Mexican Tuna Salad Recipe - Our Love Language is Food

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Our protein-packed Mexican-inspired tuna salad is a vibrant, zesty twist on an old classic that will transform your midday meal. This flavorful tuna salad recipe is loaded with colorful veggies, beans, and Mexican-inspired spices for a truly exceptional meal. Best of all, it uses affordable pantry staples you likely already have on hand!

A small bowl of Mexican tuna salad set on a plate with tortilla chips and cucumber slices.

As a meal prep enthusiast who’s tested countless lunch recipes over the years, I’ve found this Mexican Tuna Salad to be a true game-changer. The combination of tuna, veggies, black beans, bold spices, and a lightened up creamy dressing creates a perfectly balanced meal that keeps you satisfied while still feeling light. The flavors stay great in the fridge (may I say even improve?) after a day, making it perfect for meal prep.

This recipe has become a huge hit with my family and friends, and I know you’ll love it too! So whether you’re trying to eat healthier, save money, or break free from lunch boredom, this Mexican-inspired tuna salad deserves a spot in your regular rotation.

Looking for more yummy and affordable tuna options for lunch? Be sure to try these easy tuna salad recipes next – you’ll love our no mayo tuna salad with chickpeas and our dill pickle tuna salad (coming soon) recipes too! Our stovetop tuna noodle casserole is another great choice.

You’ll LOVE This Mexican Tuna Salad with Corn and Beans!

Are you tired of having the same old thing for lunch? Need something to bring to a picnic or potluck? If you’re looking for a recipe that’s both exciting and practical, this recipe checks all the boxes!

Mexican-inspired flavor. We’re using taco seasoning and fresh cilantro to incorporate Mexican flavors into our recipe.
Easy to find, affordable ingredients. We’re using ingredients that are affordable and easy to find, many of which you may already have in your pantry!
Uses nourishing, whole-food ingredients. Fat-free plain Greek yogurt adds protein along with live and active cultures. Black beans add fiber and more protein. And fresh bell pepper, cilantro, and corn bring nice texture and nutrients to the dish as well.
10-minute recipe. With minimal chopping and no cooking required, this meal is quick and easy to prepare.
High in protein. This tuna salad has THREE sources of protein – tuna fish, black beans, and Greek yogurt!

Ingredients for this Tuna Fish Salad Recipe

Ingredients needed to make Mexican tuna corn salad.

Canned Tuna Fish. I recommend buying solid or chunk light white albacore tuna packed in water (not extra virgin olive oil). I personally like Wild Planet Albacore Tuna because it’s sustainably caught and super high quality!
Plain Greek Yogurt. We’re using non-fat, plain Greek yogurt (NOT regular yogurt) for the bulk of our creamy dressing to add more protein and reduce the amount of fat in our tuna salad.
Mayonnaise. Using just a bit of mayo in our dressing brings that satisfying rich flavor and tang to our recipe.
Canned Black Beans. Black beans are very common in Mexican cuisine, making them a great choice for this recipe. We like to use no salt added beans. You’ll drain and rinse the beans before adding them to to the recipe.
Canned Sweet Corn. Corn is another very common ingredient in Mexican cooking. Using canned corn is an easy and affordable way to incorporate it! Like our beans, you’ll drain and rinse these before using.
Fresh Red Bell Pepper. Adds color, texture, and flavor to our dish (and lots of nice vitamins and fiber too). Depending on the size of pepper you have, you’ll need ¼ – ⅓ of it for a single batch of this recipe.
Fresh Shallot. Provides a mild onion flavor without being in your face. Adding finely minced shallot really rounds out the flavor profile of this dish, taking it to the next level!
Taco Seasoning. Using a premade blend makes our life easy, and brings all the spice profiles we want to the party. Typical spices included in taco seasonings are chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Fresh Cilantro. Fresh cilantro is a staple in Mexican cuisine, making it the perfect herb for our recipe!
(Optional) Salt. If your taco seasoning doesn’t have salt, or your tuna salad just needs a little boost, a pinch of salt can work wonders.
(Optional) Squeeze of Fresh Lime Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a little bit of zest and a wonderful lemony flavor to the tuna salad!

See the recipe card at the bottom of the page all ingredient measurements and recipe instructions.

How to Make Mexican Tuna Salad

Process shot showing the tuna drained and flaked in a medium mixing bowl.

Add the drained tuna and drained to a medium sized mixing bowl and flake with a fork.

