Have you ever seen those packets of flavored tuna in the grocery store? They were on sale once and I got curious, so I bought a few. The idea was interesting, but the execution failed, IMHO. So what did I do? MAKE MY OWN. #storyofmylife I chose this Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad as my first homemade flavored tuna because the simple combination of sweet and spicy is always irresistible to me, but I can’t wait to try more flavors. There are so many ways you can eat this simple no-cook dish that I now it’s going to become my new summer staple!
P.S. It’s great for meal prep! 👏
No Mayo?
Mayo-free tuna salads are super popular these days, so I went ahead and made this Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad mayo-free (and to make it more like the store-bought version). That being said, I did add a little mayo to one of the test batches and it was also awesome with mayo! So if you are a mayo tuna salad person, feel free to go ahead and add a few tablespoons of creamy goodness to the bowl.
How to Serve Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad
I’m loving this tuna salad as a snack with crackers or vegetables, stuffed into peppers as an appetizer, or stuffed into a wrap with some spinach and cucumbers or avocado. It’s really quite versatile! Scroll down to see photos of different ways I used my Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad.
Should I Use Tuna Packed in Oil or Water?
You can actually use either for this recipe. I had tuna packed in water, so I added a little oil to the salad mix. If you’re using tuna packed in oil, you can skip the olive oil listed in the ingredients below.
Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad
Servings 2 About 3/4 cup eachIngredients
- 2 5oz. cans tuna* ($1.36)
- 1 carrot ($0.11)
- 2 green onions ($0.23)
- 2 tsp brown sugar ($0.03)
- 2 tsp olive oil ($0.08)
- 1.5 tsp apple cider vinegar ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- freshly cracked pepper ($0.03)
Instructions
- Drain the tuna well, then place it in a bowl.
- Shred the carrot using a cheese grater. Slice the green onion.
- Add the carrot, green onion, brown sugar, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper to the bowl with the drained tuna.
- Stir everything to combine, then let the mixture sit for about five minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to eat.
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Notes
Nutrition
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Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad stuffed into celery sticks and mini sweet peppers. This would make a great party appetizer!
This is the wrap I made with spinach, cucumber slices, and the Sweet and Spicy Tuna Salad. I wanted avocado as well, but all the avocados at the store were rock hard. That wrap is the sprouted grain wraps from Aldi. :)
How to Make Sweet and Spicy TUna Salad – Step by Step Photos
This tuna salad is incredibly easy to make. Drain two 5oz. cans of tuna (packed in oil or water) and add them to a bowl. Grate one carrot and slice two green onions. Add them to the bowl along with 2 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp olive oil (skip if using tuna packed in oil), 1.5 tsp apple cider vinegar, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper.
Then just mix everything together. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to let the flavors kind of blend a bit.
Then dig in! It’s SO good on cucumber slices.
But these cute little sweet peppers were pretty amazing with it as well. 🤤
This was a really delicious change of pace from the usual mayo-based tuna salad! Definitely making it again!
This was delicious!
I’m eating this right now, and it’s excellent. I had to make some substitutions with what I had on hand: onion powder for the onions, rice wine vinegar for the acv, regular paprika, siracha for the pepper, and also added a spoonful of sweet pickle relish. So good! Will definitely also try with canned salmon.
I love tuna and this recipe was divine. I loves the contrast between the sweet and spicy. Thanks for sharing.
This was great!
I really want to try this recipe but have no tuna on hand. Would canned salmon work as a substitute?
This would probably be pretty good with canned salmon as well. :)
Thanks Beth! I’ll post the results.
Ooh. I’ve made tuna salad before but I’ve never made a mayo-free one (not that mine were super great to begin with lol). This really looks like an interesting variant! Do you know how well this would keep in the fridge? Not sure if it’s something I can meal prep at the start of the week or if it’s only good for a day or so in the fridge.
Yep, it holds up really well! I ate mine for at least three days (it might have been four, but I don’t remember for certain).
This was great! I left out the cayenne and it’s still got a little zing. I served open face on toast.
30 years ago, my dentist told me he mixed drained water pack tuna with an Austin, TX, favorite, Hot as Hell Relish. That item, which no longer seems to be available, was pickled shredded carrots and jalapenos, and not quite as fiery as you might expect, although there was also a Hotter than Hell version. Salad Nicoise, another mayo free tuna salad, is oil based tuna with tons of veggies. I frequently do the shredded carrot version–much like this one, adding a tsp of finely minced ginger (either fresh or pickled), a dab of finely minced pickled jalapeno, a splash of rice vinegar, but no oil at all. I particularly like the idea of using it to fill those yummy little sweet peppers. Thanks, Beth, for reminding me to grab a can of tuna for lunch tomorrow—and I’m off to buy those sprouted grain wraps!.
I just wanted to say this was amazing, and so helpful with the heat! I was serving ceviche for dinner, and then made this as well and both were amazing served on tostadas! So grateful to be able to eat good without having to turn the stove in here in the California heat! Thank you Beth!
I will try this…but hoping you recreate my favorite packet which is jalapeño!
This looks good!, i put hot sauce and mustard in my tuna salad. I do the same with egg salad. Local cafe near me puts BBQ sauce in their tuna, along with corn kernels and onion.
I’ve been recreating these Tuna packets as well but I didn’t know how to go about the Sweet and Sour one! I now keep Frank’s Buffalo Hot Sauce in the pantry because I love it on tuna.
We are having a beachday tomorrow. Tuna sandwiches!
Just generally wanted to say thank you for a tremendous site! It makes me actually want to cook! I really love budget bytes. Thank you thank you for sharing these recipes.
Ooo. Those tuna packs are my weakness. They’re delicious by themselves and make the perfect snack on strength training days when I crave extra protein. Unfortunately they’re ridiculously expensive (I mean….it’s TUNA!!). Definitely going to be making this soon!!