Mexican Tuna Salad (Ensalada de Atún)
This Mexican tuna salad comes together in minutes with canned tuna, mixed vegetables, creamy mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and pickled jalapeños. Serve it on tostadas, with crackers, or in lettuce cups for a quick and satisfying lunch any day of the week.
Mexican chicken salad has always been one of my favorite lunches, so making a tuna version was an easy choice. It has the same fresh, creamy flavors with a little tang from the pickled jalapeños, and it’s a great way to turn a few simple ingredients into something you’ll actually look forward to eating.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a handful of ingredients for this recipe, and most are easy to keep stocked in the pantry or freezer.
- Canned tuna: Tuna packed in water or oil both work well. Just be sure to drain it well before mixing.
- Mixed vegetables: Peas, carrots, and corn add color and a little sweetness. Frozen or canned vegetables are both great options.
- Mayonnaise: Holds the salad together and adds a creamy texture. Or try this lime mayonnaise for even more brightness.
- Pickled jalapeños and brine: Don’t skip this! Trust me, it will add a tangy flavor with just a touch of heat.
- Fresh lime juice: Brightens the salad and ties all the flavors together.
- Shredded lettuce: Fold it in right before serving so it stays crisp. Finely shredded cabbage is also a great option.
Renee’s Tips and Notes
- Drain the tuna well before adding the other ingredients. Unless the directions say specifically not to drain, like the Safecatch brand.
- Break up the tuna using a fork until there are no large chunks.
- Frozen mixed vegetables work just as well as canned. If you’re using frozen vegetables, thaw them first and pat them dry before mixing them into the salad.
- Once everything is combined, taste the salad before serving. A little extra lime juice, salt, or chopped jalapeños can make a big difference depending on the tuna and pickled jalapeños you use.
- If you’re making the salad ahead of time, wait to add the shredded lettuce until you’re ready to serve. The lettuce stays crisp, and the rest of the ingredients have time to chill and develop even more flavor.
How to Serve and Store
Pile this Mexican tuna salad onto crispy tostadas for my favorite way to serve it, or enjoy it with saltine crackers, cucumber slices, or lettuce cups for something a little lighter.
If you like a little extra heat, top it with sliced jalapeños or your favorite hot sauce. I also like adding sliced avocado on top for a creamy texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best texture, stir in the shredded lettuce just before serving, rather than storing it with the salad.
Feel free to get creative with the mix-ins based on your preference or what you have on hand. Just the other day, I had only one can of tuna and decided to add some garbanzo beans to bulk it up with some fiber and protein. It was delicious!
More No-Cook Meals
Mexican Tuna Salad (Ensalada de Atún)
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Ingredients
- 10 ounce Canned Tuna
- ½ cup Mixed Peas, Carrots, Corn (frozen or canned)
- ¼ cup Red Onion diced small
- ¼ cup Mayonaise
- 2 tablespoon Pickled Jalapeno Brine
- 1 Pickled Jalapeno chopped
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ cup Iceberg Lettuce shredded
- Tostadas, Saltine Crackers, Lettuce Leaves, or Sliced Cucumbers for serving.
Instructions
- Drain the tuna and place it in a bowl. Use a fork to break the tuna into small pieces.
- Add all the remaining ingredients except for the lettuce: mixed vegetables, onion, mayonnaise, jalapeños and brine, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well and taste for seasoning.
- If you are eating it now, add the shredded lettuce and combine. If you are making it ahead of time, refrigerate the tuna salad for up to 1 day and add the lettuce just before serving.
- Serve the Mexican tuna salad on tostadas, crackers, lettuce leaves, or cucumber slices. You can also add some hot sauce on top for extra spice or sliced avocado.
Video
Notes
It’s best to add the shredded lettuce before serving to keep it crisp.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and depends on ingredients and amounts used. Thai Caliente makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
