Your go-to tuna just got a serious upgrade. These Tuna Salad Stuffed Bell Peppers are a quick, high-protein lunch that comes together in 10 minutes with no cooking required. Naturally paleo, Whole30-approved, and budget-friendly, this crunchy, satisfying meal is perfect for busy moms who need something fast but still filling.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 10 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 1
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 384 kcals and 34 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Tuna, bell pepper, paleo mayonnaise, paprika, salt, pickles, cucumber
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and Whole30-friendly
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Peppers stuffed with tuna are a budget-friendly and protein-packed lunch you can whip in minutes.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Skip the fluffed mayonnaise and all the ick that comes with it and whip up this Whole30-approved tuna salad instead. Made with paleo-friendly mayonnaise and seasoned until perfectly savory, these tuna salad stuffed peppers are a crunchy, low-carb snack, just like my tuna stuffed avocados. As a mom of three, I’m always looking for lunches that come together fast but still keep me fueled, and this one checks every box.
I love how simple this recipe is while still giving me a solid boost of nutrients and energy (just like this dairy-free Cobb salad). Whip them up fresh when you need something quick, or prep them the night before for an easy grab-and-go lunch. Either way, these stuffed peppers are one of those dependable, high-protein recipes you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again, kind of like a healthy chicken fajita bowl.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy: Made with only 5 main ingredients and ready in just 10 minutes, this tuna salad is the perfect high-protein busy mom lunch.
Healthy: This recipe uses a Whole30-approved mayonnaise that not only tastes great but also contains healthy ingredients.
Meal prep: You can easily make the stuffed peppers a day in advance if you need a super quick lunch.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Mayonnaise: In order for the tuna pepper boats to be Whole30 compliant, you need to use a Whole30-approved mayonnaise. I use the mayo from Primal Kitchen as I love the ingredients and it adds a great flavor to the recipe (I use it for wketo deviled eggs too).
- Bell peppers: Any color and size will work here. And if you need help growing your own peppers, learn about germinating pepper seeds to get them started!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Herbs: Adding in fresh parsley or other greens is a great way to increase the nutrient value and change the flavor; it works for these bell peppers stuffed with rice, too.
Pickled onions: In addition to the pickles, you can sprinkle some chopped pickled red onions into the mixture.
Cheesy: This can be used either by serving them cold or if you plan to make baked tuna stuffed peppers. Sprinkle your favorite cheese on top of the tuna. Great for air fryer stuffed peppers, too.
Cucumbers: If you’re not feeling peppers, spoon the tuna salad onto thick slices of cucumbers to enjoy it.
And to finish it off if you need something sweet, whip up these high protein birthday cake balls for a treat.
How To Make Tuna Salad Stuffed Bell Peppers
Step 1: Add all the salad ingredients into a bowl.
Step 2: Mix until combined, taste test, and adjust.
Step 3: Portion the tuna salad into the bell peppers.
Step 4: Enjoy immediately or save for later.
Expert Tips
Drain the tuna fully before you mix it; no one wants extra tuna water.
Whip up the tuna salad and taste test it. Then, adjust the seasonings as per your preferences. I actually like mine with a bit more pickle- add more if this is you!
I prefer this recipe in a raw bell pepper, not a roasted one. While roasted pepeprs canbe tasty, they'll fall apart a bit with this recipe, and the mix of raw tuna salad with a warm pepper isn't ideal.
Storing and Meal Prepping
You can store tuna-stuffed bell peppers once fully made or you can store the tuna salad separately from the bell peppers until you need them. If you do this, remix the tuna and adjust any seasonings.
If you're not going to enjoy the stuffed peppers immediately, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Know that the tuna mixture might be a bit more watery after sitting.
Tuna Salad Stuffed Bell Peppers FAQs
If you know you won't be eating them for a bit, store the tuna salad and the bell peppers in separate containers. This keeps the bell peppers from getting watery and ensures a crisp crunchy bite every time.
White or light flaked tuna in water tastes best when making tuna salad.
Tuna-stuffed peppers can be low-carb depending on how they're made. Avoid rice and use a cold tuna salad, but make sure to use a low-carb or keto-based mayonnaise or replace it with Dijon mustard instead to keep the overall carb count low.
More Whole30 Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this No Cook Tuna Salad Stuffed Peppers or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Whole30 Tuna Salad Stuffed Peppers
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can Tuna water drained
- 1 Bell pepper sliced in half and de-seeded
- ⅛ cup Whole30 mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Pickle diced
- 1 inch Cucumber diced
Instructions
- Slice the bell pepper in half and remove the seeds.
- In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the tuna salad until combined.
- Portion the tuna salad into the bell peppers.
- Enjoy.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Shelby S says
These make a great lunch or a light snack, either way it's a ton of protein!