Craving a tuna salad sandwich but want to save your carbs? Meet your new favorite meal: Keto Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps. Enjoy the creamy, savory flavors of classic tuna salad nestled inside crisp lettuce “boats” that provide a satisfying crunch without the soggy mess of bread.
Why This Recipe Matters
Keto life is fantastic—until hunger strikes and the temptation of carbs sneaks in. This speedy recipe delivers a filling, flavorful lunch or light dinner that’s low-carb and never feels like a compromise.
What you get:
- A vibrant, tasty tuna salad that’s anything but boring
- The ideal lettuce leaves for sturdy, tear-free wraps
- Simple custom tweaks to make it your own with fridge staples
Why It’s Perfect for Keto
Traditional tuna salad is keto-friendly until paired with bread. Swapping bread for lettuce wraps cuts carbs instantly, making this a no-brainer for keto enthusiasts.
Here’s why it works:
- Low carb: Lettuce keeps carbs minimal and controlled
- High fat: Creamy mayo and avocado provide satisfying, healthy fats
- High protein: Tuna is filling and fuss-free
- Versatile: Customize it spicy, herby, crunchy—easy to personalize
Key Ingredients Explained
Good tuna salad balances creamy, crunchy, and bright elements. Skip any and the flavor drops.
- Tuna (canned in water or olive oil): The base. Use chunk light for softness or albacore for firm texture.
- Mayonnaise (sugar-free): The creamy binder; check labels to avoid hidden sugars.
- Avocado: Adds healthy fats and fresh creaminess that elevates the salad.
- Celery and red onion: Provide crunch and zing to wake up the flavors.
- Fresh dill and lemon juice: Dill adds deli-style flavor; lemon brightens and lightens.
- Romaine or butter lettuce: Romaine offers sturdy crunch; butter lettuce is soft and flexible. Choose leaves that won’t tear easily.
Tips for Success
- Choose sturdy lettuce like romaine or butter lettuce.
- Drain tuna thoroughly to prevent watery salad.
- Season well with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, tasting as you go.
- Boost flavor with add-ins like capers, pickles, olives, garlic powder, hot sauce, or Dijon mustard for an extra kick.
Meal Prep & Storage
Perfect for prepping in advance if you keep components separate.
- Store tuna salad airtight for up to 3 days.
- Keep lettuce leaves washed, dried, and wrapped in paper towels in the fridge.
- Serve cold; reheating isn’t recommended.
Serving Suggestions
- Lunch or dinner: Enjoy with cucumber slices, simple salad, or cherry tomatoes if keto-friendly for you.
- Snack or appetizer: Use mini lettuce cups for bite-sized wraps.
- On-the-go: Pack ingredients separately and assemble before eating to avoid soggy leaves.
Quick How-To
Mix drained tuna, mayo, mashed avocado, diced celery and red onion, fresh dill, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and any favorite add-ins. Spoon into romaine or butter lettuce leaves, fold or eat as boats, and top with extra dill or lemon if desired.
Enjoy simple, crunchy, creamy Keto Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps that keep your meals flavorful, satisfying, and perfectly keto.
Keto Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
Keto Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps are a carb-conscious twist on the classic tuna salad sandwich, with a creamy, flavorful tuna salad made from canned tuna, sugar-free mayonnaise, avocado, celery, red onion, fresh dill, and lemon juice tucked into crisp romaine or butter lettuce leaves for satisfying crunch without the bread. This quick, no-cook recipe comes together in minutes, is easy to customize with keto-friendly add-ins like capers, pickles, olives, Dijon mustard, or hot sauce, and delivers a filling meal loaded with healthy fats and protein while keeping net carbs very low. Enjoy these lettuce wraps for an easy lunch, light dinner, or meal-prep staple that stays fresh and bright when stored properly.
Servings 4 wraps
Calories 210kcal
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- fork
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
- Spoon for filling wraps
Ingredients
For the keto tuna salad
- 2 cans tuna, drained well each can about 5 ounces, packed in water or olive oil
- 1/4 cup sugar-free mayonnaise
- 1/2 medium avocado, peeled and pitted ripe
- 1/3 cup celery, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped or use 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder optional
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Optional keto add-ins
- 2 tablespoons diced dill pickles or sugar-free relish optional
- 1 tablespoon capers, drained optional
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard optional, check for no added sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce optional, to taste
For the lettuce wraps
- 8 large leaves romaine lettuce or butter lettuce washed and patted dry
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil optional, for drizzling
- 4 slices lemon wedges for serving, optional
Instructions
- Add the drained tuna to a mixing bowl and use a fork to break it into small flakes.
- Add the mayonnaise and avocado to the bowl and mash the avocado with the fork, mixing until the tuna is well coated and the mixture looks creamy with a few small avocado chunks remaining if desired.
- Stir in the celery, red onion, dill, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly combined and taste, adjusting seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
- If using optional keto add-ins like pickles, capers, Dijon mustard, or hot sauce, fold them into the tuna salad until just combined.
- Lay the romaine or butter lettuce leaves on a plate or tray and pat dry again if they look damp so the filling adheres well.
- Spoon the tuna salad evenly into the center of each lettuce leaf, dividing it among about eight leaves to make four generous wraps or more smaller wraps as desired.
- Drizzle the filled wraps lightly with olive oil if using and garnish with extra dill or a squeeze from the lemon wedges just before serving.
- Serve the keto tuna salad lettuce wraps immediately or refrigerate the tuna salad separately and assemble the wraps just before eating for the best texture.
Notes
For meal prep, store the tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and keep the washed, dried lettuce leaves wrapped in paper towels in a separate container so they stay crisp. If your avocado is very ripe and soft, the tuna salad will be creamier, so you may wish to reduce the mayonnaise slightly or add a little more tuna to balance the texture. To keep net carbs low, choose sugar-free mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and pickles, and avoid sweet relishes or condiments with added sugar. If serving as an appetizer or snack, use smaller lettuce leaves to create bite-size cups and secure them with toothpicks if needed for easy handling. This recipe is naturally gluten free and works well alongside sliced cucumbers, olives, or a simple green salad for a complete keto meal.
Nutrition
Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 430mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