Process shot showing the tuna, greek yogurt, mayo, and taco seasoning in the mixing bowl.

Add the plain Greek yogurt, mayo, and taco seasoning to the bowl.

Process shot showing the tuna, greek yogurt, mayo, and taco seasonings stirred together.

Mix until the tuna is well coated.

Process shot showing the corn, black beans, bell pepper, shallot, and cilantro added to the mixing bowl.

Add the rinsed and drained black beans, corn, diced bell pepper, minced shallot, and chopped cilantro to the bowl.

Process shot showing all mexican tuna salad ingredients stirred together until well combined.

Stir until well combined and evenly coated.

Close up of the mexican tuna salad in a medium mixing bowl.

Taste and adjust as needed (this is where I may add a pinch of salt).

Flavor Tip

Tuna salad can be eaten as soon as it’s made, but if you’d like the flavors to meld and develop more, cover the salad and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Variations Ideas for This Mexican Tuna Corn Salad

Add some spice with jalapeños! Our base recipe isn’t spicy, but you can amp it up by adding a finely diced fresh jalapeño pepper or by adding in some pickled jalapeños!
Add avocado. Our base recipe doesn’t do this as it doesn’t stay nicely for meal prep. However, adding avocado on top of your tuna salad is a creamy delight!
Mix in more fresh vegetables. If you have extra time or need a little more crunch, chop up some celery, English cucumber, or cherry tomatoes to mix into your tuna salad. All of these are a delicious and nutritious addition.
Swap the shallot for purple (red) onion. Both work well as an aromatic in this recipe, enhancing and adding to the flavor of the recipe. A small shallot will yield 1-2 Tablespoons when minced, so aim to use the same amount of minced onion if doing this swap.
Use all plain Greek yogurt or all mayo per your preference. I find the combination as written to strike the perfect balance of creamy and tangy. However, you can use all yogurt or all mayo if desired!

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This is gluten-free tuna salad as it’s written. However, if serving to someone with celiac disease, please check the labels on your mayo, beans, and taco seasoning to ensure they meet their dietary needs.

Serving Suggestions

What makes this recipe special is its versatility! My personal favorite way to enjoy Mexican tuna salad is by scooping it up and eating it with tortilla chips.

Use tortilla chips to scoop and eat it.
Make a sandwich with your favorite bread, wrap, or a pita pocket.
Serve it as an open-faced sandwich on a piece of toast.
Scoop it into sturdy lettuce leaves, making it into lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
Enjoy it over greens as the protein for a yummy salad.
Spread it on your favorite crackers (or dip them right into it).
Scoop a hearty serving onto crispy tostada shells and add your favorite toppings like radishes, pickled jalapeños, avocado, crema, etc.
Use it like a dip for fresh veggies. Bell peppers and cucumbers are my favorites with this recipe!

Top down view of the mexican tuna salad scooped into a small bowl, set on a plate with tortilla chips and cucumber slices.

How Long Will Tuna Salad Last in the Fridge?

Store leftover tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I highly recommend making this recipe ahead of time and eating it as a light lunch or meal prep option for the week!

Can You Freeze Tuna Salad?

Yes, technically you can freeze tuna salad for up to two months, however I would not recommend doing so. Mayonnaise tends to separate and get watery after thawing, which affects the taste and texture of the salad. Since it’s so easy to mix up fresh, I recommend making a new batch when you’re craving this.

Recipe FAQs

What goes in a traditional Mexican ensalada de atún?

Traditional Mexican ensalada de atún (tuna salad) usually includes canned tuna, mayonnaise, spicy peppers (like jalapeños), and a variety of fresh and canned vegetables like red onions, tomatoes, lettuce, corn, peas, carrots, and celery.

What is a good substitute for mayo in tuna salad?

Greek yogurt is my go-to mayo substitute for tuna salad. Other mayo alternatives you can try include sour cream, olive oil, avocado, cottage cheese, and Dijon mustard.

What is tuna good for?

Canned tuna is a shelf-stable, budget-friendly, lean protein that is high in essential fatty acids and vitamin B12. Because of this, it’s easy to have on hand when you need a quick and easy protein.

Love This Recipe? Try One of These Easy Lunch Recipes Next!

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Comments

5 from 2 votes

Mexican-Inspired Tuna Salad

You’ll LOVE This Mexican Tuna Salad with Corn and Beans!

Ingredients for this Tuna Fish Salad Recipe