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16 Best Substitutes for Celery in Tuna Salad

Love tuna salad, but not a fan of celery? I hear you.

But just because you’re not a fan of celery doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to your favorite sandwich either.

There are plenty of options for substitutes for celery in tuna salad that will keep the flavor and texture of the dish intact without having to deal with all those pesky fibrous strands.

Substitutes for Celery in Tuna Salad

So, what’s the best substitute for celery in tuna salad?

The best substitute for celery in tuna salad is cucumber. Cucumbers are an affordable, widely available vegetable that is crunchy, refreshing, and easy to slice into a salad. They can be cut into cubes or into thin strips, and they taste great in a variety of dishes, but they’re especially good in tuna salad.

Still looking for options?

Then keep reading!

16 Best Substitutes for Celery in Tuna Salad

Tuna salad is a classic, but so many people don’t like eating celery that I decided to make a list of the best substitutes.

Why not try out one of these veggies instead?

1. Cucumber

Cucumber

My personal favorite, and a refreshing alternative with a little less crunch than celery.

If you don’t want it to be too crunchy, you can slice it thinly or even grate it into your tuna salad.

My mom used to do this when I was growing up and I loved it!

2. Carrots

Carrots

More crunch, more sweetness to complement the tuna.

Grating carrots has a similar effect as grating cucumbers (and makes it easier to mix into the tuna), but if you like carrot sticks they’re also a great choice for an alternative—and they come in all those fun colors too!

3. Onion

Onions

Next time you’re making a batch of tuna salad, try dicing up half a small onion (or more depending on your personal preference) instead of celery.

The onion will add that crunchy element you’re looking for, plus it’ll give the whole mixture a bit more spice and bite.

If you’re not the biggest fan of onions, don’t worry—they’ll cook down and really only give an overall peppery flavor to the entire thing.

4. Red pepper

Red bell peppers

This one adds crunch and color without being quite as overpowering as an onion can be.

It also adds some sweetness that can help balance out the saltiness of the tuna itself.

5. Radishes

Radishes

Radishes add a nice peppery flavor and extra crunch to your tuna salad—you can’t get any more different than celery than that!

The taste is a little less sweet than the stalks, and they’ll really amp up the flavor of your tuna salad.

6. Beets

Beets

Beets are another great substitute for celery in tuna salad.

They’re a little on the sweet side, but they add some amazing color to your tuna salad too!

If you want to make your tuna salad look like it came from a restaurant, try beets.

They taste great with canned tuna too.

7. Green onion

Green onions

Green onion is great for adding a little more spice, plus it has a fun green color that contrasts nicely with the pink tuna.

Plus, you could even leave it in longer pieces so that it adds even more crunch than celery does.

Just chop up a few green onions and add them in to your tuna salad before you put it between two slices of bread or eat it with crackers.

8. Green peas

Green peas

For when you just want to step away from the crunchy veggies and add in something soft and smooth instead.

I recommend thawing them first so they have time to soften up a bit and get ready to mix in with the rest of your salad.

Then, just wash ’em off, drain well, and mash them up a little before adding them into the mixture.

9. Spinach leaves

Spinach

Spinach leaves are super healthy, so you’re not sacrificing anything when you switch from celery to spinach in your tuna salad.

They also add an unexpected shot of flavor and texture to tuna salad, which makes it taste even more amazing.

In particular, I love using spinach leaves that have been chopped very finely; they almost look like little flakes of celery, but they taste way better.

10. Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots have a mild flavor that complements the tanginess of tuna salad perfectly.

What’s more, their crisp texture is reminiscent of celery’s hydrating crunchiness—so you’ll hardly notice the difference between celery and bamboo shoots in your meal!

11. Cabbage

Cabbage

Cabbage is crunchy, colorful, and nutritious!

What more could you want?

Just add a cup of shredded cabbage to your tuna salad instead of the celery.

It’ll have the same satisfying crunch and delicious flavor, but with way more nutritional value.

12. Bok choy

Bok choy

Next up: bok choy.

This cabbage variety is crispy, asian-flavored, and full of fiber and vitamins A and C.

How do you use it in place of celery? Just use one cup of chopped bok choy instead of the celery.

You’ll still get that satisfying crunch with an extra kick from the asian flavors in this vegetable.

13. Jalapeño

Jalapeño

You’ll get a kick out of this spicy replacement for celery.

The jalapeño will add a little bit of heat to your tuna salad, but it will also give you an extra crunchy texture that you may miss if you’re used to eating tuna with celery.

14. Apple

apples

I know what you’re thinking, but don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

Apples make a great substitute for celery because they have just enough sweetness that makes them perfect among all other fruits that could be added to tuna salad.

15. Broccoli stalks

Broccoli stalks

You’ve got the florets for the salad—why not use the stalks in it as well?

They’ll add more fiber and nutrients than most vegetables out there!

The crunchiness of the stalk will also mimic that of celery very well, so you can keep that satisfying texture while adding a bit more substance to your meal.

16. Tomato

Tomatoes

You can enjoy some nice acidity from this substitute, which will be especially useful if your tuna salad is on the sweeter side.

Just make sure you remove any excess water before adding it into your dish.

How to Pick the Right Substitute for Celery in Tuna Salad

Tuna Salad

If you love the crunch of tuna salad, but you hate the taste of celery, there are plenty of alternatives out there that will give you the texture you crave without having to deal with a vegetable that tastes more like grass than it does anything else.

Just remember to keep in mind these few things when looking for your perfect replacement:

How Crunchy Is It?

Celery is known for its crunch, so if you want a replacement that’s similarly crisp, look for something that has an obvious bite to it.

What’s the Flavor?

If you’re looking for something to take over for celery’s taste (like onion or garlic), this is what you want.

But if you just want something crunchy and neutral, go with a vegetable like jicama or kohlrabi.

Is It Too Moist?

You never want your tuna salad to be soggy, so be sure the vegetable you choose is dry enough not to add too much moisture to your dish.

Will It Hold up Well?

Some vegetables are better fresh than they are chopped and sitting in mayo—or at least they don’t keep their texture as well.

Make sure whatever substitute is going to last long enough for you to enjoy your lunch!

Tuna Salad

16 Best Substitutes for Celery in Tuna Salad

Celery is an important part of a classic tuna salad recipe but if you don't have it on hand, there's no need to panic.
Celery is used for its crunch and flavor, so the most important thing is to find a replacement that matches those qualities.
There are a number of vegetables that can be used instead of celery in tuna salad.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 150 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Cucumber
  • Carrots
  • Onion
  • Red pepper
  • Radishes
  • Beets
  • Green onion
  • Green peas
  • Spinach leaves
  • Bamboo shoots
  • Cabbage
  • Bok choy
  • Jalapeño
  • Apple
  • Broccoli stalks
  • Tomato

Instructions
 

  • Pick any substitute from this list to use in your tuna salad.
  • Prepare the rest of your ingredients.
  • Be ready to munch in no time!
Keyword Substitute for Celery in Tuna Salad
CEO at Happy Muncher | benjamin@happymuncher.com | Website | + posts

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.