This easy flavorful cottage cheese tuna salad has 29 grams of protein per serving and uses cottage cheese in place of mayo. It’s just as delicious as classic tuna salad but made a little bit lighter and higher protein!

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Why you’ll love this

After both my Cottage Cheese Egg Salad and Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad were such a big hit, I knew I needed a tuna salad version too! Using high protein cottage cheese instead of mayo has become one of my favorite ways to use cottage cheese.

There are so many reasons to love this cottage cheese tuna salad, here are just a few!

• It’s high protein! This tuna salad packs 29 grams of protein per serving, so it’s going to keep you full and satisfied and support your protein intake goals.
• There’s no mayo. If you’re not a big mayo fan, you’ll love this cottage cheese swap instead of mayo. And if you’re not a fan of the cottage cheese texture, don’t worry, it gets blended and adds the perfect creamy texture to the cottage cheese.
• It’s delicious. This tuna salad is SO flavorful and has everything you love about traditional tuna salad made with mayo.
• It’s perfect for meal prep! This tuna salad stores well, so you can make it at the start of the week for easy lunches.

There’s nothing like a delicious high protein recipe that’s perfect for prepping ahead. You’re going to love this one!

Ingredients

1. Cottage cheese: You need cottage cheese, of course! My favorite is the whole milk Good Culture small curd cottage cheese, but you can use any kind you like.
2. Canned tuna: I like to use canned albacore tuna for this one. You can feel free to use any can of tuna that you like.
3. Red onion: I prefer the bite of red onion, but sweet onion or green onions works here too.
4. Celery: Crunchy celery is a must for tuna salad!
5. Dill pickles: Pickles add just the right amount of tangy brine-y flavor to this tuna salad. You can also use sweet pickles or capers instead.
6. Garlic: Adding a finely minced or microplaned clove of garlic adds an amazing amount of fresh flavor to this recipe.
7. Lemon: Fresh lemon juice adds the perfect amount of bright citrus flavor.
8. Dijon mustard: I love the flavor of dijon mustard in this recipe. You can use yellow mustard too but it makes the tuna salad a bit tangier.
9. Fresh herbs: Fresh dill, chives or parsley are all great here.
10. Salt + black pepper

How to make cottage cheese tuna salad

1. Using a blender or immersion blender in a small container, blend cottage cheese until smooth and creamy. You can also leave the cottage cheese with curds if you want to.

2. In a medium bowl, combine tuna (drain well to remove excess water), cottage cheese, celery, red onion, pickles, dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. Add hot sauce to taste if desired. Note: If you like a drier tuna salad I recommend starting with 1/3 cup of cottage cheese and then working up to 1/2 cup to your personal preference.

3. Serve as a sandwich, with crackers, in a lettuce wrap, or however you typically enjoy your tuna salad! You can also serve on top of greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and Italian dressing for an easy salad option.

How to store

Store leftover tuna salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Variations

• Add diced red bell pepper for more veggies and flavor!
• Add cayenne pepper or minced jalapeño for a spicy version.
• Omit the pickles and add cranberries or diced apple for a salty and sweet version!
• For even more protein add 2 diced hard boiled eggs.
• Use plain Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese.
• Add some diced avocado for healthy fats and creaminess!
• Serve in mini bell peppers for an easy nutrient-dense lunch!
• Top crackers and drizzle with your favorite olive oil and crushed red pepper for an easy appetizer!

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