This tuna caesar salad recipe is a quick, gourmet twist on a classic dish that is perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s made with protein-rich tuna, crispy lettuce, savory parmesan cheese and crunchy croutons. You can make your own croutons and dressing for a truly homemade version or use store bought for a quick and easy meal. This salad is healthy, delicious and easily customizable with your favorite toppings. It is a great lunch to meal prep and it comes together in less than 15 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Salad
This salad can be made in less than 15 minutes!
It is the perfect salad to meal prep for lunch.
Tuna is a great source of protein, making this salad a satisfying and nutritious meal.
This salad is easily customizable!
It’s really easy to make this recipe gluten free, dairy free and allergy-friendly.
Clean up time is minimal for this recipe!
This salad is a budget-friendly meal.
Equipment Needed
All you need to make this salad is a bowl or plate. If you are making the croutons homemade, you will need a baking dish.
Ingredients Needed
Lettuce: The best type of lettuce for this tuna caesar salad is romaine lettuce. It has a crisp texture and a slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with the savory caesar dressing. Some alternative options are little gem, butter lettuce and arugula.
Tuna: Using canned tuna in this recipe makes it a quick and easy recipe! I like to use Safe Catch because they test each tuna for mercury and use 100% sustainably-caught fish.
Parmesan: Parmesan cheese is a key ingredient in caesar salad. It adds a savory and salty flavor to the salad, and it also helps to thicken and emulsify the dressing. The sharpness of the parmesan cheese also helps to balance out the richness of the dressing and the other ingredients in the salad. If you are dairy free, feel free to use dairy free parmesan cheese.
Caesar Dressing: Caesar dressing is the signature dressing for a caesar salad. The dressing adds a rich, umami flavor to the salad and also helps to coat and emulsify the lettuce. Feel free to use store bought dressing or make your own! If you are looking to make your own dressing I highly recommend my friend Karli’s homemade caesar dressing.
Celery: Celery adds some delicious crunch to this tuna caesar salad!
Egg: Adding an egg adds some extra protein, flavor and nutrients into this tuna caesar salad! Feel free to omit if you are not able to tolerate eggs.
Croutons: The croutons add texture and flavor to this salad. Feel free to buy them from the store or make your own at home. If you are gluten free, use gluten free croutons here or make your own gluten free croutons at home!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Gather your ingredients.
Step 2: Assemble your salad beginning by placing your lettuce on the plate or in the bowl.
Step 3: Add in tuna, parmesan, celery, eggs and croutons.
Step 4: Drizzle salad with caesar dressing and enjoy!
Storage
To store this tuna caesar salad, I recommend storing the salad separate from the dressing. See below for more details on how to meal prep this salad. Feel free to store this salad in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Variations
Here are some variations for tuna Caesar salad:
- Mediterranean tuna caesar salad: Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives and feta cheese to the salad.
- Spicy tuna caesar salad: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the salad.
- Avocado tuna caesar salad: Add sliced avocado to the salad.
- Crunchy tuna caesar salad: Add chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans to the salad.
- Asian fusion tuna caesar salad: Add sesame seeds, ginger and soy sauce to the dressing.
- Mexican tuna caesar salad: Add chopped cilantro, salsa and tortilla chips to the salad.
You can also get creative with the type of lettuce you use in your tuna Caesar salad. In addition to romaine lettuce, you can also use kale, spinach or arugula.
Adding extra vegetables is also always a great idea! Try adding cucumber, tomato, carrots, red onions, bell peppers or crispy chickpeas!
If you are not a huge tuna fan, you can also swap tuna out for a different canned fish or chicken.
No matter how you choose to make it, tuna caesar salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. So get creative and experiment with different variations to find your favorite recipe!
How To Serve
- Soup: Pair your tuna caesar salad with a warm bowl of soup, such as tomato soup, chicken noodle soup or lentil soup. Try pairing this salad with my favorite chicken noodle soup recipe.
- Pasta: A small side of pasta, such as penne, rotini, or fusilli, can be served with tuna caesar salad for a more filling meal. Try pairing it with my pumpkin pasta recipe.
- Rice: Rice is another great side dish for tuna caesar salad. Try white rice, brown rice or basmati rice.
- Roasted vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or carrots, are a healthy and delicious side dish for tuna Caesar salad.
- Fruit: A side of fruit, such as apples, oranges or grapes, can add sweetness and freshness to your meal.
How To Meal Prep Tuna Caesar Salad
This salad is amazing meal prep for lunch! Assemble the salad by adding the lettuce, parmesan, celery, tuna and croutons into meal prep containers. I would recommend making this meal up to 2 days before you are consuming it to keep it very fresh. I like to meal prep 2 days of this salad for my fiancé and 3 days of a different meal.
How To Make Your Own Croutons
Making your own croutons is really quick and easy! Cut bread into cubes and toss them with olive oil, garlic powder and salt. Bake the croutons in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Store the croutons in an airtight container at room temperature.
Recipe FAQ
Is caesar salad a healthy salad?
A traditional caesar salad can be high in calories, but there are ways to make the salad more nutrient-dense, such as adding veggies or making your own dressing.
What can I mix with tuna to make it taste better?
I would recommend mixing mayo, lemon juice, dijon mustard, celery, onion, relish, capers, sriracha, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, fruit and/or nuts with tuna. Experimenting with different flavors to see what you like!
Can I use fresh tuna instead of canned?
Yes! Feel free to use fresh tuna instead of canned tuna.
Why do they call it caesar salad?
Caesar salad is named after its creator, Caesar Cardini, an Italian restaurateur who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Cardini invented the salad in 1924 on July 4th, when he ran out of ingredients for other dishes and needed to create something quickly for his customers. He used what he had on hand, which included romaine lettuce, olive oil, raw egg, croutons, parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce. The salad was a hit with the customers, and it quickly became a popular dish.
How do I prevent this salad from getting soggy?
To prevent the salad from getting soggy, my biggest tip is to assemble it right before you are going to eat it!
Can I double or triple this recipe?
Yes! This tuna caesar salad is a great recipe to double or triple, especially when you’re hosting!
Can I make my own caesar dressing?
Yes! I prefer to make homemade caesar dressing. I highly recommend my friend Karli’s homemade caesar dressing.
Related Recipes
Try out these delicious meal prep ideas next:
Blueberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Bake
Blueberry Hazelnut Chicken Salad
If you make this tuna caesar salad and love it, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or Tik Tok.
Tuna Caesar Salad
Equipment
- 1 bowl or plate
Ingredients
- 1 package lettuce romaine
- 2 cans tuna I like Safe Catch brand
- 2 cups croutons store bought or homemade
- 3 stalks celery
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese dairy free if needed
- 8 tsp caesar dressing store bought or homemade
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- Assemble your salad beginning by placing your lettuce in bowl or on plate.
- Add in tuna, parmesan, celery, eggs and croutons.
- Drizzle salad with caesar dressing and enjoy!
