Need help finding a recipe?

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crumb Top Baking

Simple, Approachable Desserts and Savory Recipes

  • Home
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Desserts
  • Subscribe
  • Photography
You are here: Home / Salads / Tuna Salad Without Mayo or Yogurt

Tuna Salad Without Mayo or Yogurt

July 19, 2023 Updated: September 11, 2023 By Leanne 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

You’ll love this creamy, dairy-free tuna salad without mayo or yogurt! It’s tangy, delicious and loaded with crunchy celery and red onion. Serve it with your favourite crackers for a protein packed snack or enjoy it as a meal in these tuna lettuce wraps.

We always have canned tuna stocked in our pantry for easy lunches and dinners. It’s healthy, has a long shelf life and works in a variety of recipes. One of our faves is this white bean tuna salad (also made without mayo)!

Overhead view of no mayo tuna salad in a bowl with veggies and crackers on the side.

I grew up eating canned tuna sandwiches with plenty of mayo. It’s delicious, but can be a bit heavy. Nowadays, when I enjoy canned tuna, I load it up with plenty of veggies and seasonings and mix in some mashed avocado, cashew mayo or dairy-free sour cream, as is the case with the recipe I’m sharing today.

Many of the no mayo tuna salad recipes you’ll find use yogurt as the substitute for mayo. I wanted to make this tuna salad recipe dairy-free, and since I haven’t found a thick, dairy-free yogurt that I like yet, I used dairy-free sour cream instead. It’s thick, creamy and tangy like yogurt, and works perfectly in this recipe.

Why you’ll love this no mayo tuna salad recipe

  • Easy, make ahead recipe. It takes just 15 minutes to make a batch and it stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Versatile. You can enjoy it on its own, on crackers, in a sandwich or stuffed into wraps.
  • Flavourful. It has amazing flavour thanks to the tanginess of fresh lemon juice, vinegar and capers.
  • Dairy-free. As mentioned above, this tuna salad recipe is yogurt free and made creamy thanks to some dairy-free sour cream.

Details on the ingredients

Below is just an overview of the ingredients. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact quantities used.

Ingredients to make tuna salad without mayo arranged in individual dishes.

Tuna – I used flaked white albacore tuna packed in water. For a chunkier version, you can also use solid white albacore tuna. I wanted to keep this recipe light, but for additional flavour, you can use a tuna that’s packed in oil.

Sour cream – To keep this recipe dairy-free, you’ll want to use dairy-free sour cream. I’ve tried a number of different brands, and there is definitely some difference in flavour and texture. A thick sour cream, like Tofutti, works best for this recipe.

Lemon juice – This adds extra tanginess to the sour cream. Be sure to use freshly squeezed instead of bottled lemon juice.

Vinegar – A little apple cider vinegar also adds tanginess. You can use distilled white vinegar as well.

Mustard – For even more flavour and texture, we are opting for whole grain dijon mustard in this recipe. It adds a sharp, peppery punch. Feel free to use regular dijon mustard if you prefer.

Sugar – To balance all of the tangy flavour, you’ll need just half a teaspoon of sugar. I used cane sugar, but you can also use granulated sugar.

Seasonings – We’re keeping it simple with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.

Celery – I absolutely love the crunch of celery with tuna. You’ll need 3 stalks diced into small pieces.

Red onion – For more crisp texture and flavour, diced red onion is also added to the tuna salad. Feel free to use yellow or white onion for a bolder flavour, or use chopped green onion or chives.

Capers – These are small little buds that come from caper bushes. They are usually pickled and add a salty, savoury flavour to dishes.

How to make tuna salad without mayo

This recipe couldn’t be easier to make!

First, add the sour cream, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, sugar and seasonings to a bowl and stir until combined.

Sour cream mixture stirred together in a bowl with cans of tuna, capers, chopped onion and celery surrounding it.

Then, add in the drained tuna, red onion, celery and capers. Stir until everything is combined.

Serve immediately or cover and store in the fridge for an hour or so to let the flavours meld.

Tuna salad ingredients mixed together in a bowl.

Recipe substitutions and variations

  • For even more flavour, add some sweet green relish or chopped dill pickles.
  • Replace the red onion with chopped green onion or chives.
  • Replace some of the chopped celery with finely chopped or shredded carrots.
  • Add chopped red or green peppers, or for a spicy kick, some chopped jalapeños.
  • Speaking of spicing it up, add some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
  • For a smokey flavour, add a little smoked paprika or chili powder.
  • If you don’t need the recipe to be dairy-free, use regular sour cream or Greek yogurt.
  • I also love this recipe with my homemade cashew mayo instead of sour cream. Just use half a cup of the mayo and leave out the lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, garlic powder and onion powder from the tuna salad recipe as the cashew mayo is already well seasoned.
Side view of tuna salad in a small bowl on a platter.

