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Tuna Salad with Apples

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Ready in just 15 minutes, this Apple Tuna Salad is my go-to for a light, easy lunch or a quick snack. Whether you’re serving it on bread, crackers, or lettuce cups, it’s sure to become a favorite.

Tuna salad with craisins, apples, pecans, celery and mayonnaise in a white bowl.

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Growing up, Tuesday nights meant one of two things: tuna salad or sloppy joes. With my mom working late, my dad took charge in the kitchen, often whipping up a simple tuna salad with mayo and chopped sweet pickles.

While I fondly remember those meals, my taste for tuna salad has evolved over the years. Nowadays, I enjoy experimenting with different flavors and textures to elevate this classic dish.

One of my favorite variations is this sweet tuna salad, where the diced apples and cranberries complement the savory tuna, creating a delicious balance.

If you’re in the mood for a more traditional tuna, check out my recipe featuring pickle relish and hard-boiled eggs.

Tuna salad on bread cut in half stacked on top of each other with an apple in the shot.

Recipe Notes

  • Rough Chop for Balanced Bites – I like to finely chop all the mix-ins, including giving the craisins a rough chop, to ensure every bite is perfectly balanced.
  • Choose Your Preferred Tuna – I typically use solid white albacore for its firm texture and mild flavor, but chunk light tuna works just as well if you prefer a softer consistency.
  • Lighten It Up – For a lighter version, swap out the mayo for Greek yogurt or use a combination of both.
  • Make it ahead – This salad gets even better after a couple of hours in the fridge.
  • Serve it your way – This salad is great in sandwiches, lettuce wraps, on crackers, or straight from the bowl!

How to make Apple Cranberry Tuna Salad

Ingredients to make cranberry tuna salad with text overlay.

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.

Ingredients in a bowl before mixing to make sweet tuna salad.

Step 2: Mix all the ingredients. Chill if possible for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Serving Suggestions

  • Charcuterie Board: Add a sweet and savory element to your charcuterie board by including this salad alongside cheeses and fruits.​
  • Crackers: Scoop the salad onto your favorite crackers for a quick and satisfying snack.​
  • Sandwich: Layer it between slices of multigrain bread for a classic tuna salad sandwich.​
  • Lettuce Cups: For a lighter, low-carb option, serve the salad in crisp lettuce leaves.​
Apple tuna salad served on crackers.

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Recipe

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Tuna Salad with Cranberries and Apples in a bowl with crackers and celery.

15-Minute Tuna Salad with Apples

Jill Machovsky
A quick and flavorful twist on classic tuna salad—featuring crisp apples, sweet craisins, crunchy celery, and pecans. Ready in just 15 minutes!
4.62 from 13 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 409 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounce Tuna in water
  • ½ cup Green Apple diced
  • ½ cup Pecans chopped
  • ½ cup Celery chopped
  • ½ cup Craisins chopped
  • ½ cup Mayonnaise

Instructions
 

  • Drain the tuna well and place it in a medium mixing bowl. Use a fork to break it up into smaller pieces.
    12 ounce Tuna in water
  • Add the diced green apple, chopped pecans, celery, craisins, and mayonnaise to the bowl. Stir until everything is evenly combined and coated. If possible, chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.
    ½ cup Green Apple, ½ cup Pecans, ½ cup Celery, ½ cup Craisins, ½ cup Mayonnaise
  • Serve on bread, crackers or lettuce cups.

Notes

Store any leftover tuna salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 18gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 375mgPotassium: 263mgFiber: 3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 139IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
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Comment

sweet tuna salad in a bowl with two forks, lettuce to wrap the tuna around and crackers

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I don’t like using a lot of mayonnaise, I buy tuna in olive oil and only drain part of the oil out then I can use just a little mayonnaise if I wish

  2. 5 stars
    I love tuna salad and this recipe just knocked my socks off lol! Loved it! Thank you for sharing!

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