Tuna and Cottage Cheese Salad Bowl-Single Serving

This tuna and cottage cheese salad bowl is a simple quick old-fashioned lunch or light dinner. Cottage cheese has always had a nostalgic place at the table and a great option when you want a quick high protein meal.

Fast and filling and more interesting than a plain tuna salad. Another plus is no mayonnaise and for a bonus no oven needed!

Ingredients Notes

• Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese is the creamy base of the bowl and gives this recipe its nostalgic flavor. Small-curd cottage cheese has a smoother, more delicate texture and blends easily with the tuna and toppings. Large-curd cottage cheese has a chunkier, more old-fashioned texture if you like a more distinct cottage cheese bite. For milkfat, 2% is a nice middle ground, while 4% whole milk cottage cheese will taste richer and creamier. Nonfat cottage cheese works, but the texture can be thinner and a little less satisfying.
• Tuna: A 3-ounce can of tuna is just the right size for one serving. Tuna packed in water keeps the bowl lighter and lets the cottage cheese stay the creamy part of the recipe. Tuna packed in olive oil adds more flavor and richness, but be sure to drain it well so the bowl does not become oily.
• Avocado: Just a quarter of an avocado adds creaminess and makes the bowl more filling. Dice it right before serving so it stays fresh-looking.
• Olives: Sliced black olives give this bowl a salty, savory bite. You can also use Kalamata olives for a stronger Mediterranean flavor, green olives for a brinier taste, or a few sliced Castelvetrano olives if you prefer something mild and buttery.
• Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work well because they are sweet, easy to halve, and do not release too much liquid. You can also use diced Roma tomatoes, chopped garden tomatoes, or colorful heirloom cherry tomatoes when they are in season. If using a larger tomato, remove some of the seeds and juice so the bowl does not get watery.

Step by Step Images

Layer the ingredients and serve.

Serving Suggestions

It is good on its own, but you can also serve it with crackers, toast, pita chips, or a slice of sourdough bread. For a more filling dinner, add a hard-boiled egg or serve the bowl over a handful of greens.

How to Store

This bowl is best assembled right before eating, especially because the avocado can brown and the tomatoes can release liquid. If you want to prep ahead, drain the tuna and slice the olives in advance, then store them separately in the refrigerator. Add the cottage cheese, avocado, and tomatoes just before serving. Do Not freeze.

Have leftover tuna then try this tuna salad sandwich recipe or these tasty tuna cakes.