Compartmentalized Tuna Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-21 · Updated 2026-04-21

A classic tuna salad with distinct textural layers of creamy tuna, crisp lettuce, and fresh vegetables, designed for easy portioning like file folders. This american-inspired salads ready in about 15 minutes pairs (5 oz, drained) canned tuna, mayonnaise, finely diced celery into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 can (5 oz, drained) canned tuna
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup, finely diced celery
• 2 tbsp, finely diced red onion
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 4 cups, torn butter lettuce
• 1/2, sliced avocado
• 1/4 cup, thinly sliced radishes

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine drained canned tuna, 3 tbsp mayonnaise, diced celery, diced red onion, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Mash with a fork until evenly mixed with visible texture.
2. Step 2: Divide 4 cups of torn butter lettuce among individual plates to form a base layer.
3. Step 3: Spoon the tuna mixture evenly over the lettuce on each plate, creating a distinct central layer.
4. Step 4: Arrange sliced avocado and radishes in a single layer atop the tuna mixture. Serve immediately to maintain layered structure.