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This Tuscan white bean tuna salad recipe is inspired by one of my favorite food memories. Years ago, while traveling through Tuscany, I discovered this incredible white bean tuna salad at a small local restaurant. I loved it so much, I went back three times just to have it again! It was a simple, rustic dish – just tuna and creamy cannellini beans tossed with olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs but it was bursting with flavor. Ever since that trip, I’ve wanted to recreate a version that brings back those delicious memories.
Now, here it is! This Tuscan-inspired tuna salad is light, satisfying, and full of vibrant flavor. It’s made without mayo, just like my Mediterranean tuna salad, healthy tuna salad, and tuna salad with capers. Also, it’s packed with protein and comes together in just minutes. Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch, a quick dinner, or a fresh meal prep option, this easy white bean tuna salad is perfect to keep in your weekly lunch rotation.
Why You Will Love This Tuscan Tuna Salad
- Protein & Fiber: This tuna salad is packed with protein and fiber, making it a balanced meal!
- Flavorful: This white bean tuna salad is incredibly flavorful.
- Easy: It’s easy to mix together in one bowl.
- Healthy: This tuna salad is lightened up. There’s no mayonnaise and only two teaspoons of olive oil.
- Meal Prep: This white bean tuna salad recipe is perfect for meal prep!
Ingredients Needed
- Tuna: Use two cans of albacore tuna in water.
- Cannellini Beans: Rinse and drain one can of cannellini beans (white beans).
- Tomatoes: Chop the cherry tomatoes for a burst of flavor in each bite.
- Onion: Dice the red onion for crunch and flavor.
- Capers: Add a briny, tangy kick that brightens this tuna salad.
- Seasonings: Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Herbs: Add chopped fresh parsley and basil, or substitute with dried.
- Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Adds a delicious punch of flavor.
Substitutions & Variations
- Dried Herbs: If you don’t have fresh parsley and basil, substitute with dried parsley and basil, but use about half the amount.
- White Beans To Use: You can use cannellini beans or Great Northern beans.
- Tuna Options: Use canned tuna in water, not oil. Some great options are albacore, tongol, yellowfin, or skipjack tuna. If you only have tuna in oil, drain it and omit the oil from this recipe.
How To Make White Bean Tuna Salad
Step 1: Drain the albacore tuna. After that, rinse and drain the white cannellini beans. Then, chop the cherry tomatoes and dice the red onion.
Step 2: Add the albacore tuna, white cannellini beans, tomatoes, red onion, capers, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, basil, olive oil, and red wine vinegar to a large bowl.
Step 3: Thoroughly mix the ingredients in the bowl and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This white bean tuna salad recipe is versatile and easy to change up. You can eat it as is or add it to a tossed salad, make a tuna melt, stuff a fresh tomato with it, or even enjoy it with a few crackers. The options are endless, and we love to give you options!
Expert Tips
- Chill: Let this tuna salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors further meld together.
- Don’t Over-Mix: Lightly mix everything to keep the beans from getting mushy.
- Make More: Easily double this recipe to make more tuna salad for meal prep!
Storage Instructions
If you meal prep, this recipe is for you! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is White Bean Tuna Salad Healthy?
This white bean tuna salad recipe is healthy. This recipe is high in protein from the tuna and packed with fiber from the beans. Also, this white bean tuna salad has no mayonnaise and only two teaspoons of olive oil. If you want to further lighten it up, omit the olive oil.
How Long Does White Bean Tuna Salad Last?
This white bean tuna salad will last up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
More Recipes To Try Next!
- Cranberry Apple Tuna Salad
- Tuna Burgers
- Salmon Burgers With Canned Salmon
- Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
- Waldorf Chicken Salad
- Curry Chicken Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
- Chicken Salad With Grapes and Tarragon
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
WHITE BEAN TUNA SALAD RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 cans of albacore tuna in water
- 1, 15 ounce can of cannellini beans (white beans)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1.5 teaspoons dried
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Drain the albacore tuna. Then, rinse and drain the white cannellini beans. Also, chop the cherry tomatoes and dice the red onion.
- Add the albacore tuna, white cannellini beans, tomatoes, red onion, capers, salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley, basil, olive oil, and red wine vinegar to a large bowl.
- Thoroughly mix the tuna salad and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- White Beans: You can use cannellini beans or Great Northern beans.
- Tuna Options: Use canned tuna in water, not oil. Some great options are albacore, tongol, yellowfin, or skipjack tuna. If you only have tuna in oil, drain it and omit the oil from this recipe.
- Meal Prep: If you meal prep, this recipe is for you! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Tuscan White Bean Tuna Salad combines flaky tuna, creamy white beans, and fresh herbs, all lightly dressed with olive oil and red wine vinegar. It’s a flavorful, protein-packed dish that’s perfect for a light lunch or healthy meal prep!
Hi! These recipe look delicious. I just don’t care for capers. Is there another ingredient I could use in place of them, or just leave them out? Thank you!
Hi! Thank you so much! If you’re not a fan of capers, you can absolutely leave them out, the recipe will still be delicious! Or, if you’d like a similar briny, salty flavor, chopped olives are a great substitute.