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Home » Recipes » Lunch

Tuna Salad with Shoestring Potato Sticks

Published: Jul 2, 2023 · Modified: Oct 25, 2024 by Christina Koncker · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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Crispy shoestring potatoes (fried potato sticks) impart a pleasing crunch to tuna salads, lending the perfect crunch to this zippy tuna salad made with Avocado Lime Crema. 

Shoestring potato sticks are one of those products I will inevitably forget about for years but am always happy to rediscover, especially when looking for easy ways to punch up tuna salad. Plus they make a crunchy, salty snack.

If you like salad recipes like this one, you should also check out this recipe for Chipotle Chicken Salad.

shoestring potato tuna salad in a large bowl being scooped up with a tortilla chip.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Tuna Salad Recipe
  • What are Shoestring Potatoes?
  • Pik-Nik Shoestring Potatoes
  • Ingredients
  • Seasonings to Consider
  • Substitutions
  • How to Make Shoestring Potato Tuna Salad - Directions
  • Top Tips for the BEST Tuna Salad with Shoestring Potatoes
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Pairing
  • Tuna Salad with Shoestring Potato Sticks

Why You'll Love This Tuna Salad Recipe

  • Cheap eats! Canned tuna is a cost-effective source of protein. I like Genova Yellowfin packed in oil. The recipe also calls for onion, celery, bell pepper, potato sticks, and avocado, ingredients that won't break the bank!
  • Simple ingredients. Straighforward ingredients - canned tuna, fresh vegetables, a simple avocado crema - make this tuna salad approachable and easy to make.
  • Easy to tweak.. to make it your own! This recipe is pretty basic, easily allowing for modifications. I've included a few suggestions below :).

What are Shoestring Potatoes?

I grew up calling them potato sticks, but shoestring potatoes are essentially super thin and crunchy fried potatoes. They’re sort of like potato chips in crispness, but their thicker texture gives them a slightly cracker-like crunch. Think super crispy exterior like a potato chip with an interior that finishes like a cracker. The texture is what makes them; plus they have a fresh-fried potato taste seasoned simply with salt.

There are a few different brands that make these delicious potato crunch nuggets and Pik-Nik is one I enjoy.

Pik-Nik Shoestring Potatoes

shoestring potato tuna salad in a large bowl ready for serving.

A handful makes a great snack, but they excel at bringing crunch to dishes that desperately need a little something. Shoestring potatoes instantly jazz up tuna salad because it provides salt and crunch. This Shoestring Potato Tuna Salad keeps the ingredients simple so that you can use most whatever you like to bind everything together, but for this recipe I opted for a homemade Avocado Lime Crema. The flavor of the crema is light enough to let the flavor of the tuna shine, so opt for a good quality canned tuna. 

Ingredients

shoestring potato tuna salad ingredients including potato sticks, canned tuna, vegetables, and avocado crema.
  • Canned tuna - I've grown to love tuna packed in olive oil, but you can use either tuna packed in water or oil, just choose a good quality canned tuna whose flavor you enjoy since it's the star here.
  • Vegetables - Celery, onion (yellow, white), green bell pepper, and jalapeno are invited to the party in this recipe! They bring crunch and flavor, including a little heat. By all means, feel free to make some changes to suit your tastes here; you can use red bell pepper instead of green, use shallot instead of onion, or leave out the jalapeno if you'd rather avoid the heat.
  • Shoestring Potatoes - I used Pik-Nik brand shoestring potatoes. I think these are critical to include because they are irresistibly
  • Avocado Lime Crema - I'm obsessed with my avocado lime crema, but if you don't feel like making the full recipe here's a cheater shortcut that makes just about the perfect amount you'll need for this recipe. Take 1 avocado, ¼ cup of sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice, a few dashes of salt, and mix together.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!

