oil mayonnaise.
2 tablespoons mustard, such as Dijon or grainy – If you’re doing a Whole30, make sure your mustard is compatible.
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chives or dried chives (optional)
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more if necessary
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

I’m keeping this recipe really bare bones to keep it fast and simple. If you want to add anything like diced red onion, celery, apples or pickles, those would be great here.

Equipment:

How to make this Tuna Sardine Salad

Step 1: Drain the tuna and sardines. Add them to a medium bowl and use a fork to break them down into small pieces.

Step 2: Mix the tuna and sardines with the mayonnaise, mustard, red wine vinegar or lemon juice, chives (if using), salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Whole30 tuna salad with sardines on lettuce wraps and apple slices on white plates and in a bowl with crackers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I serve this Tuna Sardine Salad?

If I’m really in a hurry, I just eat it as is with a spoon. But you can also:

Serve it on top of or mixed in with leafy greens like spinach, arugula or lettuce. You can use lettuce cups or lettuce wraps to keep it fork-free and portable. This keeps it low carb for keto diets.

Serve it as a sandwich on bread or toast.

Serve it on crackers – these grain-free crackers are my favorite.

My fave: serve it on sliced apples.

Can I make substitutions?

You can use either all tuna or all sardines.

If you only have tuna or sardines with salt added, omit the salt in the recipe. Once everything is mixed, taste and add more salt if necessary.

If you only have or can only find smoked sardines, those will be fine.

I’m keeping this recipe really bare bones to keep it fast and simple. If you want to add anything like diced red onion, celery, apples or pickles, those would be great here.

If you have any other fresh herbs besides chives, like parsley, basil or tarragon, you can add 2-3 tbsp. of them finely chopped.

Can I make Tuna Sardine Salad ahead of time?

Yep! Keep it stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. You’ll have a healthy lunch ready when you are.

Can I freeze Tuna Sardine Salad?

I would not recommend freezing it.

Other recipes you might like:

Caesar Tuna Salad (Paleo, Whole30)
Tuna Sushi Bowls (Paleo, Whole30)
Chicken Salad with Blueberries and Pecans (Paleo, Whole30)
Crispy Skin Salmon (Paleo, Whole30)
Spiced Butter Baked Cod with Green Beans (Paleo, Whole30)

Tuna Sardine Salad

Don Baiocchi

Tuna Sardine Salad is a fast, easy recipe using pantry and fridge ingredients that's tasty and filling. Plus it's low carb, Paleo, keto and Whole30-friendly!

4.89 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings people

Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients

2 (5 oz.) cans no salt tuna, packed in olive oil or water
2 (4.4 oz.) cans no salt sardines, packed in olive oil or water
6-8 tablespoons avocado oil mayonnaise
2 tablespoons mustard (Dijon or grainy)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh, thinly sliced chives or dried chives (optional)
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more if necessary
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Drain the tuna and sardines. Add them to a medium bowl and use a fork to break them down into small pieces.
Mix the tuna and sardines with the mayonnaise, mustard, red wine vinegar or lemon juice, chives (if using), salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Notes

If you only have tuna or sardines with salt added, omit the salt in the recipe. Once everything is mixed, taste and add more salt if necessary.

If you only have or can only find smoked sardines, those will be fine.

If you want to add anything like diced red onion, diced apples or diced pickles, that would be great here.

If you have any other fresh herbs besides chives, like parsley, basil or tarragon, you can add 2-3 tbsp. of them finely chopped.

This can be made up to 5 days in advance.

I do not recommend freezing this.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 29gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 137mgSodium: 941mgPotassium: 391mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 147IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 258mgIron: 3mg

Keyword healthy tuna salad, keto tuna salad, paleo tuna salad, sardines, tuna

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