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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
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
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.
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.
Recipe FAQ's
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.
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.
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!
📖 Recipe
Tuna Caesar Salad
Ingredients
Homemade Croutons
- 4 cups sourdough bread cubed
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Caesar Dressing
- ½ cup mayo
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Tuna Caesar Salad
- 8 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 14 ounces canned tuna drained
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
- ½ cup croutons store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup Caesar dressing
Instructions
Homemade Croutons
- Cut a sourdough loaf into ½-inch cubes, then toss the bread with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Bake croutons in a 400°F (204°C) oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.
Caesar Dressing
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk the Caesar dressing together and check for seasoning.
Tuna Caesar Salad
- Prep your lettuce - Chop and wash romaine lettuce and put it through a salad spinner to dry the lettuce.
- Drain the tuna - Use a fork to flake tuna into smaller chunks.
- Toss the salad - In a large bowl, combine romaine lettuce, tuna, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing, and croutons.
Cinda Lou RAUPE-HULTNER says
This recipe sounds delish and easy to make.
Mike Cleavenger says
I love that this salad packs in over 40g of protein and is so easy to make!