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An easy tuna salad loaded with dried cranberries, crunchy celery, spices & mayo then topped over sweet apple slices! These cranberry tuna salad bites are made in minutes & packed with flavor! They’re perfect for an easy lunch!
I feel like tuna salad is one of those things where you either love it or hate it…or you’re super picky with how it’s made. (That was me growing up.😂) But I have to say my adult self absolutely loves all types of tuna salad now. Especially these cranberry tuna salad bites!
Sweet, salty, crunchy, savory– it’s all the things you want in a good tuna salad! (Or dare I say, the best tuna salad?!) And I love how simple they are to make too! They’re a great idea for meal prepping or an easy lunch idea for work! Plus the kiddos love them too! Think back-to-school lunches, after-school snacks, they’re perfect for so many things!
Try my Mediterranean Tuna Salad or Tuscan Tuna Pasta Salad next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Canned tuna: We use Wild Planet’s Albacore tuna and love it! I’d suggest using tuna that’s canned in water or it’s own juices for the best flavor.
Dried cranberries: We love the sweet and tart flavor they add! (We use Ocean Spray Craisins for ours.)
Celery: Adds texture and crunch to your tuna salad!
Green onion: Use the green and white parts for maximum flavor!
Mayonnaise: A must for tuna salad – in my opinion.😉 (You can always add more or less mayo depending on your personal preference.)
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice works the best! You’ll only need 2 tablespoons for a full recipe so 1 lemon should work.
Spices: Salt and black pepper are all that’s needed!
Apples: Use sweet crisp apples for the best results! (We love Cosmic crisp or Honeycrisp apples.)
How To Make Cranberry Tuna Salad Bites
1. Prepare the tuna. Drain your tuna and mash it with a fork in a shallow bowl.
2. Mix. Add the rest of your tuna salad ingredients to the bowl and mix until it’s fully combined. Then taste and adjust your salt and pepper if needed. (Sometimes I’ll start with a ⅓ cup of mayo and add 1-2 tablespoons more if still looks dry.)
3. Cut the apple. Cut your apple into thin slices and remove the core from each slice. (We’ll usually cut a square around the core to remove it.)
4. Serve! Scoop your tuna salad onto each apple slice and serve!
Storing
This cranberry tuna salad is amazing when it comes to leftovers or meal prep lunches! For storing, keep your tuna salad in the refrigerator in an air tight container until you’re ready to eat. It should stay good for 3-5 days if stored properly.
Serving Suggestions
Apples not your thing?! No worries! There’s so many options for serving this cranberry tuna salad instead!
- Serve it with your favorite crackers!
- Make a tuna sandwich using your favorite bread!
- Wrap it in a tortilla for a fun tuna wrap!
Why you’ll love this tuna salad recipe!
- A low carb / high protein lunch! Sliced apples replace the bread/crackers making these bites an easy healthy lunch option!
- Inexpensive! We’re using simple every day ingredients that most of you already have at home!
- Perfect for the kiddos! They’re so fun to eat & make a great after school snack or easy lunch!
Need it gluten free? Great news, it already is!
Need it dairy free? Great news, it already is!
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Cranberry Tuna Salad Bites
An easy tuna salad recipe packed with dried cranberries, celery & simple spices then topped over sweet apple slices! These cranberry tuna salad bites made in minutes & loaded with flavor! They're perfect for an easy lunch!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple, cranberry, cranberry tuna salad, lunch recipes, tuna salad bites, tuna salad recipes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Caitlin
Ingredients
- 10 oz. canned tuna, drained (2 5oz. cans)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼-⅓ cup celery, diced
- ¼ cup green onion, thinly sliced
- ⅓-½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1-2 medium apple, sliced (for serving)
Instructions
Place the tuna to a shallow bowl and mash it with a fork.
Then add the dried cranberries, celery, onion, mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper, if needed. (Sometimes I'll start with a ⅓ cup of mayo and add 1-2 tablespoons more if I think it needs it.)
Remove the core from each apple slice using a sharp knife. (We'll usually cut a square around the core to remove it.)
Scoop your tuna salad onto each apple slice and serve immediately.
Notes
*The amounts listed for the salad ingredients are suggested amounts. If you prefer more or less of an ingredient please feel free to alter the recipe to your preference.
More lunch recipes you might like:
- Guacamole Chicken Salad
- Easy Guacamole Egg Salad
- Avocado Salsa Shrimp Salad
- Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad
Tags
apple tuna salad cranberry cranberry tuna salad lunch recipes seafood recipes Spring recipes summer recipes tuna recipes tuna salad tuna salad bites tuna salad recipes
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