Seasonings to Consider

You can and should feel free to add whatever seasonings you like besides salt. If you’re using the Avocado Lime Crema (or the shortcut version provided in the recipe card :)) you might consider adding a little:

  • Cumin
  • Garlic salt or powder
  • Onion salt or powder
  • Oregano
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Chili powder

Substitutions

  • Jalapeno - Serrano peppers can be used instead. Or if you’d prefer not to use a spicy pepper, add more bell pepper to the recipe to replace it. 
  • Green bell pepper - Swap in orange, red, or yellow.
  • Avocado Lime Crema - Try this Chipotle Mayonnaise instead! It works beautifully in this recipe, especially if you're not an avocado fan.
  • Tuna - Mix it up and use shredded chicken instead! Or try it with smashed chickpeas.

How to Make Shoestring Potato Tuna Salad - Directions

shoestring potato tuna salad in a large bowl ready for serving.

Make the shortcut avocado lime crema by mixing the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.

Mix all of the ingredients except for the potato sticks together in a large bowl. 

Chill at least 1 hour. 

Stir in shoestring potato sticks right before serving.

Top Tips for the BEST Tuna Salad with Shoestring Potatoes

Tip 1. Leave the potato sticks out until you're ready to serve. They will lose their crispiness over time - keep that in mind if you're anticipating leftovers.

Tip 2. Make it your own. If there's a supporting ingredient in this recipe you're not a fan of, leave it out or replace it with something else. Maybe you don't care for celery, but love fennel or would prefer carrots - swap those in and ditch the celery! Here are some other fantastic celery substitution ideas from The Daily Meal.

shoestring potato tuna salad sandwich on a bun topped with a dash of hot sauce.

Recipe FAQs

How should I serve tuna salad with shoestring potato sticks?

Definitely as a sandwich on your favorite bread, on top of a tostada, or tucked into a tortilla or lettuce wrap. You could also serve this up solo in a bowl as a snack with crackers or chips.

How should I store leftover tuna salad?

For best results, don’t plan on leftovers. Leftovers are best eaten within 24 hours - and you can expect the shoestring potato sticks to have gone soggy. To jazz up leftovers, add more shoestring potato sticks to reclaim the crunch.

Pairing

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shoestring potato tuna salad

Tuna Salad with Shoestring Potato Sticks

Christina Koncker
Crispy shoestring potatoes (fried potato sticks) impart a pleasing crunch to tuna salads - it adds the perfect crunch to this zippy salad made with a simple Avocado Lime Crema.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 232 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 5-ounce cans tuna in olive oil undrained
  • 2 stalks celery diced 
  • 1 cup shoestring potatoes
  • 2-3 tablespoons onion finely diced
  • ½ green bell pepper finely diced
  • 1 jalapeno finely diced

Shortcut Avocado Lime Crema

  • 1 avocado
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 squeeze lime juice
  • salt (to taste)

Instructions
 

  • Make the shortcut avocado lime crema by mixing the avocado, sour cream, lime juice and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
  • Mix all of the ingredients except for the potato sticks together in a large bowl.
  • Chill at least 1 hour. 
  • Stir in shoestring potato sticks right before serving.

Notes

Leave the potato sticks out of the tuna salad until you're ready to serve. They will lose their crispiness over time - keep that in mind if you're anticipating leftovers.
Make it your own. If there's a supporting ingredient in this recipe you're not a fan of, leave it out or replace it with something else. Maybe you don't care for celery, but love fennel or would prefer carrots - swap those in and ditch the celery!
*Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using an online nutrition calculator. 

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 139mgPotassium: 612mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 346IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
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Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Rhonda

    August 12, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Very light and refreshing. I used chicken, left out the salt, and added 2 Teaspoons of Penzey's adobo seasoning. I and My family like it a lot!

    Reply
    • Christina Koncker

      August 13, 2024 at 7:05 am

      I never thought to try this with chicken, but I LOVE that idea! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing how you made this salad your own!

      Reply

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Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

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