Tuna salad is a classic go-to for quick lunches.
However, this cranberry tuna salad recipe adds a delicious twist you didn’t know you needed. The sweet pop of dried cranberries mixed with savory tuna and creamy mayonnaise takes this simple dish to a whole new level. It’s flavorful, satisfying, and comes together in just minutes—perfect for busy weekdays, light dinners, or healthy meal prep. If you’re looking for a new meal for your lunch rotation, this easy recipe is sure to become a favorite!
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Ingredients You’ll Need For This cranberry tuna Salad Recipe
This cranberry tuna salad recipe comes together with just a handful of ingredients:
- Canned tuna (drained)
- Celery stalks
- Red onion
- Mayonnaise
- Dried cranberries

How to Make This Cranberry Tuna Salad Recipe
I found this cranberry tuna salad recipe in Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals, by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier, an ebook I received during my Primal Health Coach Certification course. Ready to bring this meal to life? Let’s walk through the quick and easy steps to make this cranberry tuna salad recipe in just a few minutes.
Step 1 – Chop the vegetables.
Start by chopping the celery stalks and red onion. Both ingredients should be finely chopped.

Step 2 – Combine all the ingredients.
Combine all of the ingredients – the tuna, celery, red onion, mayonnaise, and dried cranberries – into a large bowl.

Step 3 – Mix and serve!
Mix all the ingredients until the mayonnaise evenly coats the other ingredients. If the tuna salad seems too dry as you’re mixing, feel free to add a bit more mayonnaise.

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Tuna salad Recipe
There are so many reasons to love this cranberry tuna salad recipe! It has a unique and tasty flavor combo – savory from the tuna and sweet from the dried cranberries. It’s also such a quick and easy recipe to prepare. If you’re a quick chopper, you can easily prepare this meal in under 10 minutes. This cranberry tuna salad recipe is healthy and protein-packed, so you’re satisfied and not looking to snack any time soon! It’s also a great recipe for meal prep and quick lunches. I love to make it on a Monday morning and eat portions of it throughout the week for lunch! It’s one less decision I have to make each day.
frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about This Cranberry Tuna Salad Recipe
Have a question or two about making or storing this cranberry tuna salad recipe? You’re not alone! Here are some common questions – along with tips to make this recipe work for you.
Yes! Like I said earlier, I like to make it on a Monday and eat it throughout the week for lunch. I try to finish it within 5 days.
The best tuna really depends on your own personal preferences for taste and texture. I like to use chunk light tuna packed in water and I break up the chunks further as I’m mixing it. One thing to keep in mind is what else is added to the can. I like the Nature’s Promise brand since that’s one of the few cans of tuna that I found that doesn’t contain soy.
Any kind of mayo would work but one thing to keep in mind is that traditional mayonnaise tends to be loaded with unhealthy seed oils and artificial ingredients. I like to use Primal Kitchen Mayo since it’s made with clean, high-quality ingredients like avocado oil, organic eggs, and vinegar. No canola oil and no soy!
The first time I made this recipe I used Ocean Spray’s 50% less sugar dried cranberries (shown in the first photo). While less sugar is good, that type contains Sucralose which is an artificial sweetener. Now I either use Ocean Spray’s Original kind or the Nature’s Promise brand. Look at the ingredients included to make sure that you aren’t choosing a type with artificial, processed ingredients.
Yes! The dried cranberries give this recipe a kid-friendly twist!
Below is the full recipe from Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals, by Mark Sisson and Jennifer Meier.

Cranberry Tuna Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz canned tuna
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise, or more to taste
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Simply mix ingredients together in a bowl.
Simple ingredients can create something truly delicious!
This cranberry salad recipe proves that! With its sweet-tangy flavor and satisfying texture, it’s perfect for everything from weekday lunches to make-ahead meal prep. I hope this recipe brings a little extra ease (and flavor!) to your routine.
If you’re looking for more nourishing meals that fit into your busy life, be sure to explore my other recipe blog posts:
- Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast
- Quick & Healthy Hot Cereal
- Healthy Steak Salad
- Spicy Egg Salad
- Crustless Broccoli Quiche
- Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops with Carrots
- Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
- Slow Cooker Herbed Pork Roast
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