If you’re craving a classic tuna salad or tuna melt, you can use one of these vegan tuna recipes for a meal that you’ll love. Check out these recipes to get plenty of tuna alternatives, made from vegan ingredients ranging from watermelon to heart of palm.
1. ‘Chickpea of the Sea’ Sandwich By The Simple Veganista
Before getting into super complex or specific recipes, this is a simple recipe to make vegan tuna or vegan tuna salad that tastes like it’s fresh out of the can. As the name implies, the base of this vegan tuna recipe is chickpeas, which have a similar texture and appearance to canned tuna fish when mashed.
The recipe features celery, onion, and vegan mayo, which help you achieve the delicate and balanced flavor of a traditional tuna salad. But if you’re still missing a strong fishy taste, you can add some nori or seaweed, which will enhance that salty fish flavor.
2. Watermelon Poké By Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen
If you want vegan tuna recipes that go beyond just tuna fish salad, you’ll be in awe of this marvelous recipe for vegan poke. Tuna poke bowls are an Asian dish with raw cubes of tuna that are a beautiful, bright red and have a soft, squishy texture.
To achieve this with vegan ingredients, you can marinate watermelon in soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and Sriracha. The watermelon will soften and soak up the rich Asian flavors.
After you marinate everything, you’ll have some very soft and squishy pieces of watermelon that taste and look like raw tuna! Eat the poke over rice, edamame, and other veggies for a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner.
3. Cheesy Vegan Tuna Casserole By Brand New Vegan
What list of vegan tuna recipes would be complete without a cheesy tuna casserole? This recipe from Brand New Vegan is gooey, filling, and achieves the same comforting flavor of a traditional tuna casserole.
In place of tuna fish, the recipe calls for artichoke hearts, which have a mushy texture and subtle flavor that mimics tuna well. They also come in a can, so you’ll feel like you’re using real fish!
The sauce includes nutritional yeast to get a cheesy texture and taste, plus potatoes, cauliflower, and carrots to bring the sauce to life. It’s hard to imagine a better tuna casserole, even if you used tuna.
4. Easy Vegan “Tuna” Melt By Minimalist Baker
Another classic dish that incorporates canned tuna is the tasty tuna melt. Tuna melts are simple; you just need bread, cheese, and tuna salad. But when you’re vegan, two out of three of those ingredients are a no-go.
Luckily, Minimalist Baker has the perfect recipe for you! The tuna substitute in this recipe is mashed chickpeas with vegan mayo that gives it the perfect texture, especially when warmed on the stove.
Then, all you need is normal bread and some vegan cheese to complete this stellar sandwich recipe. Mix some pickles and shallots into the tuna salad for a unique tang. You can even make some extra to have in a casserole later.
5. Sweet Potato Beet Pesto Tuna Bites By Whole Life Challenge
For a unique vegan tuna recipe, you’ll love these vegan tuna bites. Sweet potato rounds act as a tasty vessel for the other ingredients. Inside these sweet potato cups is an almond tuna salad with a nutty but fishy flavor. It uses mashed chickpeas, soaked almonds, and soaked cashews to achieve a light taste with a soft and delicate texture.
To top it all off is a vibrant and colorful beet pesto made with red beets, cilantro, basil, nuts, and fresh lemon juice. This may sound like an odd combination of ingredients, but they all combine for a flavorful and bold bite of food that will wow anyone who tries them. These bites will be perfect for your next dinner party or as a yummy afternoon snack.
6. Hawaiian Poke Nachos By MNVegHead
Poke nachos are a delicious take on the classic Mexican appetizer that uses seafood and Asian flavors in place of typical ingredients. It’s vibrant and refreshing, yet filling and satisfying at the same time.
This recipe uses tofu in place of the raw tuna, which mimics raw fish especially well. You fry the tofu for a slight crisp outside while the inside remains tender. Exchange nacho chips with wonton chips for an airy texture.
Finish the dish with a delectable Hawaiian sauce made of brown sugar, pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce or tamari, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and rice wine vinegar.
7. Tuna Lemon Pasta By FoodByMaria
Adding a can of tuna to a pasta dish is the perfect lazy dinner that will taste amazing and give you plenty of protein, but a dinner like this is not so simple if you’re vegan.
