Tuna Caesar Salad (High-Protein + Meal Prep Friendly)

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You'll love this High-Protein Tuna Caesar Salad for a quick and easy meal. Think creamy Caesar dressing, crunchy romaine, and lean tuna all coming together in one easy bowl. Whether you are making lunch for the week or throwing together a quick dinner, this salad has your back.

Caesar salad with canned tuna, parmesan cheese, crispy croutons, and Caesar dressing served in a white bowl.

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When the fridge is looking bare and you're low on groceries, canned tuna comes to the rescue with over 40g of protein.

Use your favorite store-bought dressing or make my Caesar Dressing Without Anchovies.

The best part? It's meal prep-friendly. Just divide it into containers, keep the dressing on the side, and lunch is ready for the week. Whether you're working from home or packing lunch for the office, this salad holds up beautifully.

For more great salads, try my Mango Salmon Salad, Mexican Tuna Salad, or the Blackened Chicken Salad.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Recipe Variations
Step-By-Step Instructions
Chef Tips
Recipe FAQ's
More Salad Recipes
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💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

High in protein (40g+ per serving)
Great for meal prep
Anchovy Free Casesar dressing (optional)!
Easy to throw together

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is a visual overview of the Tuna Caesar Salad Ingredients. Scroll to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

Romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan cheese, croutons, tuna, and Caesar dressing.

Canned Tuna - I used Safe Catch Wild Ahi Yellowfin Tuna, which has 26g of protein per serving. Since I used the entire can (approximately 1.5 servings), this salad is packed with 43g of protein. Want to switch things up? Try it with grilled chicken, salmon, or even chickpeas.
Romaine Lettuce - Crisp and refreshing. You can swap it with kale or butter lettuce.
Caesar Dressing - Use your favorite store-bought brand or make it yourself. I skip the anchovies. To lower the calories, use 100% low-fat Greek yogurt in place of the Avocado Oil Mayo.
Parmesan Cheese - Shaved, grated, or shredded.
Croutons - Use a good-quality sourdough loaf for homemade croutons. For gluten-free use, GF croutons or crispy chickpeas.

See recipe card for quantities.

Recipe Variations

Spicy Tuna Caesar - Toss tuna with buffalo or sriracha sauce for a spicy kick! Have you tried my Crispy Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad?
Wrap it up - Use your favorite low-calorie wrap
Pasta Caesar Salad - Toss Caesar salad with a high-protein pasta like Kaizen Fusilli.
Low Carb Option - Skip the croutons and load up on proteins and healthy fats like avocados.

Tuna Caesar salad in a large round white bowl with wooden serving spoons.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Learn how to make a delicious Tuna Caesar Salad with crispy homemade croutons-complete with step-by-step instructions for a foolproof result.

Homemade Croutons

Cubed sourdough bread tossed in olive oil, and parmesan cheese on a parchment-lined sheet pan.

Step 1. Cut a sourdough loaf into ½-inch cubes, then toss the bread with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.

Crispy sourdough croutons on a parchment-lined sheet pan.

Step 2. Bake croutons in a 400°F (204°C) oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy. Stir the croutons 1-2 times while toasting.

Caesar Dressing

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Step 2. Whisk the Caesar dressing together and check for seasoning. Adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.

Make the Tuna Caesar Salad

Prep your lettuce - Wash, chop, and dry romaine
Drain the tuna - Use a fork to flake it into chunks
Toss the salad - In a large bowl, combine romaine lettuce, tuna, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and croutons.
Serve or store - Enjoy right away, or divide into containers for meal prep. (Keep the dressing separate until you're ready to eat.)

Chef Tips

Drain the tuna well to avoid a soggy salad.
Keep ingredients separate if meal prepping. I like to portion croutons into ziplock bags and have my creamy Caesar dressing and parmesan prepped and ready to go.
Make homemade croutons. I've never met a store-bought crouton that I liked! All you need is a loaf of sourdough and some olive oil.
Keep canned tuna on hand. I always keep canned tuna stocked in my pantry-it's perfect for throwing together a quick, healthy, high-protein salad like this Tuna Caesar or my Mexican Tuna Salad.

Drizzling dressing over a tuna Caesar salad with shaved parmesan cheese, and crispy croutons.

Recipe FAQ's

Is tuna good with Caesar salad?

Yes! Tuna is a great high-protein and low-calorie option to add to your Caesar salad, and it's delicious. The savory flavor of the tuna pairs well with a tangy Caesar dressing.

How do I meal prep this tuna Caesar salad?

Have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go-tuna flaked and drained, Caesar dressing made, Parmesan grated, romaine chopped and washed, and croutons crisped to perfection. When it's time to eat, just toss everything together for a quick, easy lunch.

What are the Tuna Caesar Salad Macros?

With 500 calories and 43g of protein, this quick and easy Tuna Caesar Salad is a macro-friendly option.

More Salad Recipes

If you tried this Tuna Caesar Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

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