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Tuna Lettuce Wraps

These easy Tuna Lettuce Wraps have creamy tuna salad and a sprinkle of fresh veggies, all wrapped up in a fresh lettuce leaf for an easy weekday lunch.

a closeup of tuna salad lettuce wraps with a small dish of mayo and lemon wedges

Tuna lettuce wraps are one of my favorite lunches. I can make a batch of tuna salad and quickly assemble lettuce wraps all week long. They’re light and healthy, plus they’re just so good!

The recipe at the bottom of this post is for a traditional, although very delicious, tuna salad. It’s delicious as is, and there’s really no need to expand on it if that’s what you love. It’s the recipe that my mom, and her mom before her, have made for years. It’s very good and definitely worth trying.

While it’s still the recipe I use most often, I like to add some crunchy veggies to the lettuce wraps, too. Fresh corn is my go-to in the summertime, as well as fresh cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and sliced radish. Avocado usually goes on, too.

So start with the basic recipe I’ve provided, then add what you like, or don’t add anything at all. I’ve also included some other swaps for the mayo below, which is a great way to keep lunchtime interesting!

a plate of tuna salad lettuce wraps with lemon wedges

What can I put in tuna salad besides mayo?

I’m a mayo lover and it’s the first thing I reach for when I have a can of tuna or chicken in my hand. It adds a necessary creamy texture to tuna salad that I happen to love. Not everyone agrees with me on this – or wants the calories – so here are some tuna salad variations you can try.

  • Avocado: Mash up an avocado and get it as smooth as you can before mixing it in. A combination of avocado and mayo is also an option.
  • Pesto: It has just enough oil to make your tuna lettuce wraps creamy-ish plus it adds a ton of flavor.
  • Hummus: This is a great choice and much lower in fat and calories. When using hummus as a mayo substitute, add things like diced cucumber, chopped kalamata olives, capers, and sun-dried tomatoes for a mediterranean-style tuna lettuce wrap.
  • Greek Yogurt: While I’m not personally a fan of this swap, it is a common one and a good way to lower fat and calories. It’s a bit too tangy for my tuna salad tastes, but I have been known to do half greek yogurt and half mayo.
  • Chimichurri: Similar to pesto, it has a tangy flavor and works really well with tuna. This is also one that you can use alone, but it’s fantastic as half chimichurri and half mayo.
  • Creamy salad dressings: Trader Joe’s has an amazing Cilantro salad dressing that I can’t get enough of. It works well for tuna salad lettuce wraps, and many other creamy salad dressings will, too.
a closeup of a tuna lettuce wrap

What’s the best lettuce for making tuna salad lettuce wraps?

Any lettuce will work for tuna lettuce wraps, but Bibb lettuce is my personal favorite. Romaine or Iceberg are also good choices, especially if you prefer more crunch (and it doesn’t rip as easily).

How do you prepare lettuce for wraps?

The lettuce should be washed and gently patted completely dry. You can wash the entire head of lettuce at once, but if you’ll be enjoying just a few tuna salad lettuce wraps at a time, washing only the amount of leaves you’ll need will help preserve what you’re storing.

a platter of tuna lettuce wraps with a small dish of mayo and lemon wedges

How do you keep tuna lettuce wraps fresh?

The best way to keep tuna lettuce wraps fresh is to store the lettuce and the tuna salad separately. I explained this earlier, but in case you missed it: don’t wash your lettuce when you get home from the store, wait until just before you’re assembling the wraps. You can wash just a few leaves at a time, leaving the rest of the lettuce unwashed until you’re ready to use it. Be sure to also pat your lettuce leaves completely dry with a paper towel after washing.

Remember, simply start with your favorite tuna salad then just wrap it up when you’re ready! The recipe below is SO good so be sure to start there! If you need yet another flavor variation, try this Mexican tuna salad recipe that’s been stuffed into avocados. It’s another easy, delicious way to enjoy your tuna salad and it works well as a lettuce wrap.

a plate of tuna salad lettuce wraps with lemon wedges
a plate of tuna salad lettuce wraps with lemon wedges

Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps

Yield: 8 lettuce wraps
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

These easy Tuna Lettuce Wraps have creamy tuna salad and a sprinkle of fresh veggies, all wrapped up in a fresh lettuce leaf for an easy weekday lunch.

Ingredients

  • 8 lettuces leaves, any kind (Bibb or Romaine are best)

Tuna Salad

  • 4 cans high-quality tuna (I like Genova)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (start with 3/4 cup and add more if desired)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2-3 tbsp minced red onion
  • 2 tbsp dill relish
  • 1/2 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Toppings

  • Avocado, radish, fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

Instructions

  1. Gently rinse the lettuce leaves and pat them dry.
  2. Place the ingredients for the tuna salad in a medium-sized bowl and mix until it's thoroughly combined. (Can be made ahead and refrigerated).
  3. Place the lettuce leaves on a platter. Divide the tuna salad evenly between them, then add your chosen toppings.

Notes

If you're not eating all of the tuna lettuce wraps at the same time, wash just the lettuce leaves that you need so they stay fresher.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 364mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 5g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 12/17/2020 and is based on one tuna lettuce wrap.

Kristy Bernardo
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