This super recipe from FoodByMaria uses ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen; lemon, parsley, pasta, garlic, and vegan tuna! This recipe calls for Good Catch Foods Tuna, a plant-based alternative to canned tuna, but you can also use mashed chickpeas or one of the other tuna alternatives from this list if you don’t want to buy the manufactured option.
8. Tuna Mushroom Casserole By Food.com
Tuna and mushrooms are a match made in heaven, but you can achieve that flavor combination using chickpeas too! Chickpeas are high in protein, so adding them to a casserole will give you a healthy, satisfying meal.
This recipe has everything you could want in a warm comfort meal, including onions, carrots, vegan butter, celery, vegetable broth, and more. The best ingredients in this recipe might be the French-fried onions and the potato chips which add a wonderful crunch to the dish.
The recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make, and it’s super easy. Kids and adults alike will love the warm and comforting flavor and special crunch this dish offers.
9. Vegan Ahi Tuna By PlantYou
This is another recipe that uses watermelon in place of fish. However, this vegan ahi tuna has a bigger kick with red pepper chili flakes and rice vinegar.
The nori strips add the salty sea flavor you expect when eating raw fish. You can pack up these marinated watermelon cubes and take them on a picnic or bring them to your next barbecue to feed your seafood-loving friends. It’s incredible how similar the texture of marinated watermelon is compared to raw tuna, so you may even be able to fool them if you season the watermelon perfectly.
10. Garlicky Corn and ‘Tuna’ Pasta By One Green Planet
Tuna pasta is a popular use for tuna, and this is one of the best vegan tuna pasta recipes out there. It is full of well-balanced flavors, from the savory taste of garlic to the sweetness of the corn.
The recipe uses four whole cloves of garlic, so you get a rich, deep garlic flavor. The corn adds a substantial texture that makes it more intriguing. The recipe includes some aromatic herbs like basil and thyme to soothe and satisfy. This meal is a super creamy dish because it features plant-based cream cheese, milk, and some tasty mustard.
11. Watermelon Tuna Burgers By Garden Grub
An ahi tuna sandwich is a massive piece of seared tuna sandwiched between bread. It’s a super filling and delicious lunch or dinner, and now, vegans can enjoy this sandwich thanks to the Garden Grub blog.
The sandwich features a massive piece of watermelon along with vegan wasabi mayo, Asian slaw, sliced avocado, and pickled ginger for an incredible melding of flavors. To make the watermelon juicy and soft, put them in an Asian marinade for 24 hours or more. This dish isn’t a quick one, but it will result in a delicious and unique burger any tuna lover will enjoy!
12. Curry Tuna Patties By Veganlovlie
Tuna patties are similar to crab cakes, but these are vegan! They’re delicious on their own, dipped in a yummy sauce, or sandwiched between two buns.
These patties are great for an afternoon picnic or barbecue when you want to bring something for all the vegetarians and vegans. They use cannellini beans, traditional curry spices like turmeric and coriander, and subtle flavors of seaweed for that ocean flavor. These patties have a delicate texture but hold up well in a sandwich.
13. Tuna Patties By Something Nutritious
If curry flavors are too bold for you, this is another tuna patty recipe with more traditional seafood seasoning, like what they put in crab cakes. Use vegan tuna to follow the exact recipe, but you can also swap it out for some mashed chickpeas, though that may change the texture.
These are a great option for meal prep, as you can squish them into a wrap, between two pieces of bread, or plop them on top of a green salad. They also make a delicious appetizer at your next dinner party!
14. ‘Tuna’ and Sweetcorn Sandwich By Vegan Recipe Club
Corn and tuna? If you’ve never heard of this combination, trust us; it’s fantastic. Vegan tuna pairs well with fresh sweet corn. This is a great sandwich to pack for lunch or bring to a picnic as it combines sweet corn with savory tuna substitute for a perfect balance of flavor.
It’s also one of the easiest vegan tuna recipes on this list, so you can make it in less than 10 minutes. You can use vegan canned tuna or mash up some chickpeas and use parts of another recipe on this list. Either way, this sandwich comes together in a snap and is super filling. Have it with a side of pasta salad or potato chips for a delightful meal.
15. Hearts of Palm Tuna Salad By Feasting At Home
If chickpeas aren’t your favorite food, you can still make vegan tuna without it. This recipe from Feasting At Home uses hearts of palm in place of chickpeas, as they have a similar flaky and delicate texture. The recipe also gives you the option to substitute jackfruit, but jackfruit has a much sweeter taste than hearts of palm, and may cover the tuna fish taste you’re aiming for.
