Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad (No Mayo!)

Name: Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: two 5 ounce (142 g) cans tuna packed in water (see note 1); 1/2 cup (120 g) plain Greek yogurt (recommended: full fat or 2%); 1/3 cup (45 g) finely chopped celery (about 1 medium rib); 1/3 cup (45 g) finely chopped red onion (about 1/4 medium onion); 2 1/2 tablespoons (35 g) sweet pickle relish; 1 tablespoon (14 g) Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste (see note 2); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; pinch cayenne pepper (optional); fine mesh strainer (see notes 3 - 4)

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You can make a deliciously creamy and healthy tuna salad without mayo, using Greek yogurt instead! This Greek yogurt tuna salad is tangy, yet well balanced, with a hint of sweetness from pickle relish. Plus, it's easy to make in only 10 minutes, with 6 ingredients (not counting salt and pepper).

Greek yogurt tuna salad sandwich cut in half on wooden board

Tuna salad is a classic, but if you want to lighten it up a bit without sacrificing flavor and that delicious creamy texture, you have to try my recipe for Greek yogurt tuna salad!

Along with the must-have tuna salad ingredients of freshly chopped red onion, celery, and Dijon mustard, this tuna salad also has a generous dollop of sweet pickle relish. The sweet pickle relish is actually one of the secrets to this delicious salad - it helps balance the tang from the yogurt.

Plus, I have one more secret to making this tuna salad without mayo the best ever - make sure to drain the tuna super-duper well! This way, you aren't watering down the flavors. And, you get a nice firm tuna salad, rather than a watery mess! This is especially important for tuna salad with Greek yogurt, because the yogurt is a little less firm than mayo.

If you have some Greek yogurt leftover after making this Greek yogurt tuna salad, you can use it to make creamy tahini pasta, yogurt dill sauce, or creamy tomato cucumber salad!

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient notes

Greek yogurt: I recommend using full fat or 2% Greek yogurt, rather than fat free. This will better replicate the creamy taste and texture that usually comes from mayo.

Canned tuna: I used solid white albacore, but you can use any type of canned tuna you prefer. I talk more about picking a type of tuna for tuna salad in the Recipe FAQs section below.

Relish: I highly recommend using sweet pickle relish, rather than dill relish. In my opinion, that sweetness does so much to help balance the tanginess from the yogurt. But, if you prefer dill relish, go for that!

Step by step photos

1. The first step to making this tuna salad with Greek yogurt is to prepare the vegetables. All you need to do is finely chop the red onion and celery, and set them aside for now.

red onion being chopped on cutting board with chopped celery on the side

2. The next step is to make the Greek yogurt dressing for the tuna salad. Add the sweet relish, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and seasonings to a medium bowl. Whisk everything together to combine.

seasonings being added to bowl with tuna dressing ingredients inside

Greek dressing for tuna salad being whisked together in bowl

3. Now we will prepare the canned tuna. Here is where the "magic" happens! As I mentioned in the intro, draining the tuna really well is so important to getting a creamy, not watery, tuna salad.

To do this, add the two cans of tuna to a fine mesh strainer, either set over a bowl to catch the juice, or just held over the sink. Squeeze the tuna firmly, and press it down into the mesh of the strainer to remove as much of the liquid as possible. (If you don't have a fine mesh strainer, check out the Tips and tricks section for an alternate idea.)

As you can see from the last picture, the tuna should be very dry when finished with this process.

hand squeezing moisture from tuna over strainer

4. Once you are done draining the tuna thoroughly, add it to the bowl with the Greek yogurt. Also add in the finely chopped onion and celery.

drained tuna being added to Greek yogurt dressing in bowl

celery and onion being added to Greek yogurt tuna salad

5. Then, just mix everything up together until it's well combined. Give the tuna salad a taste, and add more salt, pepper, and/or cayenne if you like.

Greek yogurt tuna salad being mixed with wooden spoon

Tips and tricks

This recipe calls for a fine mesh strainer. This is because you can firmly press the tuna down into the strainer to remove as much moisture as possible, without pieces falling through the larger holes of a colander. Draining the tuna very well will give the tuna salad a firmer texture and more flavor.

If you don't have a fine mesh strainer, line a regular colander with a piece of cheesecloth or, in a pinch, a single sheet of clean paper towel. This will allow you to press the tuna into the colander to help it drain, while keeping the smaller pieces of tuna from falling through the holes.

This recipe was developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt. To substitute Morton kosher or regular table salt, start with a little less than the ½ teaspoon salt called for. Then, and add more as needed to taste.

You can enjoy this Greek yogurt tuna salad right away. But, for even better flavor, let it sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight first.

Storage instructions

How long is tuna salad good for?

As long as the yogurt you are using is fresh, Greek yogurt tuna salad will keep well in the fridge for 3 - 4 days. Just store it in an airtight container so it won't dry out or pick up off flavors from the fridge. If the salad dressing has separated a little bit after a stay in the fridge, just give it a quick stir.

Can you freeze tuna salad?

I don't recommend freezing tuna salad, especially tuna salad with yogurt. The yogurt will break down in the freezer, affecting the creamy and smooth texture. Instead, you can enjoy leftovers stored in the fridge, for up to 3 - 4 days.

Additions and substitutions

Here are some ideas on how to mix up this tuna salad with Greek yogurt:

For extra texture, use chopped sweet pickles instead of relish.

For a salty, briny flavor, add in a tablespoon or two of chopped capers.

If you really like tangy flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Tired of canned tuna? Make this same recipe using canned salmon or chicken.

For even more protein, add in a chopped hard boiled egg.

A tablespoon or two of chopped herbs can add a nice freshness and beautiful color; try chopped parsley, dill, or chives.

Recipe FAQs

What tuna is best for tuna salad?

I recommend using "solid" tuna, rather than "chunk" tuna. Solid tuna comes in larger pieces, which adds more texture to the salad and makes it easier to drain out more of the liquid.

However, this tuna salad recipe will still work with any type of canned tuna. If you want the tuna salad to be lower in calories and fat, choose tuna packed in water rather than tuna packed in oil.

For more in-depth info on canned tuna, check out this article explaining the labeling on various types of canned tuna.

Why is my tuna salad watery?

The biggest way to ensure your tuna salad is not watery is to do a very thorough job of draining it before adding it to the other ingredients. Squeeze out as much moisture from the tuna as possible, using your hands to press the tuna against the fine mesh strainer.

In addition, when making tuna salad with yogurt, make sure not to add the watery part of the yogurt to the salad. If the yogurt is separated when you open the container, either pour out the liquid or stir it back into the yogurt before measuring.

What should I serve with tuna salad?

Tuna salad is versatile and can be served a number of ways. For a simple lunch, try it on a sandwich or wrap with lettuce and tomato, or scooped onto crackers. It would also taste great stuffed into a tomato or avocado half, or on top of a pile of greens for a simple salad.

To round out the meal, you can serve it with an easy side like air fryer fingerling potatoes or lemon herb roasted asparagus. For an even more filling meal, pair the tuna salad (either in a sandwich or on top of salad greens) with a cup of soup, like lentil potato soup or sweet potato black bean soup.

Greek yogurt tuna salad sandwich on wooden board

If you've tried this recipe, please leave a star rating and/or review in the comments section below, I would love to hear from you! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And sign up for my weekly newsletter to get recipes delivered straight to you!