Tuna Lettuce Wraps Recipe

If you're thinking of a light, crisp meal, consider making lettuce wraps. This twist on a classic uses the lettuce wrap, but pairs it with tuna instead of ground chicken or beef. The inside filling is just like a classic tuna salad, and it comes complete with a little but of mayo, celery, onion, and a lot of other great ingredients that give it a spectacular flavor. The combination of the smooth tuna salad and the crunch and coolness of the lettuce is next level good. This meal also makes us feel better about what we are putting in our bodies because lettuce and tuna are both good for you.

Recipe developer Hayley MacLean of Happy Healthy Hayley is the brains behind this wonderful recipe that will keep you feeling full but still fit. "My favorite part of this recipe is how quick and easy it is! It makes for the perfect fast lunch or even a light dinner," MacLean raves. "Plus, for how quickly it comes together, it is just bursting with flavor! The red onion and mustard have a nice acidity, while the capers give little bursts of salinity. The main star, though, is definitely the tuna — and all the other ingredients back it up so well." Keep reading to find out how to make these yummy tuna lettuce wraps.

To begin this recipe, you'll need a few cans of tuna in water as the base of the tuna salad. You will also need some mayonnaise and a few veggies, including finely chopped celery and onions.

Next, add some capers to the salad, followed by whole grain mustard. You will also need some fresh chopped parsley, lemon juice, and then salt and pepper to taste. Last but not least, make a stop in the produce aisle for butter lettuce leaves.

This is one of the easiest recipes you will ever make, and it only takes a few minutes to put together. As a reminder, you should have done some prep work ahead of time, like chopping your celery and onions. Now, all you need to do is take out a mixing bowl, and throw in the ingredients. Start with the canned tuna, and then add mayo, which gives this salad a smooth and creamy base.

After the mayo, you will want to add in the chopped celery, chopped red onion, pickle relish, and capers. Finally, add the remaining items (which give this dish incredible flavor), including whole grain mustard, parsley, and lemon juice.

Once you have all of the ingredients in your mixing bowl, you only need to take one other step. Simply mix the ingredients thoroughly. "When mixing, I prefer to use a spatula, as I feel like it really picks up the ingredients and blends them together well. However, you can definitely use whatever is available to you whether it be a spoon, fork, or anything else that will mix everything together thoroughly," MacLean shares. "I'd say mixing only takes a minute or two, it really does come together so fast!"

Now, just season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. It's all based on your preferences, so feel free to add as little or as much as you'd like. Be sure to stir once more to incorporate the salt and pepper. 

Now that you have finished mixing, it's time to get the tuna ready to serve. You can use the same bowl that you mixed the tuna in to serve it, or you could switch it to a different serving dish. Then, grab the lettuce leaves, top with tuna, garnish as desired, and serve the tuna lettuce wraps.

"This tuna salad of course is delicious in these lettuce wraps, however it is just as delicious as a sandwich, or eaten on its own with some crackers for dipping," MacLean shares. "I have been known to just enjoy it with a spoon as well — it is that good! While these are a great meal on their own, these lettuce wraps would go great with some steamed veggies or a light soup to keep the meal light and healthy." The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to this wonderful main course.

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The only real rule for tuna salad is that it have some sort of tuna as the base, so from there, you can really get creative and customize it to your liking. This recipe keeps things pretty straightforward, opting to add in creamy mayo, crunchy veggies like celery and red onion, and even some tangier additions like capers and pickle relish. To introduce a hint of sweetness to the mix, considering adding in chopped apples, sliced grapes, or dried cranberries.

A common tuna salad mistake is underseasoning it, so to mitigate this possibility, consider adding other seasonings and spices to the mix. This recipe keeps it simple with salt and pepper, but options like paprika, garlic powder, or even a sprinkle of dried herbs could really boost the flavors. Also, liquid flavoring agents like Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce would help to add a nice savory, salty undertone, just be sure to only include a dash or two.

When it comes to tuna, there are a whole lot of health benefits, and MacLean explains them the best herself. For starters, she highlights the fact that water-packed canned tuna is a great lean protein. "It is also one of the best dietary sources of vitamin D, which can be hard for many people to get during these winter months," she explains. 

MacLean also notes that tuna is good for bone health, since it is a calcium-dense food, and it overall provides a wide range of nutrients and general health benefits. Tuna also ranges in price, with canned options — like what this recipe calls for — being very cost-effective and easy to find. Also, since canned tuna is such a neutral food, you can easily dress it up and incorporate other healthy options, like veggies or even Greek yogurt, to boost the nutritional value up that much more.

This tuna is so good that you likely won't have anything left over. But if you do, MacLean gives great instructions on how to store it. "Leftovers are good for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator," she says. "The best part about this tuna salad is that the flavors continue to meld together as it sits in the fridge, so it is great to make a day or two ahead, then enjoy throughout the week."

As for how to serve the leftovers, you can keep it simple and serve the exact way you did the first time, in butter lettuce leaves. Of course, tuna salad is a versatile main, so you could easily elevate it into a tuna salad sandwich, served on bread, or serve it with crackers on the side. You can also just enjoy tuna salad as-is, leftovers or otherwise, straight from the bowl.

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