Other than the tuna substitute, all you need are some herbs, mustard, vegan mayo, onions, and pickles, and you have a delicious vegan tuna salad! You can plop it on top of some leafy greens for a healthy lunch or make a tuna melt if you want something warmer.
16. Tuna And Potato Mornay By Traditional Plant-Based Cooking
While it looks similar to a tuna pasta bake, a mornay features potatoes instead of pasta as one of the main ingredients. The recipe uses chickpeas in place of tuna with a base of spinach, potatoes, and dried dill. These base ingredients create a rich and creamy meal ideal for a cold evening when you want something super satisfying and decadent.
The mornay sauce is similar to a bechamel but with extra acidity from the added vinegar. This meal will be a new favorite among everyone in your house, including the kiddos!
17. Vegan Tuna Sushi Bowl By Live Eat Learn
This vegan tuna sushi bowl is full of veggies and Asian flavors. It will become your new favorite weekend lunch as it feels like you’re dining at a fancy sushi restaurant with all of the colors and flavors in the bowl.
This vegan tuna is made with tomatoes instead of watermelon, which some people prefer because it’s a softer texture and a more savory flavor. If you prefer the watermelon option, you can use it in place of the Roma tomatoes. Avocado, cucumbers, carrots, ginger, and spicy mayo complete this vegan sushi meal.
18. Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad By Foodaciously
One of the best uses for tuna is as a protein in a cold pasta salad, which you can take on any outing. With the chickpeas and seasoning in this recipe by Foodaciously, you’d never know there’s no actual tuna in it!
The chickpeas bring a thick, soft texture to the cold pasta salad that will have you thinking about it all day. The soy sauce and seaweed offer the lovely seafood flavor that you want in any dish that features tuna.
To elevate the plate, this recipe also uses zucchini and olives to add a briny, earthy flavor. And while you can use any pasta, fusilli, or cavatappi, a corkscrew shape is the perfect vessel for mashed chickpeas.
19. Curry Chickpea “Tuna” Salad By Planetarian Life
For a vegan tuna salad with some extra flavor, make this curry chickpea tuna with loads of spice and a bold taste. The recipe only uses about six ingredients, and the curry powder is the key to amping up the flavor.
This chickpea tuna salad is ideal for a sandwich or with crackers, so you can make extra and leave it in your fridge. Kids will also love this simple dish, and it’s a great way to introduce them to some new flavors.
If you don’t have curry powder, you can make your own using common spices like turmeric, ginger, and cumin. This recipe features raisins and pistachios to add extra texture and a bit of crunch.
20. Vegan Spicy Tuna Roll By Cook With Candy
There are likely many vegans out there who don’t miss burgers or ribs, but they do miss the refreshing and flavorful taste of sushi. Luckily, vegans can still enjoy the fishy flavors of tuna sushi with recipes like this one from Cook With Candy.
To make the fake raw tuna, boil tomatoes and marinate them in a soy sauce and vinegar mixture. If you hate tomatoes, you can use watermelon instead, but the tomatoes bring a wonderful savory flavor that you want from sushi. Some delicious nori, a few sliced vegetables, and a vegan spicy mayo finish this recipe, so you can fall back in love with sushi!
21. Vegan Tuna Pizza with Spinach By Veggies
Tuna pizza may sound kind of funky, but after you try this recipe, you’ll understand why it’s worth it. It has fresh vegetables like spinach for an earthy and vibrant flavor, plus it’s healthy!
You only need eight ingredients to make this recipe. In place of tuna, the recipe calls for chickpeas, which have a very similar flavor when baked onto a pizza with all of the other ingredients.
The addition of tahini brings in a lovely sesame flavor that makes this pizza unique and flavorful. Perhaps the best part of the recipe is the vegan bechamel, which is creamy and delicious. So even if tuna pizza isn’t your thing, the superb vegan bechamel is reason enough to make this meal.
Easy Vegan Tuna Recipes, Final Thoughts
From vegan pizza to vegan sandwiches and more, there are plenty of easy vegan tuna recipes that will make you forget you aren’t eating real tuna! Vegans can enjoy the taste of tuna once again thanks to these inventive recipes.