Canned tuna is a versatile and affordable ingredient that fits perfectly into a ketogenic diet. It's high in protein, low in carbs, and readily available, making it ideal for quick and easy meals. Whether you're looking for a comforting casserole, a quick salad, or a creative tuna melt, there are plenty of keto-friendly tuna recipes to explore.
Keto Tuna Melt Cups
When you think of tuna, mayonnaise and celery, you might think of a classic tuna salad sandwich. These baked tuna melt cups made in a muffin pan are more than that. They're a baked treat that makes a great grab-and-go lunch or snack.
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt
- Salt and pepper
- Canned tuna
- Celery
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F and coat muffin tin with avocado oil spray.
Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl. Then add the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, salt and pepper and whisk together.
Fold in the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Read also: Learn how spa therapy can enhance your overall health.
Place mixture in greased muffin pan.
Bake for 25 minutes or until cheesy tops are golden brown.
- If you use a muffin pan with bigger openings, you might only get six or eight servings. No muffin pan or cups? No problem. You can bake this in a glass dish or bread pan the way you might an egg loaf.
The best thing about these tuna melt cups is that they freeze well. That means they’re great for a grab-and-go lunch or snack.
Keto Tuna Melt with Tomato
This easy keto lunch recipe is made with fresh tomato, tuna salad, and melted cheese. It’s the perfect addition to your keto meal plan and makes a great keto lunch or a light keto dinner.
Ingredients
- Canned tuna (albacore tuna in water preferred)
- Mayonnaise
- Red onion
- Celery
- Dill relish (sugar-free)
- Tomato
- Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, Colby Jack, or parmesan)
Instructions
- Make the Tuna Salad - In a bowl combine the tuna, mayonnaise, red onion, celery, and dill relish. Stir to combine.
- Assemble - Place the four tomatoes slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle a little pinch of salt on top of each tomato slice.
- Add 1/4 of the tuna mixture on top of each tomato slice.
- Top each one with a slice of cheese.
- Bake - Set oven to Broil and place the baking sheet in the oven.
Cheese Variations
- Mozzarella: Anything that has mozzarella and tomato in the same recipe is bound to be amazing!
- Swiss: The tanginess of swiss cheese is impressive for tuna melts too.
- Provolone: Melted provolone is so creamy and delicious, it’s a great option.
- Colby Jack: Using Colby Jack is a fantastic idea because it adds lots of color and flavor too.
- Parmesan: Use some shredded parmesan, or sliced. Keep in mind parmesan is pretty salty, so you won’t need a ton of it.
Nutritional Benefits
These open-faced tuna melts are very healthy and provide you with much-needed vitamins and minerals. Tuna has plenty of nutrients by itself like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, potassium, iron, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Tomatoes not only add lots of color to your tuna melts, but they are also filled with calcium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, and phosphorus. Cheddar cheese isn’t just amazing on sandwiches; it’s rich in protein, calcium, vitamin A, and good fats. Mayonnaise is a fantastic source for vitamin E and is high in good fats.
Read also: Facial oil: Benefits and how to use
Storage and Reheating
You can store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Keep them airtight in a container with a sealed lid so that they last the longest. Always check before serving to make sure that they haven’t gone bad.
To reheat a tuna melt you can simply reheat the tuna melt in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes until it’s hot. Use a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a paper towel. Another option for reheating is to warm the oven up to 350 degrees F. Then, place the tuna melts onto a baking dish and warm them for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted again, and it’s hot. Another thing I want to point out is that you can absolutely eat a tuna melt cold as well, which is what I usually do.
Keto Tuna Casserole
This delicious keto tuna casserole has no noodles, but it has plenty of flavor! It's a comforting and satisfying dish made with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- Canned tuna (skipjack tuna canned in water preferred)
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Shredded cheese (cheddar or Gruyere)
- Chopped red onion
- Salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, ¼ cup of cheese, onion, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
- Transfer the mixture to a small, 1-quart casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of shredded cheese on top.
- Bake the casserole until hot, for about 15 minutes.
- Remove it from the oven and sprinkle it with parsley for garnish.
- Serve immediately, with cut-up veggies and/or pork rinds for scooping out.
Tips
- Preventing a Dry Casserole: If the casserole becomes dry, increase the mayonnaise to ½ cup.
- Adding Bulk: Add 2 cups of cooked riced cauliflower and increase the mayonnaise to ½ cup.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve it with something for scooping it out, such as fresh-cut veggies, keto crackers, or pork rinds.
Storage
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze the casserole for later: Once completely cool, you can wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of foil.
Keto Tuna Patties
These keto tuna patties are made with canned tuna and are SO easy to make!
Read also: The role of alpha-keto acids in metabolism.
Ingredients
- Canned tuna (in water preferred)
- Pork
Instructions
- Mix well to combine.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Form the tuna mixture into four patties, and place them in the skillet.
Easy Keto Tuna Salad
This easy keto tuna salad is a high protein, low carb staple that uses only a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
Ingredients
- Canned tuna
- Mayonnaise
- Dried onion flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix well.
Tuna Melt Fritters
These tuna melt fritters are such a great way to use up your canned tuna.
Ingredients
- Tuna fish
- Onion
- Mozzarella
- Eggs
- Parsley
- Mayo
- Sriracha
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the tuna fish and mash with a fork. Next add in the onion, mozzarella, eggs, parsley, mayo, Sriracha, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix it all together to incorporate.
- Add a light drizzle of oil to a non stick pan and cook about 1/4 cup each fritter, flatten it out and cook 3 minutes per side.
- Serve with the aioli or some lemon slices.
Creamy Keto Tuna Salad
This keto tuna salad recipe is so creamy and bursting with flavor!
Ingredients
- Canned tuna (in olive oil or water)
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Red onion
- Pickles (sugar-free gherkins or dill relish)
- Dill
- Lemon juice and mustard
Instructions
- Drain the tuna and put it in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the finely chopped celery, onions, pickles and the chopped dill.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, lemon and mustard to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing onto the salad and stir to combine.
- Let the salad sit in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.
Variations
- Red or green bell pepper - finely diced.
- Chili flakes or hot sauce - 1 teaspoon of sriracha sauce adds a whole new flavor dimension.
- Minced garlic - This is a really interesting addition, and I often add it.
- Parsley or cilantro - These are good alternatives if you cannot source dill. Always choose fresh herbs over dried.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this keto tuna salad on a slice of your favorite low carb bread. If I don't have bread in the house, I sometimes make a quick slice of this 90 second keto bread in the microwave. The salad is also fantastic served on flaxseed crackers or these crispy chia seed crackers. Instead of making a sandwich, spoon the salad on cucumber slices or into halved bell peppers. We also enjoy it in a lettuce wrap.