I’ve been making The Best Mayo-Free Tuna Salad for years, and I doubt I’ll ever tire of it.
I posted this recipe a few months ago on Tik Tok and it went viral overnight. I still get messages to this day from people who now consider this a staple in their kitchen.
I like a mayo based tuna salad too, don’t get me wrong, but this version is so incredibly flavorful and unique that it’s irresistable. I like to make it on a weekend and have an easy, nutritious lunch all throughout the week. It’s perfect for meal prep.Â
The pepperoncini are a star here, they add that burst of briny flavor that makes the salad come alive. I love to use their brine in the dressing too, to really turn up the volume. Â

“what else can I use?”
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I like to use Genova tuna in olive oil for this (I buy it at Costco), but feel free to use the good quality tuna you like best.
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Pepperoncini is really the game changer here, but if you don’t want to go out and buy some, you can use pickles instead.
- Red wine vinegar can be replaced with white wine, apple cider, or balsamic vinegar.
- Don’t care for capers? Omit them. Â
If you make this Mayo-Free Tuna Salad, and I hope you do, i want to hear from you! send me a message on instagram, or post a photo to your stories and tag me so I can share your creations. enjoy!

The Best Mayo-Free Tuna Salad
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Can opener
Ingredients
- 4 cans Albacore tuna, packed in olive oil
- 1/2 cup white or red onion, minced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 6 pepperoncini peppers, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp capers, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup pepperoncini brine
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp Fresh cracked black pepper