FAQs

What can I substitute for mayo in tuna salad?

There are so many options for replacing mayo in tuna salad including dairy-free sour cream, Greek or Skyr yogurt, mashed avocado or even hummus.

How long will no mayo tuna salad last?

If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, no mayo tuna salad should last for up to 3 days.

How do you serve this tuna salad recipe?

We love it served with a plate of crackers, pretzels and veggies. Thick cut chips, air fryer pita chips or air fryer tortilla chips are also great for scooping up the tuna salad. It’s also delicious served as a wrap or sandwich using your favourite bread, croissants, bagels, tortillas or lettuce leaves.

Key recipe tips

  • Dice the celery and red onion into small pieces so they mix well with the tuna and other ingredients.
  • To avoid a watery tuna salad, make sure the canned tuna is well drained.
  • While you can enjoy the tuna salad right away, I like to let it rest in the fridge for about an hour to let the flavours blend.
  • If you want a creamier tuna salad, feel free to use a little more sour cream.
  • Make sure your sour cream is thick and creamy. Runnier sour creams may make the tuna salad a little runny.
Tuna salad in a bowl on a platter with crackers and veggies surrounding it and lemon wedges and chopped parsley on the side.

More recipes made without mayo

  • Chipotle Dip
  • Dairy-Free Caramelized Onion Dip
  • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Salmon Pasta Salad

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

HUNGRY FOR MORE?  Follow Crumb Top Baking on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Tuna salad without mayo in a small bowl on a platter with crackers and veggies.

Tuna Salad Without Mayo

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Leanne
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Lunch
  • Method: Chop & Stir
  • Cuisine: American, Canadian
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe
Save Recipe Recipe Saved

Description

You’ll love this creamy, dairy-free tuna salad without mayo or yogurt! It’s tangy, delicious and loaded with crunchy celery and red onion. 


Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dairy-free sour cream
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons whole grain dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cane sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cans albacore flaked white tuna (packed in water), drained
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 tablespoons diced red onion
  • 1 tablespoon capers, drained

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, add the sour cream, mustard, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
  2. Add the tuna, celery, red onion and capers. Stir until everything is combined.
  3. Serve immediately or cover and store in the fridge for an hour to let the flavours meld.


Notes

  1. Dice the celery and red onions small so they mix in well with the tuna and other ingredients.
  2. To avoid a watery tuna salad, make sure the canned tuna is well drained.
  3. If you want a creamier tuna salad, feel free to use a little more sour cream.
  4. Make sure your dairy-free sour cream is thick and creamy. I used Tofutti brand for this recipe. Runnier sour creams will make the tuna salad a little runny.
  5. Be sure to check out the other sections above the recipe card for more detailed advice and suggestions for making this recipe.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crumbtopbaking on Instagram and hashtag it #crumbtopbaking

Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Light Lunch Recipes, Salads, Seafood, Snacks

Previous Post: « Cherry Chia Pudding (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)
Next Post: Tuna Lettuce Wraps (No Mayo, No Yogurt) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debbie says

    May 28, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    Dairy-free but has sour cream?

    Reply
    • Leanne says

      May 28, 2024 at 8:33 pm

      Yes, the recipe calls for dairy-free sour cream.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Leanne

Hey there! I'm Leanne and welcome to Crumb Top Baking. I'm a self-taught baker, home cook and food photographer, and I'm passionate about sharing well-tested, simple and approachable desserts and savory recipes. Learn more about me and what you'll find on Crumb Top Baking....

Follow Crumb Top Baking

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Find a recipe

AIR FRYER RECIPES

Air fryer chicken parmesan served on plates with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Close up view of air fryer cornflake chicken strips on a plate.

Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Strips

Close up view of a slice of air fryer frittata on white parchment paper.

Creamy and Fluffy Air Fryer Frittata with Spinach, Bacon and Cheese

Close up of air fryer ham and cheese sliders with one turned on its side to show the ham and cheese filling.

Air Fryer Ham and Cheese Sliders

Copyright © 2025 crumbtopbaking.com - Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Pinterest image for tuna salad without mayo.
Crumb Top Baking Text LogoLogo Header Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Desserts
  • Subscribe
  • Photography