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    Home » Recipe Round-Ups

    10+ Healthy Tuna Lunch Ideas - Easy and Budget Friendly!

    Published: Aug 4, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    This collection of healthy tuna lunch ideas are budget-friendly, easy to make, absolutely delicious, and perfect for lunch at school or work. Let's put a can of tuna to good use with these recipes utilizing the classic pantry staple!

    tuna lunch ideas featured image

    Canned tuna is a pantry staple that everyone usually has on hand at any given time. It's a great source of protein, is quick and easy to use, lasts a really long time in the pantry, and is very versatile. Plus, canned tuna is budget-friendly as well.

    The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can make with a can of tuna, especially for lunch when you want a healthy, yet fast meal.

    Canned tuna lends itself well to quick salads of all kinds, from creamy mayo-based salad (and also mayo-free creamy tuna salad), to leafy green salad, and even tuna pasta salad.

    But tuna salad doesn't stop there; you can eat it as as sandwich or wrap. Or enjoy it on crackers or stuffed into vegetables, such as avocado or bell pepper halves.

    Canned tuna provides inspiration way beyond tuna salad though! Tuna burgers and tuna cakes (patties), tuna noodle casserole, and even tuna fried rice are all great options if you want an economical hot lunch that utilizes a can of tuna.

    In this collection of healthy tuna lunches, you'll find something for everyone. If you're looking for the best recipes with canned tuna, bookmark this article so you can find it again easily!

    tuna lunch ideas

    Tuna Lunch Ideas

    Tuna Caesar Salad
    This is an easy tuna caesar salad recipe that's ideal for a quick weekday lunch! It features canned tuna and crisp escarole greens tossed with a lemony caesar dressing.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna caesar salad
    Crispy Tuna Cakes with Quick Remoulade Sauce
    These easy Tuna Cakes with Quick Remoulade Sauce are crispy and flavorful, delicious served hot or cold, and only take 20 minutes to make! They're great for meal prep, so make a double (or triple!) batch.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna cakes recipe featured image
    Punched Up Tuna Salad
    If you're going to make tuna salad, why not make the best tuna salad of your life?! This easy recipe has lots of delicious and flavorful add-ins, such as capers and lemon. Serve it on bread or with crackers and fresh vegetable sticks.
    Check out this recipe
    punched up tuna salad on cracker
    Tuna Pasta Salad
    This Tuna Pasta Salad deliciously pulls together pasta, tuna and delicious summer vegetables with a creamy dressing. It’s great for school lunches as a filling non sandwich lunch idea.
    Check out this recipe
    Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole Recipe
    This cheesy tuna noodle casserole recipe is budget-friendly and easy to make from scratch for the perfect weeknight meal! For a slight twist on classic tuna casserole, it has Old Bay Seasoning and a buttered toast topping.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna noodle casserole recipe featured image
    Tuna Salad Collard Wrap
    This is the perfect healthy lunchtime wrap! This Tuna Salad Collard Wrap is loaded with nutrition, and light and refreshing yet satisfying. It's perfect for meal prep and stays fresh in the fridge for a few days.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna salad collard wrap
    Tuna Rice Balls
    Tuna Rice Balls pack a ton of protein and are fun to eat, which makes them great for lunch boxes for kids and adults!
    Check out this recipe
    Tuna Rice Balls
    Healthy Tuna Salad in Bell Pepper Bowls
    This healthier Tuna Salad recipe is loaded with crunchy celery, creamy avocado, basil, capers, kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, and sun-dried tomatoes. It's versatile to eat - roll it up in tortilla wraps, serve it in colorful bell pepper bowls, or scoop it into lettuce leaves for low carb lunches!
    Check out this recipe
    Lentil Salad with Tuna
    This Lentil Salad with Tuna packs a protein punch that will keep you satisfied until dinner! It's full of healthy goodies like carrots and kale. Flavor it with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing and you're good to go!
    Check out this recipe
    tuna lentil salad
    Tuna Avocado and Cucumber Sushi
    Have you made your own sushi? It’s not as hard as you think and it makes a fantastic option for healthy school lunches!
    Check out this recipe
    tuna avocado and cucumber sushi
    No Mayo Tuna Salad
    Lighten up a classic tuna salad with this healthy tuna salad recipe with Greek yogurt! High-protein Greek yogurt, high-fiber chickpeas, and flavorful fresh dill are mixed with tuna to make a quick and easy creamy tuna salad.
    Check out this recipe
    Healthy Tuna Salad without Mayo
    Folded Kimbap Sandwich (Attorney Woo)
    This Folded Kimbap Sandwich recipe is a fun, easy and delicious Korean street snack that had its claim to fame with the K-drama, Extraordinary Attorney Woo. It's simple to make and versatile for lunchboxes with almost endless filling possibilities!
    Check out this recipe
    attorney woo folded kimbap roll
    Tuna Burgers
    Quick and easy Tuna Burgers make it simple for anyone to enjoy a delicious seafood burger for any meal! For a lighter lunch, you can serve these Tuna Burgers on a bed of salad greens, or along with sliced veggies.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna burgers
    Tuna Fried Rice
    This tuna fried rice recipe is very easy to make, which means it's a good option for lunch! It's also budget-friendly, made with canned tuna and leftover rice.
    Check out this recipe
    tuna fried rice

    Tuna Lunches FAQs

    How Do You Eat Tuna For Lunch?

    Well, in its most basic form you can bring a can of tuna wherever you go, open it (don't forget a can opener if your tuna needs it), and enjoy. It's a great source of protein!

    But really, any of these tuna recipes are a good option for lunch.

    If you have a microwave, you can choose a hot lunch with tuna, such as tuna fried rice or tuna burgers.

    No worries if you need a cold tuna lunch, there are plenty of options there as well, like tuna avocado and cucumber sushi or lentil salad with tuna.

    And then there are some - pretty marvelous - tuna dishes that you can eat hot, cold, or at room temperature; I'm looking at you, tuna cakes!

    Is Canned Tuna a Good Lunch?

    Absolutely! Canned tuna is a lunchtime staple, and here's why:

    • Affordable - canned foods, including canned seafood and meat, is a budget-friendly pantry staple that packs a lot of bang for its buck
    • Great source of protein - to help keep you full until dinnertime
    • Quick and easy - many of these tuna lunch ideas are really fast because canned tuna is cooked and ready to use
    • Versatile - yes, you can definitely just open a can of tuna and dive in; however, there are nearly endless possibilities if you feel like creating something a little more interesting
    • Pantry staple - canned tuna will last a really long time in your pantry; and you probably already have a can (or two!) on hand

    Is it OK to Eat 2 Cans of Tuna a Week?

    Yes. According to the FDA, 2 to 3 servings of canned tuna per week is fine. Here's what it says on their website:

    I eat a lot of tuna, especially canned light tuna because it is particularly affordable. Is this okay? Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish. You may wish to try other affordable fish in the “Best Choices” category such as canned salmon or sardines, frozen fish, or fresh fish that are at a reduced price.

    U.S. Food & Drug Administration
    the best tuna lunch ideas pin

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    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

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