This Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad is high-protein (35 grams of protein), low-calorie, and delicious. Made with cottage cheese instead of mayonnaise and canned tuna, this 5-ingredient recipe takes 5 minutes to make. This perfect lunch is one you'll find yourself making again and again.
Love Tuna Salad? Also try my Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad, Tuna Egg Salad, and Tuna Melt Mini Bell Peppers.
Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad
This Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad just might be the prefect lunch. Made with 5 simple ingredients in just 5 minutes, this crazy simple recipe is only 180 calories with a whopping 35 grams of protein. It's also gluten-free, low carb and still so tasty. You'll be surprised at how delicious this recipe is! You don't really taste the cottage cheese, it just gives the salad a creamy feeling, without the mayo.
You can serve this Tuna Salad with Cottage Cheese as shown with a fork, over a bed of salad greens, with crackers, in a sandwich or in a wrap. Anyway you jazz it up, it makes a crazy simple and delicious lunch you'll make again and again. It's also great for making ahead and keeps well in the fridge.
Since I'm often working through lunch while the boys are at school, I'm always looking for something easy to make for lunch and this Cottage Cheese Tuna Salad fits the bill perfectly. Even the Hubs and the twins like it!
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Why You'll Love this Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad recipe...
- This Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad is super high in protein and low in calories!
- It's a perfect no mayo tuna salad!
- It's super delicious and tasty. No, you don't taste the cottage cheese.
- It's only 5 ingredients, but customizable to your own tastes on how you prefer your tuna salad. Feel free to add your favorite tuna salad ingredients.
- You can make this ahead for meal prep and enjoy it during the week for an easy lunch.
Ingredients:
Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.
- Canned Tuna: I like the use big, flaky albacore tuna for this, but you can use your favorite type or what you have in the pantry. If you plan on eating it frequently, you might want to consider buying a low mercury tuna, like this one. To prep the tuna, drain it well. I prefer tuna packed in water, but you can use the type packed in olive oil.
- Cottage Cheese: Cottage Cheese is what replaces mayo or sour cream in this. You can use low-fat cottage cheese or full-fat cottage cheese depending on your dietary preferences. Full-fat will give you more creaminess. I leave the cottage cheese chunky, but you can actually blend in a food processer or blender before adding it to the egg salad to give it a creamier texture.
- Celery: I love adding celery to my tuna salad to give it some texture and crunch. This is a great place to customize your tuna salad and add the veggies you like in it. I've included a list of suggestions below.
- Pickle Relish: Adding pickle relish to salads like this is an easy way to add tangy flavor and pickles to the recipe. This is the way my family has always made egg and tuna salad. If you don't have pickle relish, you can dice up dill pickles.
- Celery Salt: A touch of celery salt to give the tuna salad that familiar taste.
- Salt and Black Pepper
Instructions:
This is an overview of the instructions to make Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the tuna, cottage cheese, celery, pickle relish, and celery salt. Stir carefully until combined.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with crackers, in a sandwich or in a wrap.
Variations
I love this Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad as written, but here are some fun variations and additions to add to your salad.
- Dijon Mustard
- Fresh Herbs- dill, parsley, basil, or chives
- Diced Red Bell Pepper
- Diced Red Onion
- Tomatoes
- Green Onions
- Lemon Juice
- Capers
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Hot Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Diced Hard Boiled Eggs
- Diced Avocado
- Olives
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Chopped Apples
- Dried Cranberries
FAQ
Storage & Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. I would not try to freeze this.
Is it ok to eat cottage cheese with tuna?
Yes! Pairing cottage chees with tuna makes a healthy and delicious lunch or snack. The cottage cheese can take the place of mayo, making it a much healthier tuna salad.
Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad
This Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad is one of my favorite quick and easy lunches. I make it often, and I hope you will try it too. Even if cottage cheese isn't your favorite, I really think you will love it. If you love this, also give my Cottage Cheese Egg Salad a try.
Give it a try and let me know what you think. Here are some of the ways I eat it.
How to Serve:
- Over a Bed of Salad Greens or Lettuce
- With Crackers
- With Sliced Cucumber or Celery
- In a Sandwich
- In a Wrap
- In a Lettuce Wrap
- With a Fork
More Cottage Cheese Recipes to Try:
- Cottage Cheese Egg Salad
- Cottage Cheese Egg Bake
- Cottage Cheese Eggs
- Cottage Cheese Alfredo
- Cottage Cheese Toast Ideas
- Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
- Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough
- Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
- Cottage Cheese Queso
- Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl
More Tuna Recipes to Try:
- Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad
- Tuna Egg Salad
- Tuna Melt Mini Bell Peppers
- Ahi Tuna Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Tuna Tostada
- Tuna Ceviche
If you make these Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cans of tuna - 5 ounces, drained
- ¼ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the tuna, cottage cheese, celery, pickle relish, and celery salt.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with crackers, in a sandwich or in a wrap.
Notes
Nutrition
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