Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna is better than tuna sandwiches and just as easy to make, and this tuna salad is perfect for a low-carb meal. And this post has links to more low-carb salads with tuna!

PIN the Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna to try it later!

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna, Cilantro, and Lime

Cucumbers. Avocado. Tuna. Let me get those ingredients out there just in case anyone turned up their nose at this idea for Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna because of the canned tuna, which admittedly is not everyone’s cup of tea.

I wasn’t much of a canned tuna lover myself until I discovered my favorite tuna packed in olive oil, and now I find myself reaching for it regularly, especially during the summer months.

Adding tuna to a cucumber avocado salad is something I came up with on one of those days when I was standing in front of the fridge wondering what to make for lunch. My first time I just made one serving (and gobbled it up) and then the next day I worked on the actual recipe and took these photos.

And this salad was absolutely a winner! And if this particular salad with tuna doesn’t grab you, look below for more summer salads with tuna!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna but without cilantro:

I realize that cilantro really does taste bad to some people. So if you’re one of those people with the anti-cilantro tastebuds, just double the amount of green onion and skip the cilantro for this Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna.

Why I love tuna packed in olive oil:

Years ago I discovered tuna packed in olive oil from another blogger, and it was so flavorful compared to the tuna I was used to that I’ve been using it ever since. The Genova Tuna Packed in Olive Oil that I use in this recipe is the only tuna I ever buy!

Want more recipes with my favorite tuna?

You can check out Low-Carb and Keto Canned Tuna Recipes for more treats with canned tuna!

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna, Cilantro, and Lime process shots collage

Tips for making Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. If it’s not a garden cucumber I like to cut stripes so most of the peel is removed.
  2. Cut the cucumber in fourths lengthwise and slice into pieces.
  3. Slice green onions and chop the cilantro (if using).
  4. Whisk together mayo and lime juice.
  5. Cut up avocado and toss with lime juice.
  6. Stir together the avocado, cucumber, cilantro (if using), and sliced green onion.
  7. Then add the dressing and stir to combine.
  8. Drain oil from the tuna and use a fork to gently break it apart. 
  9. GENTLY mix tuna into the salad, being careful not to over-mix. (You want chunks of tuna in the salad.)
  10. Season salad to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper, and enjoy.

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna in serving bowl with plates/forks in background

More Low-Carb Salads with Tuna:

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna, Cilantro, and Lime
Yield: 3 servings

Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

This Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna tastes better than a tuna sandwich and this is perfect for a low-carb lunch!

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 large European cucumber (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (more or less to taste, see notes)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 T fresh-squeezed lime juice (see notes)
  • 1 can (5 oz.) tuna packed in olive oil
  • salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 T mayo
  • 1 T fresh-squeezed lime juice (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Peel strips from the cucumber if desired, then cut into fourths lengthwise and slice into bite-sized pieces. (You can skip this step for fresh garden cucumbers.)
  2. Chop the cilantro (if using).
  3. Thinly slice the green onion.
  4. Whisk together the mayo and 1 tablespoon lime juice to make the dressing.
  5. Dice the avocado into 1/2 inch pieces,
  6. Put avocado in a bowl large enough to hold the whole salad, and toss with 1 tablespoon of lime juice.
  7. Add the chopped cucumbers, chopped cilantro (if using), and sliced green onions to the avocado and gently combine.
  8. Add the dressing and stir just enough to combine.
  9. Drain the oil from the tuna and use a fork to partly break apart the tuna into chunks.
  10. Stir tuna into the salad and GENTLY combine (don’t over-stir; you want the tuna to remain chunky.)
  11. Season to taste with salt and fresh-ground black pepper and serve.
  12. This will last okay in the fridge for a day, but it’s far better freshly made.

Notes

I used my fresh-frozen lime juice. I use this tuna packed in olive oil for the salad. Use two smaller cucumbers if you don't have a European cucumber. If you're not a cilantro fan I would double the amount of green onion and skip the cilantro.

Recipe created by Kalyn.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

3

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 262mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

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Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna shown in serving bowl.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tuna is great for low-carb diet plans, including Keto. Although this salad is loaded with healthy low-carb ingredients, avocados are a limited food for the original South Beach Diet, so for South Beach Dieters you need to limit portion size, especially if you use full-fat mayo. 

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Salad Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This salad with cucumber, avocado, and tuna was first posted in 2013. It was last updated with more information in 2023.

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