Tuna Mayo Rice Bowl
Craving something quick, satisfying, and packed with protein? This tuna mayo rice bowl delivers big flavor with minimal effort — perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep when your fridge is looking sparse.
With just a few pantry staples and under 5 minutes of prep, you’ll have a balanced bowl that’s creamy, savory, and surprisingly customizable. It’s a healthy recipe that feels like comfort food, whether you enjoy it warm or straight from the fridge.
Need more low effort dinner ideas? Try these crispy beef tacos, sweet potato burger bowls, or one-pan chicken sausage orzo.
Why you’ll love this dietitian-made recipe
- High in protein: With 43 grams of protein per serving, this bowl is a satisfying option to help support your fitness goals.
- Minimal effort: Ready in under 5 minutes with instant rice — perfect for busy nights or lazy lunches.
- Simple and budget-friendly: Just 9 easy-to-find ingredients for a nourishing meal when the fridge is almost empty.
Fish is super nutritious and dietitian-approved! If you want to eat more of it, try my tunacado sandwich, air fryer salmon bites, or rice cooker salmon bowls.
Key ingredients
- Cooked rice: I recommend using microwaveable minute rice to keep things quick and easy. For extra fiber, use brown rice. You can also swap in quinoa for a bigger boost of protein and fiber.
Skipjack tuna: Choose tuna packed in water for a lighter option. I like skipjack or other light tuna for lower mercury content. Canned salmon also works great here.
Edamame: Buy shelled edamame from the freezer section — just defrost or steam it quickly in the microwave. It adds plant-based protein and fiber to help keep you full.
Sriracha mayo: This is where the flavor really shines. Use store-bought or make your own by mixing mayo with sriracha to taste.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and detailed recipe.
Easy swaps
- Tuna — canned salmon, rotisserie chicken, or tofu
- Edamame — frozen peas, black beans, or canned lentils
- White rice — brown rice, quinoa, or noodles
Extra ingredients
Feel free to customize this bowl with 1/4 cup of any extra toppings you love. Great options include diced mango, kimchi, shredded carrot or cucumber, avocado, cooked lentils, black beans, pickled onions, pickled ginger, or edamame hummus.
How to make a spicy tuna mayo rice bowl
Step 1: Add ingredients to your bowl and drizzle with spicy mayo and other toppings.
Step 2: Mix and enjoy! Scoop with seaweed snacks if desired.
Trying to eat more protein and fiber? Download this list of the top high-protein foods or this high fiber foods chart.
Meal prep instructions
- Assemble your tuna mayo rice bowls in single-serve containers.
- Keep tuna in its original packaging and add it just before eating to keep it fresh.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds on top, but store the soy sauce and sriracha mayo separately. Drizzle sauces right before serving.
Common questions
Yes! You can swap canned tuna for flavored tuna packets if you prefer. Just check the nutrition label—some packets are smaller, so make sure you’re getting at least 20 grams of protein per serving. You may need two packets to match a full can.
Definitely. Use 4 to 6 ounces of canned or flaked leftover salmon as a simple substitute.
Either! Like sushi bowls, this recipe works warm, cold, or at room temperature. If you prefer it warm, store your rice and edamame separately and microwave them before assembling your bowl.
This bowl will stay fresh for up to 3 days. To keep it tasting its best, store the tuna in its original packaging, and add right before serving alongside the mayo and soy sauce.
Yes! Just swap the tuna for cubed or shredded tofu. For the sauce, use a plant-based sriracha mayo or make your own by mixing vegan mayo with sriracha.
Mix your tuna bowl and scoop onto seaweed snacks for sushi-inspired tuna bites!
More easy and healthy dinners
Ground Turkey Fried Rice
Healthy Bell Pepper Nachos
One-Pot Healthy Hamburger Helper
Crispy Beef Tacos
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Tuna Mayo Rice Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rice, warmed
- 1 can chunk skipjack tuna in water, drained
- ⅓ cup cucumber, sliced thin
- ¼ cup defrosted shelled edamame
- ½ avocado, cubed or sliced
- 1 green onion, sliced thin
- soy sauce
- spicy sriracha mayonnaise
- black sesame seeds
To Serve
- seaweed snacks
Instructions
- Add rice, tuna, cucumber, edamame, avocado, and green onion to a bowl.
- Drizzle soy sauce and spicy mayonnaise over the entire bowl. Finish with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds.
- Mix your bowl and enjoy immediately! You can eat right out of the bowl, or if preferred, scoop into seaweed snacks and eat as handheld sushi-inspired bites.
Notes
- Nutrition facts calculated with 1 Tbsp spicy mayonnaise, and no soy sauce.
- Any type of rice works, but I prefer sushi rice or medium-grain. Use instant minute rice for a 5-minute meal. For extra protein and fiber, cook brown rice in bone broth or use quinoa.
- Prefer to use lower fat mayonnaise? Make your own sriracha mayo at home with 2 Tbsp light mayonnaise and 2 tsp sriracha (adjust to taste).
- If you can’t find black sesame seeds, use white.
- More add-on ideas: diced mango, kimchi, shredded carrot.
One of my favorite lazy but high-protein dinners. Hope you enjoy!