15-Minute Keto Tuna Salad with Hard-Boiled Eggs
Quick, protein-packed salad featuring tender lettuce, flaked tuna, creamy eggs, and tangy lemon mayo. Light enough for lunch, substantial enough for dinner. Perfect for keto and paleo diets. No cooking required beyond boiling eggs.
Ingredients
- 1 small head Little Gem lettuce, torn and washed
- 3 ½ oz Little Gem lettuce, or similar tender lettuce variety
- 5 oz tinned tuna, drainedcanned salmon, canned mackerel1:1neutral
alternative fish with similar texture and protein
- 2 large hard-boiled eggs, cooled and halved
- 2 tbsp paleo mayonnaise, or homemade mayoregular mayonnaise1:1neutral
standard mayo works; removes paleo claim
- 1 medium green onions, or chives, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, or null
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, or null
- sea salt, or null
Instructions
- 1
Tear lettuce leaves, wash and spin or pat dry
- 2
Spread lettuce in serving bowl
- 3
Add drained and shredded tuna
- 4
Mix mayo with lemon juice
- 5
Top salad with halved or quartered eggs, mayo mixture, and chopped green onions
- 6
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt
Tips
Prepare components ahead and assemble just before eating to keep lettuce crisp and prevent sogginess.
Mix mayo with lemon juice first so the acidic dressing coats evenly throughout the salad.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container up to 1 day. Best consumed same day for lettuce crispness.
Hard-boil eggs and prepare lettuce up to 1 day ahead. Assemble just before serving.
Serve immediately after assembly at room temperature or chilled, as preferred.
Common Mistakes
Do not assemble more than 15 minutes ahead to avoid soggy lettuce.
Ensure tuna is fully drained to prevent excess liquid pooling in bowl.
Substitutions
standard mayo works; removes paleo claim
alternative fish with similar texture and protein
FAQ
Can I make this ahead?
Yes, prepare components separately. Hard-boil eggs and wash lettuce up to 1 day ahead. Assemble just before eating to maintain lettuce crispness. Dressed salad becomes soggy within 15 minutes.
Can I freeze this salad?
Not recommended. Lettuce and eggs become mushy when thawed. Freeze only the cooked eggs separately for up to 3 months if needed.
How long does it keep?
Unassembled components keep 1 day refrigerated. Once assembled, consume within 2 hours for best texture, though components stay fresh up to 24 hours separately.